The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-07

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thews and her baby was a 17-year-old
white girl named Emma Bowhay. the
daughter OF Mrs. Hannah Bowhay. who
was William Biggerstaff's mistress.
Soon after Johnson reached the house.
Dick Smith, another colored man who
afterwards was the states chief wit
ness, called, and the two men spent
some time chatting with the Matthews
woman and the girl. About $3.50 O'Clock
there came a knock on the back door.
and Biggerstaff and Mrs. Bowhay en-
tered. Mrs. Bowhay told her daughter to
get up and go home. which she refused
to do. Then Biggerstaff told her that
II she didn't obey her mother he would
see that she did. johnson told Bigger
staff to let the girl alone. That led to
an alteration that scarcely amounted
to quarrel. Biggerstaff brandished a
pocket knife, but seemed more in play
than in any unfriendly mood. Sudden
ly he left the house by the back door
and less than minute later started
up the steps leading from the street TO
the front door. He had a revolver in
his hand. johnson seized an old broken
shotgun that happened to be near by.
and as Biggerstar pushed the door
open, struck at him. Almost at the
same instant Biggerstaff fired. The
bullet buried itself in the wall without
doing any damage. Dick Smith and the
women ran out OF the house. and Big
gerstaff entering through the door
grappled with Johnson. A desperate
struggle ensued in which Johnson was
shot through the heart.
After firing the fatal shot Bigger
staff give himself up to the police. An
inquest was held, and a few days later
County Attorney Purcell filed an in
formation against Biggerstaff. charg-
ing him with murder In the first de-
gree. He was held without examina-
tion. The trial was had In October and
lasted five days. Col. G. Ii. Nolan, who
was appointed by the court to defend
Biggerstaff. used his best efforts I'm his
clients behalf. but to no purpose. The
jury. after being out an hour. brought
in a verdict OF guilty. and Oct. 26 he
was sentenced by Judge Blake to be
hanged one month later. Then came
the proceedings before the supreme
court.
Colonel Nolan worked hard TO get his
bill of exceptions. which was not ad-
mitted by Judge Blake. before the su-
preme court. and finally succeeded.
The appeal was taken just before the
day set for the execution. and H. OF
course acted as stay. About the
time the jury brought I'm its verdict
Biggerstam became impressed with the
Idea that his attorney had played him
false. The idea grew until II became a
mania with him. and when he was
allowed to speak March s, when sem
tence was passed for the last time. he
heaped abuse on Colonel Nolan and
Henry c. Smith. who became identI-
fed with the case after II had reached
the supreme court. At that time he
said In his speech that he had been
prosecuted at the Jail and that he had
been subjected to every possible an
noyance.
Soon after he had been sentenced one
OF his sisters sent him money with
which he purchased everything TO eat
that he desired.
For three weeks before his execu-
tion he gorged himself with limburger
cheese. chicken. oysters and other
viands equally delicate.
Biggerstaff. from the time his wife
died in Denver. 15 years ago, led a dis
solute, valueless life. He drank i'm
moderately and was drunk whenever
he had enough money to buy a quart
or two OF whiskey. He did not avoid
work altogether. but was not at all
ambitious In that line He bore a bad
reputation and was extremely unpopu-
lar among the colored people OF Hell
ena. Biggerstaff was born a slave AZ
years ago. He has six sisters living
most OF whom reside in Kansas. He
was brought up In a Catholic family
and since his trial had frequent visits
from a priest. From the first he did
not seem to realize the gravity of his
situation, but Joked and laughed the
hours away even while In the shadow
of the gallows.