Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-08-01


procession took up the line of march
toward the scaffold. Until the race
track was reached it went at slow
trot, but from that point on it went no
faster than u walk.
THE sCAFFoLD.
This had been erected in the main
Quigley gulch, about quarter of a
mile east of the brick powder maya.
zine seen to the left. ON entering the
gulch. 1t was made of native lumber,
the floor being inch boards, the posts,
gallows- frame, ETC., of 6x6 stuff. A
flight Of seven steps led to
the platform below the scaffold.
The "drop" or "trap" was OF
the usual pattern, and kept in place
by a stout 'latch." This being pulled
away by a clothes-line rope, let the
trap down. There was a full eight
feet of drop for the condemned man,
and pit about two feet was dug to
give him plenty Ct lee-way. All this
stood in the center of an enclosure
about Is feet square made by stretch
ing an inch-rope around four corner
posts.
AT THE GALLONS.
When the procession reached the
place of execution, one of the ropes
was let down and the barouche drove
in, when the rope was at once put in
place, and all in the carriage jumped
out. Bishop Tuttle offered Pearson
his left arm, Rev. Mr.. Osborn follow
ing behind. Then came the Sheriff,
and Deputy N. &. Smith. Pat. Furey
was stationed at the door in rear of
the scatfold, Jack Campbell and his
brother being on the platform, and
George Kohlepp and other mounted
deputies being around in the crowd.
As the prisoner and Bishop Tuttle
reached the foot OF the stairs leading
to the scaffold, Pearson gently shook
the Bishop off his arm, and actually
ran up four steps. He then seemed
to stsgger, but resting his hand on the
post at the left of the head of the
steps for moment he hastily with
drew it and jumped on the platform.
During all this time, from the cell to
the scaffold, Pearson had been smok-
ing a cigar, only removing it occasion.
ally to get breath of fresh air. As
he got on the platform the same be-
niyn smile that illumined his counte.
nance in the Jail reappeared. 1t
seemed as if it meant "Hanging has
no terror for me ; see -
Sheriff Furey now Informed Pearson
that he would be permitted to say
anything he pleased to the assemblage.
Did lie wish to speak?
PEARsoN's ADDRESS.
Pearson, without replying, advanced
to the northwest corner Of the scaffold,
where the crowd was thickest, and
spoke substantially as follows:
Gentlemen: l am an old pioneer of
this Territory. l am about to suffer
the extreme penalty of the law, not be-
cause of the crime which l am charged
with having committed, but because
of the prejudice caused by my running
away from Jail last summer. l have
only few words to say.
Right here, l want to warn you, my
fe!low-citizens, against the practice OF
carrying arms. 1t is bad one, and
causes many crimes to be committed
l do not think that, as rule, an un.
armed man is in sny danger in this
country. No brave man will take
advantage of you if you are unarmed
and make no attempt or motion to ge
at pistol or knife.
Regarding the crime for which
am going to suffer: In all my deal
ings with Johnny, l did what
thought was right by a fellow-man.
fixed up the place for saloon, paying
for it myself. When it was tixet
Johnny could not put up his share o
the stuff. He said my credit wa
good; that l might get one box o
cigars and four or five gallons O
whisky; that there was no danger o
breaking up, as the profit was at leas
SIG per gallon. But | refused.
said: "No, Johnny, III not run il
debt for the whisky, because l an
Al