Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-29

STRUGGLE FOR LEE.

|
STRUGGLE FOR LEE.
| Five Times Respited-Seven Diff rent
Days for Execution-Hanged
Reed
DEADwooD, D. T, Dec. 15.-Jam es
Leighton Gilmore, the young Ohio man,
WAS hanged here in the jail yard this
afternoon. The hanging was private,
only officers and reporters being ad-
mitted. The President yesterday de-
cliHed to interfere, and Gilmore this
morning gave up all hope.
One of the most persistent and de-
termineG struggles for life was made in
this case on the part of Gilmore's
| friends. Gilmore was twice sentenced
by Judge Moody, of the Black Hills
District, respited once by President
Arthur and four times by Gov. Ordway.
In June, 1879, Gilmore, whose various
| aliases were James Leighton, james
Halstead, James May, Teddy Reed,
and Wild Jimmy, was connected with
II freighting-o9tfit or the trail through
the Big Sioux reservation from Dead
wood to Fort Pierre. The train was
al n ytlSJ anu I1u III IL doOul
seventeen men, including three or four
Mexicans. One o: these Mexican bull
whackers and James Leighton, MS
he was then called, one of whose
teams followed the others, did not get
| along well together. About noon on
the "A h of June, while at Deadman's
| Creek, about ninety miles west of
Pierre and about seventy-five miles
out of Deadwood, they had a quarrel,
in which each threatened the other.
Leighton WAS heard to say to the Mex
lean, whose name was Bicente Ortez
or Bitheuie Ortez, that if he bother ed
his cattle again he would shoot or kill
him. At about shutdown, when they
were forming the corral for the night,
they bad more trouble, and Leighton
went to wagon q few rods distant, got
revolver, and fired two or three
times at OdeZ, who was so badly
wounded that he died the next day.
Leighton then seized gun and
bride and started off. But Al Ayers,
who did not fancy losing the property,
to say nothing about a horse, drew 8
bead on Leighton and told him to drop
the gun and bride, which was prompt
ly done. Leighton then went short
distance, when two of the men went
and brought him back. That night or
the next morning they took vote
whether they should hold Leighton,
take him to Pierre, and hand him over
to the authorities. Ayers told his men
| that he was already short two or three
| men, that he himself was i'll and that
he could not hold Leighton unless they
were willing and would help to do SO.
The result was that Leighton was al
| lowed to escape.
He got to Fort Pierre in advance of
the train, and thence he came down to
| Yankton, where he remained about
| six weeks. After this he went to Rose
bud Agency, and was there about three
months under the name of Teddy
Reed. He then went to Fort Niobrara,
where he drove 81 six-mule team for
| while, and for about year kept
| saloon and dive three miles from the
| fort.
In May, 1881, he went to Pierre,
where he was identified, arrested, and
brought here. While at Sioux City, it
is said that . revolver was dropped in
to his overcoat pocket. The Deputy
Marshal noticed the heavy appearance
of the coat and put his hand in and
pulled oct the weapon. Thereupon
Leighton said to the Deputy it was
lucky for him that he found that re-
! volver, for he intended to kill him the
instant his hands were free. Leighton
was subsequently, taken to Deadwood
for trial in the United States DISTRICT
| Court, and the case came in the Aug.
term of last year. He had no money
to employ counsel, and Messrs. Corson
and Thomas were assigned by the court
| to conduct the defense. The trial WAS
short one, and the jury brought IN
verdict of guilty on an Indictment for
| murder. The sentence of the court
was that the defendent be hanged on
the 10Th day of November. When ask
| ed by the court whether he had any
thing to say why judgement should not
be given against him, Leighton stepped
forward one step, spit on the floor, aud
replied, GO on with your founeral,
Judge"
The first thing that Gilmore's rela-
tives had heard of him for three or
| four years was after his trial aud con-
viction, when they received % telegram
from the defendants attorney asking
them to telegraph $500 to take the
case to the Supreme Court. Charles
| B. Gilmore, one of the five brothers OF
the defendant went Immediately to
Deadwood, took measures TO have the
case carried up, and also began prepar-
ations for taking the case before the
President.
The case came before the supreme
court in May, and the judgment ofthe
district court was affirmed. Upon this
decision becoming known the friends
of Gilmore made the most strenuous
efforts for pardon or communication of
sentence. The family is q very re-
spectacle one, and one of the brothers
is a lieutenant in the navy. He Is
fine young officer, and for some time
past has been stationed st Yokohama,
Japan. Through the brothers inhu-
ence q large number of naval officers
have united in petitiouing for execu-
| tive clemepcy. Gov. Foster, Speaker
Keller, and other Oh ~"aeressmen,
and Gov. kinkead and o. tor Jones,
or Nevada, and several other we'll
known public men have interested
themselves in the case. As has been
ssaeeu. tGe ieiaaiNos VI NhunoiS SiaiAh
| that the young man has never been
right in his mind. They have pre-
scented thirty affidavits, more or less, of
the companions, schoolmates, teachers
and relatives of Gilmore, all of whom
affirm that the young man was never
considered responsible. The prisoner
was re-sentenced to hang July s, but
the president granted 3 respite for sixty
days. In the latter part of August At
tnrney. General Brewster requested