, 1890-06-26
A MURDER EXPIATED.
The Potts Family Hung at
Elko, New.
DETAILS OF THE EXECUTION
An Old Man Killed by the Hus-
band and Wife for
Money.

ELxo, New, June N. - Josiah
Potts and his wifo Elizabeth were
hanged here to-day for the murder of
Melis Fawcett. January |. 1855 Faw-
cett was about % years old, aud livod on
~ ranch near the Pottses. lie owned
some stock and had several hundred
dollars In money. lie loaned severe
hundred dollars to the POttses, and they
refused to pay. one night he went to
them for u set ttlement aud was never
seen again. shortly after his disappear
ancc the Potts family sold out and
moved to Wyoming where they lived
st Rock Springs until arrested in Janu.
ary, lsso,
The body OF Fawco,t, with the limbs
severed from the trunk, tho skull
crushed in and the remains partly
burned, were found by the caving in of
the roof OF dugout cellar attached to
the house formerly occupied by tho
Potts family. The family were brought
back to Elko and placed ON trial. The
eirCumstantinl evidence went to show
that Mrs. Polts struck Fawcett OF tho
back OF the head with an az. The Jury
returned q verdict OF murder In the first
degree.
The conduct of Mrs. Potts during the
past hive days has been au alienation
Of hysterical crying, screaming and
swearing Mt her husband. who moped
no time away.
A lew day, ago tho husband. still
anxious to screen hi, wife told some
ylsitor, thai he alone WIS puiity of the
crime. "You I.ln she exclaimed.
"You know Won lie" applylnc 10 hrr
husband AZ tho satne tim. a vile enithet
Yesterday morning at u o'clock sine at
tempteJ To comnit ,uieid. gashiny her
viii. ,nd ,r,i,,, ,n s,,,,,,or Lnr.oI,
- - s,. 80
'"p ''sli"h'o " ."' "e"'h Ma'oh p'o-
vented further INJURY but she tainted
from loss Of blood.
Both the pottscs retired early last
pirht in m neryoua couaitton This
,nn,,ir, ,hot, .,'rI,,,,I a,,.i. NJ
'f''""' ''Se', n'
hof'oI' INC ohiy one huIhltled 10 tho
premises claims that within All hour
and a half they experienced great
ehnngo of heart and ,r,,p,eI tho Chris.
ti,n rl,n of soIvn,ion and Nr. poi,s
..,ttr,,' 80 s','' ~ ',''.',, ""' ''S
euu"eh'y oeeaiho uo,lIe ana resigned
~ lu'O O'CLOCK the sherih read the
death warrants to Josiah and Annie
Potts. The reading Of tho warrants took
place in the doorwav OF the lattired coll
,,hich Iosiah ms occunieI tor 40 ioo',
- ''' ~ 'ons "
peHou' re s'ooa III respondent
attitude, with his head bowed down
against the iron bars, and never once
<auring tha reading of tine warrant did he
Mn hi. ho,d ot cvez Ills Ni0e .,ood
Snc, cl.d In ,os, musI,n sn,, dr,,,,,n
a. ., - w.
v. n
pale, but with most determined aspect
in every feature. During tho reading
OF her own warrant only once did she
sho,v any .rnotion wbntever and thc.
sho cor yuisiy.Iv ciutch.I nor tbrn.t
When her hi,bnndis warrant was boin,,
read and the word, ''hnnred by thc
uort nntu Va, IA, dead . wSre rs,d she
rnye an hysterienl gasp and seemed To
oShibit much feeling. burine the read
ING of the warrants and .yidently owing
10 iho intense Atraln on oryono. The
deputy sheriff was 30 overcome that h
had To call for "A sias, OF water
AT the end OF tho reading Mrs. Potts
earnestly calculated, II am innocent.
and Cod knows I'll" and Josiah Potts
reiterated, "God knows We are inno-
cant" The gloomy procession led the
way through the side door. and with
bravery UNEXPECTED by the spectators
they seated themselves on tho stools
provided on the scallold, while the dep.
uties speedily proceeded to bind them
with leather straps, Mrs. Potts helping
to adjust them herself, and Potts sitting
in all stolidity. Wnen everything bad
been properly adjusted they were
directed to rise. All Of the attend
a. they stood. After tho handshak ing
IN attendant neld the strap attached to
-, Potts manRoled wrists. and Potts
de several most earnest endeayors to
asp the hands Of his wife without ac-
complaining II. lie finally touched her
wrists and caused her To turn he- eyes
toward his mute appeal Of love. This
caused their lips Go meet. As the rope |
was stretched around Mrs. Potts meek
she clasped her hands together, and lit