The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-08-17
| SEVEN DAYS MORE.
Henry Roberts, who Killed Tex"
Crawford, Granted Respite by
Governor White.
The Action Taken as the Result Of
Petition from Prominent
Butte Citizens.
The Condemned Surprised but Not Much
Anected-The Details of the
Crime From Roberta

BUTTE, Aug ls.-[SpsciaI 70 the Inde-
pendent. l-As early as 10 O'Clock this
morning a crowd began 10 collect about the
county jail in anticipation OF the execution
OF Harry Ro berts at O'Clock Roberts
slept well and awol5e at 10 O'Clock. Short
ly after 10 O'Clock Rev. Father Van Den
Brooch called 10 see him. He was kindly
received. After a little talk he was so en-
cOuTaged by Roberts statements that he
concluded TO make an effort 10 get Q re-
prieve- After investigation he found that
Gov. White was at Deer Lodge, and as a
result Of his efforts the following telegram
was sent.
"BUrTE, Aug IL SO His Excellency,
Gov White, Deer LOdge-Me, your peu-
TONERS, solicit and beg reprieye for eight
/ days OF the sentence OF Harry Roberts,
| condemned 70 be hung to-day; that the
good Offices aud consolation of religion
which is sOfteuing hts heart TO penitenee
may finish its good work"
This was signed by J. H. LeysOn, Jno-
Cap.ice, Jas. III. Lynch, NJ. b. BrOwnlee,
w. X. Kenyon, j. r. Clark and Father
This telegram was not dispatched until
IL. A. m At 1912 less than an hour be-
fore the time set for the execution, the fol-
lowing telegram was received:
"DEER LODGE, Aug. 10 lSS9.-TO Sheriff
John F. Lloyd, Butte: At the request OF
John Capliee, Mayor Kenyon ana others l
have granted respite to Harry Roberts,
under sentence 70 be executed to-day until
Friday, Aug. .. You VIII. therefore, post
pOne the execution until that date. The
proper papers will be forwarded you from
Helena Tomorrow. BESJ- Il. WHITE"
This telegram was not considered sum
cleEt authority and County Attorney Jew
EFT talked with the governor By telephone
and had the dispatch confirmed
Roberts received the news quietly and was
dressed and waiting TO be led out 70 eXecu-
tion. He said he had never asked for a re-
spit, pardon or communication, nor author
lied any body 70 do so Tor him. He said TO
his attendants that he was sorry TO give
them the trouble OF waiting on him for an
additional week. He held an extended in-
teTyiew with your correspondent, In which
he gave a detailed account of the killing OF
Crawford. He Indignantly denied he had
ever bad any intention or desire to shoot
OF inJure Emanuel COrea, or any OF the
other men who were in the Silver boarding
house. He had lJthing against any of
them, ana had never before had any
trouble since be lived in Montana, a per-
iod of twenty years. Corea made him
foreman and some of the men we're down
on him because they said he had made
them work too hard. DE never made
them work any harder than he himself did.
He and Crawford ate supper together the
night of the FIRST row IN March. After sup
per he walked over into the stable and
Crawford struck him with the pItchf0rk
ever. He believes that Crawford
would have killed him then and
there had not DIR. B0vet appeared on the
scene That night he asked Crawford 70
90 outside the city limits and fight IL out
saying he would forgive 1t all, no matter
which got whipped This Crawford re-
fused 70 DO. Roberts thea asked him why
he hit him, and was given no answer.
The same kind of conversation
occurred ON the night OF May
l3 and Crawford said 70 him:
"Pll put a worse scar than that on
you," referring to the scar left by the blow
Of the pitch fork. Roberts says he then
made mp his mind that it was either kill or
be killed, and be did not wish 20 be the
victims furthermore he said that he did
not consider that he had had
a fair trial. Almost every
witness was prejudiced sgainst him, and
had sworn on the witness stand 10 having
subscribed money to prosecute him He
thought that III he could get a new trial the
result would be different. Roberts has not
lost one particle Of his nerve and Will un-
dOu bte1ly die game.