The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-08-24
Histo Of the Crime.

The murder for which harry ROBERTS
was hanged was committed May IA Of this
year. Roberts victim was John w. Crsw-
ford. of Butler, Missouri, better known in
Butte by the cognomen of "Long Tex"
He had been in Butte for about two years
and was employed as teamster. Roberts
was his foreman, and some two months
before the shooting he and Crawford had
a trivial dispute over some detail of their
work. Both being passionate men, they
came to blows almost immediately. Tex"
was an unusually large and power
hat,s fS man and Rdberts had VIM much sDsI1s the
drew a knife with the evident intention of
cutting Crawford. The encounter took
place in the stable yard. and Crawford
caught up pitchfork that was lying near
by and struck Roberts a blow on the head
which disabled him for the time. The
blow, however, ultimately cost both men
their lives, for Roberts never forgot nor
forgave IL. May IL they were both in
Butte and drinking An effort was made
10 make up the quarrel, but II ended in q
war OF words, at the close of which Craw-
ford said, "Pll put worse scar than that
on you," referring 70 an ugly wound, four
inches in length, which was left on Rob
erts' head by the pitchfork blow of two
months before. This remark seems TO have
weighed on Roberts mind. On the night
Of the 18th he was drinking and was heard
TO make threats that he would kill Craw-
lord Cd slgnt. Az nOon on the ioAioWing
day he walked into the wash
room of the Silver Bow boarding house.
Crawford was standing at q sink in the
room washing himself. He was entirely
defenseless, and though a number of his
friends were standing about, IL so happened
that none of them were armed. Without
even attracting Crawford's attention Rob
erts shot him with q 45-calibre revolver.
The bullet penetrated Crewford's right
arm, between the shoulder and the elbow,
md MAJ fhrnnQh Ha
ran out of the room into the yard and fell
to the ground, expiring almost Instantly.
Roberts remarked, II got -
that time" and raised his revolver TO
IRE at Emanuel Corea. who was in the
room. He was prevented by Joe Foster,
who jerked the gun out of his hand. Roberts
then walked up the street with Foster. On
the way he said he was glad he had killed
Crawford, because his heart had been
burning ever since he had that fight with
him. He felt happy now that he was done.
He also expressed regret that Foster had
prevented him from shooting Corea,
against whom, be said, he also had a
grudge. he walked up town and was ar
rested on Park street Roberts claims that
be came up town TO give himself up and
had no Intention Of escaping. The only
statement that he made in the matter
were that be believed his life to be IN
therefore he hal done IL He expressed no
regrets at his course. and has repeatedly
asserted that he would do the same thing
over again under similar circumstances
somewhat dramat incident was con-
nected with the burial of Crawford He
was R0od-natured man and had many
friends. His relatives all lived At Butler,
Mo-, and kilograms were sent asking what
disposition should be N ade OF bis remsins-
No answer YVES received for two days, aud
the funeral procession with CrawfOrdis re-
mains was en- route TO the Cemetery when
the c. roner came rushing down the street
with telegram from the rel1tives- Tney
stated that they would like 70 have the re-
mains. but were too poor TO pay the ex-
penses of emoalming and shipping. A
collection was taken mp on the spot, the
body brought back 70 town. emhalmed and
shipped, and all expenses paid. IL was
then discovered that $500 too much had
been subscribed This amount was ac-
cnrdingly sent with the remains 70 the rel
atives-
1he district court was in session at the
time OF the killing. The grand jury was
Roberts for murder ia the first degree. His
trial was begun May 80, and it took two
days TO get jury and one to try the case
June the case was given 70 the Jury and
on the first ballot they found Roberts
guilty as charged There was practically
no defense An attempt was made 70
establish that Roberts was not in his right
mind, and that Insanity was caused bv Inc
blow on the head which Crawford gave
him with the pitchfork handle The at
tempt was altogether futile Roberts
wanted TO plead guilty, but was not per
mItted TO do 90 BY his lawyers. He
remained all along perfectly Indifferent to
bis fate. He declined 70 have . clergy
man, and said he had always lived
be had lived - he would not