The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-02-10

HE STATES HIS s
Patrick John Hartt, Who Is to Be Hanged
To-Day, Gives His Story to the World.

HE STATES HIS CASE.
Patrick John Hartt, Win Is to Be Hanged
To-Day, Gives His Story to the World.
The Herald of Monday contains an inter-
view with HART, the Boulder murderer, who
is to be hanged in Helena to-day. Following
are the main features Of the article:
The reporters first action was to scrutinize
the doomed mans personal appearance
Hartt looks about Is years Of age. Is very
small, being about five feet four inches in
height and will weigh now probably about
100 pounds. His face Is pale and smooth,
though a stubbly beard of about a weeks
growth covers his chin and lips. He has a
long face, rather sharp chin, small nose and
mouth, light brown eyes with q grayish cast,
rather high and broad forehead, and a heavy
growth Of glossy brown hair. One of his
eyes is on a distorted axis, giving him some
what the appearance Of being cross-eyed.
He wore black coat and pants, no vest and a
blue flannel shirt, the collar Of which was
drawn together by a neatly arranged neck
tie. His was on the whole collected,
though at times he would grow nervous and
excited, accompanying the mood with rapid
talk and g~esticulatien. This was no more
than the occasion demanded and he talked
throughout the interview with ease and
clearness, evincing a perfectly sound mind.
His conversation was earnest, but at times
something would come up that would make
him laugh a quiet, nervous, modest little
laugh.
After the reporter was seated Hartt rested
his elbow on the table and told the following
story: #4# A.
"My true name is Patrick John Hartt. I
was born of poor but respectable parents in
St. Johns, New Brunswick, jun cd, 1868.
] have no brothers or sisters. My mother
died when 1 was nine months old and my
father when I was fourteen. Ny father was
a drunkard and unable to take care of me, so
I was taken by charitable people and sent to
the Sisters convent, where I was brought up
a Catholic. My religion is a great comfort
to me and 1 would not give it up for any
thing. There is something in me that tells
: me there is a life beyond the grave and I do
not fear to die. I rejoice in my coming exc.
cution, as I think it will rid me of the cares
of earth. -
"When [ was thirteen years of age I was
sent by Bishop Sweeny. Ct st. Johns, to
Westmoreland county, where I commenced
work on a farm under James Noonan, a
respectable farmer who lived $50 miles from
st. Johns. 1 staid there two years. At the
age of fifteen I went to sea as cabin boy and
after sailing one summer landed in Massa.
chusetts. Thence I went at once to Des
| NToiroo Tou,o -horo r rnrLo1 IN q form
under Louis j. Klemm and other farmers for
three years and a half. In 1882, I think, 1
came to Bozeman, where I worked at a
hotel kept by Phil Skeehan. Then I
went to Wickes, where I chopped wood and
drove team for Ellis & Berendes. / nave
always earned an honest and respectable liv-
ing by hard work and those who employed
me will bear witness to my good character
previous to my trouble. / afterwards went
to Elkhorn, arriving there four months be.
fore the trouble. There I drove team,
chopped wood, and also worked for the com.
pany; did some prospecting and had a mine,
which I turned over to my attorney, Mr..
Duffy.
81 boarded at the Foster House, Elkhorn,
and there became acquainted with Miss
Sarah Starkweather, daughter Of Mrs. Pitts,
and stepdaughter of John Pitts, a miner. I
visited her frequently, and she became as a
sister to me, her companionship keeping me
out of the saloons. On the morning of No.
vember 9TH, 1885, 1 found Sarah Stark
weather at breakfast crying. I asked her
what was the matter. She said her stepfathe1
had deserted her mother. I went to see Mrs
| n:%%. Cbn <11l M <I,n% D;<<o 1oI ro~n 70
Boulder to have MI arrested and get a di'
vorce from her. She said that Pitts had &C
cused ME of frequenting houses of i'll fame in
Helena and Bozeman, and that my compan.
ionship with her daughter was a disgrace to
the family, and that he would not live with
them any longer; that he was geing to Boul
der to nave me arrested, get a divorce from
her and obtain custody of the child. 1 ther
said that the best thing for me to do was tc
follow him to Boulder and prevent, if posi-
BILE, these proceedings. Mrs. Pitts then said
sIf a man had talked about me as Pitts has
about you 1 would cut his legs Off"
Here the reporter asked if Mrs. Pitts hac
advised him to kill her husband, such being
the report at the time. HART said she die
not; he had given her exact words.-Rep.]
"Then," continued Hartt, II saddled ul
and went to Boulder. 1 inquired at the
court house if Pitts had been there and hearc
he had not. This relieved me, as I 4 knew i
he wanted to arrest me he would apply
there. 1 was feverish and nervous with ex
element. Knew Pitts stories about me hac
been circulated and feared I might b
lynched for seducing the girl, whereas [ wa:
innocent of any improper conduct with her
In this frame Of mind 1 sought Pitts at vari
GUS places IN Boulder. I found him about II
o'clock in the morning of the 9TH of Novem
Der at Jerry Smiths saloon. Not wishing te
talk to him before the men in the saloon
quietly took a drink and walked out, where
waited until Pitts came out. Then we hal
a talk. [ told him what his wife had tolt
me and asked him if he had said that l hat
lived at Chicago Joe's in Helena THAT being
what Mrs. Pitts had said he accused me of.
He said he had not. Then I asked him if h
said / had frequented houses of i'll fame il
Bozeman. He replied eyes; and you know
words, hi accusing me of running his daugh
ter and bringing disgrace upon the family
ending by saying he was going to have m
arrested. Then VIC parted. 1%pondered owe
the situation and became convinced that
must do something to clear my name. 1 wa
innocent and knew Pitts had trumped III
these charges simply as a pretext for gettin!
a divorce from his wife. Shortly after
went to the court house, saw Pitts there il
Wells office, presumed he was getting GU
; papers for my arrest, and shot him. NJ.
rand shook when I fred the first shot, an
as he staggered up anG came towards me
shot him again. 1 felt relieved as soon as
had done the deed, and, relying on my limo
cence of the crime charged and thinking tn
charges a justification for the shooting, I a
once gave myself up to an officer"
"were you under the influence of liquo
that morning." asked the reporter.
"I was not" said Hart. 81 had taken on
drink, as 1 told you, in Smiths saloon"
J. The conversation then turned to the ap
preaching execution. Hartt said he feared
!, it not but would welcome it as a relief from
!, earthly cares. He had long since repente'
of h;o ox;1 .1oo3 ,p1 rooro<to1 IL cnrolv Ru