The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-11
PAID THE PENALTY.
EXECUTION OF PATRICK HART
At Helena, Montana, for the Murder of the
Father of His swoOthsart-ThO Comics.
sion of tho MurdSrsr-A Romantic
Story Related by tho Prisoner.

HELENA, Mont, Feb. 10.-The authori-
ties Of Lewis and CLARK counties to-day
assisted Patrick John Hart In his trip
across the River styx.
Hart wanted to make a speech on the
gsllows, but the Sheriff cnt the ceremony
short. Hart said last night that he had
made q discovery for prolonRing human
life, and wanted to live to demonstrate
lts value. One Of the Ingredients, he
said, was ashes, which he had been eat
ing for four months.
Several days ago Hart was asked to give
history Of his crime. Ho said: 81
boarded at the Foster House, in Elkho,n,
and there became acquainted with Miss
Sarah starkweathor, daughter of Mrs.
Pitts, and step.daughter OF John Pitts,
miner. visited her frequently and she
became as sister to me, her companion
ahip keeping me out OF saloons. On tho
morning Of November Z, 1886, l found
Slrah Starkweather at breakfast crying.
l asked her what was the matter, and she
eaid her stepiather had deserted her
mother. went to see Mrs. Pitts. She
told me that Pitts had gone to Boulder to
have me arrested and get divorce from
her. She said that Pitta had aGouged me
OF irequenting disreputable houses in
Helena and BoEeman, and that my com.
psnionship with his daughter was die
grace to the family, and that he would
not live with them any longer; that he
was going to Boulder to have me arrested,
get divorce from her and obtain custody
Of the child.
II then said that the best thing for me
to do was to follow him 10 Boulder to pre-
vent, II possible, these proCerdings. Mrs.
Pitts then said: III man had talked
about me as Pitts had about you, would
cut his legs off, Then | saddled up and
went to Boulder. inquired ct the court
house II Pitts had been there and heard
that he had not. This relieved me, as l
knew IL he wanted to arrest me he would
apply there. l wac ieverish and nervous
with excitement. l knew Pitts stories
about me had been circulated, aud feared
I might be lynched for bstraying the girl,
whereas was innocsnt OF any improper
conduct with her. In this frame of mind
sought Pitts st various places in Boulder.
found him about ~ o'clock in the morn
ing OF the 7th OF November in Jerry
Smiths saloon. Not wishing 10 talk to
him before the men in the saloon, l qui-
city took drink and walked out, where
waited until Pitts came out. Then we had
q talk. told him what his wife had told
me, and asked him II he had eaid that /
had lived at ChiCsgo JoU's in Helena (that
being what Mrs. Pitts had said he accused
me- of) He said he had not.
"Then | asked him II he said had fire.
quentsd houses OF ill.fame in Boasmau.
he replied, yes, and you know you did
/ denied Ii, and we had further words.
He aocuHed me OF running his daughter
and bringing disgrace upon his family,
ending by saying he was going to have
me arrested. Then We parted. / pom
dered over the situation aud became con-
vinced that must do something to clear
my name. l WAS innocent, and knew
Pitts Lad trumped up these charges sim-
ply ss pretext for getting divorce from
his vile. Shortly alter went to the court
house and saw Pitts there, in Wells office,
and presumed he was getting out papeEs
for my arrest, and shot him. My hand
shook whom l fred the first ahot, and az
he staggered up and came toward me, l
shot him again. l felt relieved as soon Gs
l had done the deed, and relying on my
innocence OF the crime charged, and
thinking the charges iusti6sd me for the
shooting, at once gave myHelf up to the
officers"
Hart was born in st. Johns, N. B., in
1873. Petitions were presented to the
Governor for clemency, but no active
effort was made to save the murderer.