The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-02
HE WILL SOON DROP
Biggerstah, the Murderer Of Dick John
son, Will Interview the Governor.
HIS APPETITE is WITH HIM
The Condemned Mans Attorneys
Petition the Executive to Com
mute the 0entence-Remark-
able Plea From Sunset.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helena, April LA picture frame
peddler named ]. Winter was arrested
by the police to-day on advice Of the
police of Anaconda Winter Is charged
with petty larceny. An officer from
Anaconda is expected to arrive to-mor-
row and will take Winter back for
trial
William Biggerstaff. who will be
hanged Monday for the murder OF
Dick Johnson, Is preparing to inter-
view the governor tomorrow. Bigger
stan requested an interview and the
governor granted II. He has about 100
names on a petition for executive
clemency. Col. c. b. Nolan and Henry
c. Smith. the condemned mans attor-
neys. whom he maligned publicly when
allowed to speak by the court just be-
fore sentence was passed. sent the gov
ernor letter to-day asking him to
commute the sentence to life imprison-
ment. In part they say:
The circumstances attending upon
the killing viewed in their most unfa-
vorable light against the defendant.
showed that an alteration OF some
kind was going on, so that when the
fatal shot was fired there was not such
a degree of calmness and cooIness
which would rightfully merit the ex-
tttAtC PtAidtl9 VI Tic law. bt<lQe5 THIS
there unavoidably came before the
jury. during the trial OF the case, mat
ters foreign to the killing. which no
doubt had a tendency ito arouse preju-
dice against the defendant. We have
reference TO the evidence regarding the
Illicit relations existing between Big
gerStan and a white woman OF the
name of Bohay. with whom II was
shown that he had lived for some time
We advert to this particularly for,
while we recognize the proposition by
technical rules OF law that the verdict
was sustained by the evidence. we
equally appreciate that the evidence
was OF such character that the jury
might with propriety have reduced the
grade OF the homicide. but, no doubt
influenced by those extraneous mat
ters, they were indisposed 10 accord
any lienency TO him. A careful PERU
sal before the supreme court and now
In the custody OF the clerk OF that
tribunal, will, we are sure. satisfy you
as TO the correctness of the deductions
we have outlined"
Five residents OF Sunset, Mont, also
ask for executive clemency. "for-rne
reason that William Biggerstaff was
drunk on the night of the murder.
While Montana sells whiskey shall not
Montana care for her victims and not
call for blood?" ~
realize his serious condition. eats as
much as ever. He has an enormous
capacity for chicken. oysters. beer and
whtskey, eating as much in a day as
Bill Gay, who Is confined with him.
eats I'm a week. Dick Johnson's mother
and four sisters visited the condemned
man last night. Biggerstaff made his
home with Mrs. johnson seven years
She prayed earnestly for him and for
gave him for killing her son.
Union revival services which have
been In progress In this city since
March is, under the leadership OF
Evangelist j. III. Elliott and Assistant
Il. II. Butts, closed tonight. More than
1000 persons crowded the Auditorium.
The meetings have been very success
ful. the average attendance being more .
than 1000 every night. with well at
tended afternoon services. The pastors
think the city has been thoroughly
aroused In religious matters and that
hundreds Of souls have been saved
The evangelist and Mr. Butts left to-
night for Bozeman. where they will
begin Tomorrow a two weeks soul Z
saving campaign. ~ 4.