Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-02-16

On last Friday, February 10th
Patrick J. Hartt was hangsri for tn,
murder Of John Pitts, at Boulder, o.
Nov. 9th. 1885, There were hut few
permitted to witness the execut ion
Hartt was resigned to his fate. Tn.
following account Of tho last M~ne ir
the murtlerer's career IL from the llel
ena Herald:
Then Sheriff Hathaway stepp<sl on
the platform and sail: "llartt, have
you anything to say?"
Hartt's lips Quivered and his voice
sounded low and rest rninssl As he
spoke the following words which we're
scarcely audible:
IL wish you all a restful conscience
and q useful life on this earth. hope
when you come through this door, yO,,
will bring some little child that has no
father and mother on this earth for
protection. This IL all have to say
'-Good-bye."
His remarks were scarcely audible
and were heard only by those stand.
ing Immediately beside him, among
whom was a Herald reporter. What
he meant is not known, hut it il sup
posed he referred to his own condition
as an orphan and expressed the hope
that, when any Of those present died.
he would have no father or mother to
mourn his loss.
After HART had delivered himself OF
these strange words. which we're adj
dressed to an assemblage a. silent a.
the dead, Sheriff Hathaway with his
own hands adjusted the moose about
the neck OF the doomed man. HART
stood the ordeal bravely and never
fiinched ~ the rope was put over his
head and drawn tight about his neck.
He only inclined HE head toward the
priest. who whispered some words in
his ear, and then the sheriff said
Ready" Suddenly HART shot up
into the air, and in a second his body
was dangling to and fro about two
feet from the ground. He gave three
convulsive struggles, drawing up his
ieet = few inches, and then hung per.
fsctly m0tionless eighteen inches shove
ground, except for the swaying of the
rope. Here Deputy Sheriff Walker
placed the black cap over his head
and all was over. The countenance
Of the criminal expressed no suffering.
Everything WAS done 20 we'll and
quickly that he suffered a. little A.
possible. Tho weight fell at exactly
ll:2S o'clock, and eleven minutes
later the attending physicians, Drs.
Morris, Hunter and Grant, pro.
n0urSced him dead. The doctors kept
ceiling hts pulse from the time the |
drop fell and DR.. Morris applied the
steth0scope to his heart. At exactly
40 the physicians announced that
his heart had ceased to beat, and |
prsparations were made for taking
Town the body. As soon ~ the signal /
sas given the priest dropped on his
snees and was praying with clasped
lands whom Hartt was swung into
'ternity. Who cut the rope will never
" known. a. the weight was enclosed
~ high board barricads and no one
nav the operation.
At II :45 the body was lowered into
he coffin, plain deal box which had
'een provided for the occasion. Then
was ascertained that the mans neck
,ad bsen broken in two places and
hat consequently he suffered but very
title. II any at all.
Aguari was placed over the remains
nd at 2:3O o'clock this afternoon
hey were inferred in the Catholic
en,etery, Father Van den Brock
fIiciating. Thus has the world seen
he last OF Patrick John HART.