The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-02-17
MPIArED on THE GALLONS.

EIPIAfED on TIE GALLONS.
Martin L. Scott Hung To-day For h Muir
der OF His Wife ut Granite, Nov.
18th, 1887.
The circumstances of the murder of his
wife, by Martin L. Scott on the night Of Nov
18th, 1887, is SO fresh in the public memory,
and is so fully embodied in his statement
here following, and which is published in full
at his request, that but . brief resume is
necessary. On the morning after the act
was committed officers Mcdonald and
Thatcher found him sitting on the bed in his
cabin, with his rife in his hands, and his
wife lying on the floor near by, dead. Her
head was horribly crushed, as if by some
blunt instrument, corresponding to those
depressions which would be made by q split
ting wedge and other tools which were lying
by covered with blood and hair, and which
witnesses testified were made by them and
not by a gun. There was also blood on his
gun, which was broken. The officers broke
in the door and arrested him. He was placed
in a cabin until the same evening, when,
excitement running high against Scott, Dep
uty Sheriff Geo. Hammond jumped him
into q buggy, drove to Philipsburg and
thence to Drummond, when, learning that
q party of men, presumed by his informant
to contemplate the capture and summary
execution of Scott, were following, he Sc
cured a special engine, brought him to Gar
rison and thence to Deer Lodge.
SCOTS trial came on at the December term
of Court. 1t was fair, impartial and thor
oueh, and he made his " statement to the
jury, differing but little from that we here.
with publish, except that he did not state
that his wife that night made a confession
of the wrongs she had done.
Mr.. Boarman, of Anaconda, conducted the
defense, and made the best of all evidence
that could be adduced for his client. Judge
Galbraith's instructions were carefully
drawn, and the jury were only an hour and
a half in considering the case and determin-
ing upon the verdict of guilty of murder in
the irst degree. The evidence appeared in
A0 WAC SCuJVuCCu u UC uuuk
Feb. 18th, 1883. Mr.. Boarman appealed to
the Supreme Court, which sustained the
lower Court. He also, with SCOTS state
ments, sought executive communication Of
sentence or respite. Governor Leslie had all
the evidence before him, and refused both.
1t has therefore seemed absolutely conclu-
sive to him that no credence could be given
the statement he now makes as to being
knocked down In his own door, believing
he was striking at an assailant, and that he
did not strike his wife after he knew it was
her that was hurt. He has been known as a
hard, cruel man, and we believe did not call
any witnesses as to his character, although
there were many men of high standing in the
Territory who had employed and knew him.
The conviction appeared universal that it
was a most cold blooded and atrocious muir
der.
Some days since he expressed a desire to
make a statement for the public, and with
death impending over him we took his own
words, partly written, partly oral, had him
read it and certify it. He stated he had sent
a similar statement to the Governor. "
Scott is almost 81 years old, and has be+ n a
very powerful man. He stands six feet four
and a half inches, mt now weighs 100 lbs,
but h!s ordinary weight before he was hurt
was go lbs. When lie killed his wife he
weighed 40. He does not look like a dissi-
pated man, and told us he had not been a
hard drinker. The past week he was con-
siderably depressed at times. When speak
ing of his children and Of his wife's confess
sion, he evidenced much emotion, but in
speaking of his fate he betrayed no weakness
saying, however, he did not believe he
should be hanged therefor. He had not re-
quested any spiritual adviser until Tuesday,
but was then visited by Revs. Mcmillan and
Dunlap, and by Fathers De Ryckere and
De Siere. After consideration, he concluded
to accept the Catholic faith, and the sacra-
ments of the church were administered to
him. The Fathers remained with him the
greater part of the time thereafter, and his
mind seemed easier. He slept we'll on Tues
day and Wednesday nights, and ate better.
On Thursday he was notified the Governor
would do nothing for him, and the Death
Watch was set. Following is his statement:
STATEMENT OF MARTIN L. SCOTT.
My full name is Martin Lntber Scott. I
was born April 8, 1887, in Madison county,
Indiana, where my people still reside. I
stayed at home until 1861, when I enlisted in
Co. G, 18th Indiana Volunteers, and went to
West Virginia. I served under Generals
Milroy and Reynolds through Beverly, Rich
Mountain, Elk Water, Cheat Mountain and
Green Briar river. Returning to the railroad
at Webster, we went to Louisville, Ky. Then
served under General Buell. at New Haven,
Bardstown, Bowling Green, Mumfordsville
Butte, Nashville, Shiloh, Corinth, Decord
Station, and then camped at Tuscumbia six
weeks thence to Nashville by forced
marches; thence back to Louisville to head
off Bragg's army. I remained in the army
until my time was up and then went into the
Quartermaster's service as a teamster, and in
a short time was made Wagon.master. Yves
with General Steel on his march from Hell
ena, Ark, to Duvall's Bluff and the capture
of Little Rock. I was then made Post
Wagon-master, ana was at the battle of
Camden and Murrow Bottom. Coming back
to Little Rock 1 was Wagon-master there for
some time. After the surrender of Lee /
was married there, and my wife only lived
seven months, dying of Arkansas fever, as
it was called. I left there and went to St..
Louis, Mo-, in the spring of 1866.
That summer I came up the Missouri river,
landing at Fort Benton in August. I went
thence to Helena and worked for an old gen.
tleman named Ballard. Next 1 went to Lin
coin Gulch and worked for WATSON & David
son, and others. From there I went to the
Union Pacific railroad, where I was Wagon
master for Green & Hill, contractors. When
the road was completed I was Waterman for
the o. P. Co. at Ogden, Utah, and afterward
went on the road as brakeman, and then as
fireman. firing of railroading, 1 went to
Walla Walla, drove a team there for the
Reed s. Hawley Mill Co., and from there to
Eureka, New, and to Phoebe, in 1871, where
l drove fast freight for w. L. Pritchard nine
months, on night drive. firing of this I
drove a quartz team for Hamlight. Left
Phoebe in 1873, came to Little Cottonwood,
Utah worked there for Capt. jerks also IN
the Vallejo mine under James Day, Supt.
l then bought some teams and went to haul
ing ore from the mines, having several large
contracts. I made some money, the Prince
Of Wales being one of my best contracts.
Mr.. W. E. Hall, of the Alice mine, Walker
vile, was then Supt. Of the prince" I was
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