The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-07-02
LIKE A CUCUMBER
Clay Pugh Meets His Death as Cool
as You Please.
DIDN'T FINCH A MUSCLE
To the Attending Clergyman He
Professed Religion, but Appar-
emily He Was Indifferent
to Everything.
DIDN'T FINCH A MUSCLE
Special Dispatch to the standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Boulder. July 1.-Clay Pugh was
hung in the court yard OF the county
Jail at 1890 this forenoon for the MUIR
der of Chauncey w. West near Butte
on October 5, 1894. For the second time
only a murder in Silver Bow county,
with its long and black criminal rec
ord, was explated. The condemned
man displayed the same nerve under
the gallows that he had shown all the
way through and he went to his death
without a tremor. He manifested signs
of weakening but once. but then only
for an instant, and. summoning all OF
his nerve, he regained his composure
and passed through the ordeal with
wonderful coolness. He conducted him
self during the final preparations for
his execution with an assumption os
reckless bravery that was hardly ex-
pected of him and showed him to be
possessed Of a thoroughly hardened
| and criminal nature. While processing
to accept Christianity just before his
death he made these pretenses simply
| to please the minister. who had been
untiring In his efforts to have him ac-
cept Christ as his Savior. and he pass
| ed into the beyond without expressing
the slightest regret or repentance for
the murder for which he paid the full
penalty. In fact, only a short time be-
| fore his death he stated that he did not
regret what he had done in shooting
down Conductor West. and that he
would do It again under the same cir
cumstances. A murderous wretch by
nature, Pugh met fate that he richly
deserved with fortitude that was sur
prising
| The execution was well handled hy
Sheriff Alex Gillian and passed off
without the slightest hitch. The same
| gallows on which George d. Bryson
and Thomas King were hanged about
five years ago was used and 1t worked
perfectly. A heavy weight was used
in place Of a trap door and Pugh was
jerked up in the air instead of being
dropped through trap door.
Pugh was entertained during all OF
last night by party Of friends and he
seemed to be in better spirits than at
any time since his trial and sentence.
In addition to James Mitchell. Deputy
Shsstft Ban 4faifurd. J. L. Pike. Peter
Woolcott and Frank Doyle, better
known as Happy Jack" who is serv-
ing out SO-day sentence In Jail. were
with him all night. and C. z. Pond. who
circulated the petition asking for a
Communication of his sentence, and other
friends dropped in occasionally to see
him. Happy Jack" secured a banjo
and played and sang during the great
er part Of the night. Several OF his
songs were of sentimental nature
which seemed to set the condemned
man to thinking seriously but his fits
of melancholy were of short duration.
In speaking Of his approaching execu-
tion and what was beyond it he re-
marked to his friends with a smile
THAT must be a pretty good country
over there for no one ever comes back
from it,"
A minute later he asked one OF the
party to telegraph him the result of
the tt-Fitzsimmons fight, in
which he manifested great deal of in
terest. Ex-Sheriff d. Halford called
on him at an early hour this morning
and asked him If he wanted anything
or II there was anything he could do
for him.
NO" replied Pugh with smile, "let
her go as she lays
Mr.. Halford called on him again a
short time before the execution and
asked him how he felt. "As fine as
silk" was the reply.
J. F. Bergman, the day death watch,
came on at o'clock and Pugh greeted
him with the remark: well, Jim, this
is your last shift with me-"
He asked Bergman to write to his
brother, L. A. Pugh Of Walla walla.
Wash, and tell him of his death.
Tell him not to worry about me-
he said. "and to forget me as soon as
possible
At 7:45 he was served with break
fast. consisting Of toast. coffee and
steaks. and he disposed OF everything
that was placed before him. Fifteen
minutes later he lay down and slept
peacefully until . o'clock. The execu.
tion was TO take place some time be-
tween 10 a. m. and p. m. and Sheriff
Gillian visited him a little after .
O'Clock to ascertain what time he pre-.
ferred to have 1t come off.
Make It as soon after 10 o'clock as
possible" said the prisoner. with ap-
parent coolness. ''and let's have IL
over with
The sheriff asked him II he wanted
to say anything at the scaffold. and
he replied: mo. I've nothing to say.
might get up and make an hours talk
but that wouldn't help me out any"
The sheriff then informed him that
there were several press representa-.
tives below who would like 10 see him
and get any statement that he had to
make. but he replied rather petulantly
that he had no statement to make and
did not want to see any reporters. He
also repeated the statement. which he
had made several times before, thai
the papers had roasted" him too much
and more than he deserved.
After tho sheriff retired Rev. c. W
Blythe uf the First Baptist church. en-
tered the condemned mans cell ant
was with him for more than half al
hour. In the meantime the prepara
tlons for the hanging were made a
speedily as possible in accordance will
Pugh's urgent request. At little afte
10 o'clock the doors of the court hous,
yard were opened. and about 70 neo