Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-28

to find ott IRON the tesef6fd ee1t1ehaa
whether such was really the case we're
futile.
The death warrant was read at 1918
o'clock, and Roberts listened Attentively,
but did not speak q word. When the i'm
strdment had been read, MI. Richards
asked him If heshsd any REQUEST to make or
message TO send. Roberts said that he had
attended to all such matters last Friday,
and had nothing further to say. He then
told Mr.. Richards that he was going to say
but q few words on the scafforld, and re-
peatsd the following, which he1said would
be his last remarks:
81 thank my friends for what they have
done for me. Had il not been for w. A.
Clark and w. NJ. Jack I'd have got my re-
prieve, ] forgive them and may God forgive
them and me too.n For some reason he
changed his mind and made remarks
slightly different.
ABOUT THE CRIME.
Although he met his death bravely and
without finching, yet it is sale to say that
Roberts hoped for a reprieve and until the
moment when informed OF the governors
decision, had apparently entertained and
nursed that spark OF hope, frail as it vas.
Had he been bangei last Friday he would
nave W6lCOuSu uCdtAs Ia iUS bcfcIdl UkLueb
a wish that the day set for his
death were nearer so..tnat it would be over
all the sooner, but since the respite granted
him last week he appeared to have viewed
matters differently and seemingly desired
to live, even though it would be in the peni-
Tertiary.
The murder for which he gave his life was
committed May IA an was a peculiarly
cold FLOODED and atrocious crime. Four
days after it's commission he was indicted
for murder in the first degree and June 1
his trial was begun in the district court
and two days were consumed in obtaining
a jury. Finally the following twelve men
were found who were competent to sit on
the case: A. W. Beuse, p. McCabe, F. A.
Wilson, Thomas Stees, c. R. Burkett, J..
M. Albiez, Dennis Simpson, G. G. Cram, J..
Cradlebaugh, III. J.. Rothbunlen. j. j.
Hammer and Hugh Harris. June 5, the
jury retired and found him guilty on the
first ballot. Motion for a new trial was
made and after celebrating for two weeks
Judge DeWolfe overruled the motion and
sentenced Roberts to be hang d August 10.
The case was appealed and August 8 the
supreme court rendered q decision affirm
ing that Of the lower court.
AS soon as the judgment OF the higher
court was announced, Sh, riff Lloyd placed
AsOoOAe 70 "a " GCPuAOOO nio "PPoAASOu
Thomas Richards and j. B. Knight death
catches, and one of them was with him
continuously. During his term Of impris-
oDment Roberts was a most tacrtable and
respectful prisoner, and won the. good will
and friendly feeling Of everybody connected
with the management OF the Jail. He was
also very popular with his fellow prisoners,
and when led to the gallows yesterday bid
them all good bye and shook hands with
nearly all and wished them more happiness
and pleasure in the future than he said
they were now enjoying.
Altogether he was a remarkable man n
had his early associates and training been
different it is probable that he would have
ended his life far different than he did. He
was in the Federal army during the late
war and served two enlistments during
which he took part in sixteen battles and
engagements and received an honorable
discharge at each OF his terms OF enlist
nent. -. ...
His parents reside in Wales where he also
has four brothers and four sisters. One OF
his brothers up to a year or SO ago resided
at Fort Benton but returned to his native
land where he now is. Roberts left mes.
sages for him and other members OF the
family.