The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-03-29
TIE LAST NIGHT.
The Boys slumbcr as &c Unconscious
That They Would " axe Only for an

The Boys Slumbcr as ir Unconscious
That They Would W axe Only for an
Endless Sleep.
Thursday night, the Inst night of the Dur
rett boys on earth, was III. most remarka.
bic in the history of the Hcnncpin county
Jail. The condemned men were apparently
fully resigned to their fate, and when the
good priests left. about IL o'clock in tho
evening, Pete and lin were in mental
condition quite satisfactory to their spirit
ual advisers Shortly after the dcpal ture of
the priests DeputyShcriff Wall went on duty.
After lengthy chat Pete bade him good
night and retired. Half on hour later the
death watch looked into the cell and Pete
was sleeping soundiy. 1t was very evident
that Pete had become reconc.led to his I'm.
pending fate His sleep seemed to be Us
soundand peaceful aa that of an innocent
babe.
The prisoners In the two tiers below he d
oil retired for the night the Barre ts were
also asleep, and there was daathlike quiet
about the Jail, which was only relieved by
tho occasional c:amging of the heavy iron
doors us the depu.ic, passed In and out
to take quiet look and see that
oil was well. The men who were
to walk to the gallows remained in bed all
morning. Pete slept remarkably well, and
never stirred or gave other evidence thai his
mind was shadowed by the gloom of his i'm.
pending fate Tim did not sleep so WELL lie
was rather restless at times. and turned and
rolled In his narrow bed. He did not appeuy
to be awake, however.
PETE's LAST HOPE GONE
Pete Barretts first waking was about G: Is
Ho ant, bod
lis eyes, glanced through the lattice work
and saw by the white early-morn sunlight
that the day of his departure from earth wae
to be beautiful one indeed. Deputy erif
James Hines had relieved Deputy Wall Pete
greeted his new watchmnn with o pleasant
Good morning" Despite all the discourag
ing words he had heard Thursday evening,
the young prisoner still felt e.immer OF
hope, for he asked In most anxious and vet
skeptical manner:
Have you heard anything from the governori
The deputy answered in the negative, and
then said:
Pete. it's early yet. and you might as we'll lie
and rest an hour longer.
Early in the morning Rev. Father Corbstt
came In quietly, und. with only pleasant
word for the officers on duty, quickly wont
to the men to whose spiritual needs he was
minfstering. The condemned men greeted
the reverend gentleman pleasantly. II looks
indica' ed anything, the prisoners we've Ger.
tatnly pleased tn zee the earnest yunno
clergyman. In the seclusion and quiet OF
their cells holy communion was administered
to bo'h mon. They parsook Of the sacrament
with more earnestness and feeling, the priest
satd, than they had before shown. Aftsr.the
sacrament was administered. the prisoners
In response to questions, said they now pre.
ferred to eat breakfast. A deputy went ou,
and at 7:30 o'clock returned with the mosl
elaborate menu served the men during thei,
eighteen month"; confinement. The meal
consisted of toast, fried gs. cranberry
fauce. Jelly cnke. bananas. pie and coffee
Through respect for Friday, no meat wa.
served Tho brothers ate quite he artily, al
they have done all along Later in thu
morning Rev. Henry McGolrlck entered the
j,il and went direct to the prisoners. The
two priests were administering advice to the
prisoners. when, about $50 o'clock, Messrs
Erwin. Donahue and Byrnes, counsel for til,
condemned men, entered the Jail Office. Afts,
hurried handshnking with deputies and re-.
porters the counsel went to the unfortunate
cllentA those who thought that possibl,
the attorneys might bring good tidings t.
Pete. even at this late hour. had that though
dispelled as soon as they caught sight o. Mr.
Erwin.