The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-07
the Slayer of Dick John
son, Swung Into Eternity.
THE COOLEST MAN OF ALL
He Played Cards on the Night Be-
fore execution, Slept Soundly
and Evinced No Fear During
the Solemn Proceedings.
Special Dispatch to the Standard

yard of the Lewis and Clarke county
prison this morning. The weight fell
at precisely 10 minutes past 10 o'clock,
and eight and one-half minutes later he
was pronounced dead by Drs. n. Salvail
and Dogge. His neck was broken and
he did not suffer a particle. He died
game" as he said he would. There was
no bravado about his demeanor. and he
was perfectly sober. Apparently, there
was no cooler man at the execution
than himself.
Biggerstaff, after winning IL out of
Is games of cribbage and sundry games
of seven-up. played with a newspaper
reporter. went to bed at o'clock this
morning and was soon asleep. He slept
soundly. snoring so loudly as TO keep
the prisoners in the tier of cells below
him awake. He rose at o'clock and
read the morning papers. Breakfast
was taken to him at Z. and he ate
heartily. Father Day. his minister. ar
rived before the meal was completed.
He performed the last rites of the
church, and remained with him to the
end. At s o'clock the crowd began to
collect about the jail. Those who had
invitations were admitted to the jail
yard. and a dozen or more OF sheriffs
and deputies were passed into the jail.
The gallows was given the last test.
and everything was in readiness. The
jail yard began TO fill and. as the hour
approached. the waiting crowd showed
signs of nervousness.
At 9:45 o'clock Sheriff Jurgens climb
ed the iron steps leading to the balcony
opposite the condemned mans quart
ers.
"Biggerstafr. I have a paper here and
must read 1t to you" he said.
'All right, sir" was the reply.
The sheriff then read the death war
rant which closed with the words. land
you shall execute the sentence of this
court between the hours of 10 o'clock a.
m and 2 o'clock p. m"
Biggerstaff drank in every word and
when the sheriff finished reading, he
asked II the time had been set.
Yes" was the reply. 1T will be just
as soon as you are ready"
We'll. I'm ready now" said Bigger
staff,
- The sherin then told Biggerstafr that
he had left drink OF whiskey for him
and urged him to take IL at once. The
sheriff was about to turn away, when
Biggerstaff turned to him and said:
"Whiskey's all right, but ! would
rather have beer" IL was too late,
however, and Biggerstaff turned again
to his confessor. At six minutes past
10 o'clock Sheriff Jurgens and Under
sheriff Fred r. Hoss entered Bigger
Stairs cell with the shackles.
Turning to Bill Gay. who was confin-
ed in the same quarter OF the jail. Big
gerstaff stretched out his hand with
"Well. Bill, I've got to say good bye"
Gay was much affected. He shook the
outstretched hand earnestly, but could
scarcely speak.
Then the march TO the gallows COM
menced. the sheriff and undersheriff
leading the way. Down the stair and
around to the rear of the jail went the
procession. Biggerstaff never faltered.
He needed some assistance in descend
ing the stairs into the Jail yard. owing
to the straps around him, but he walk
ed without a halt to the board plat
form under the gallows. Then he
calmly gazed about on the crowd be-
fore him.
Gentlemen, wish to thank you all
for the kindness you have shown to-
wards me-" he said. in tones that be-
tokened not the least fear. II will ask
all to forgive me for anything j may
have done. and / have forgiven you all
freely. / am going home. gentlemen"
When he concluded Undersheriff Hoss
adjusted the strap around his feet.
Looking down on him, Biggerstaff re-
marked: What's the matter; why do
you shaker" Then he asked Father
Day. who stood beside him. praying, to
put on the black cap. which he did.
Sheriff Jurgens adjusted the moose.
There was a slight pause. A shudder
ran through the little audience. The
signal was given to the executioner,
who was screened from view by can
vas: the weight fell with a thud. and
the body OF the murderer bounded into
the air q few inches. There was a con-
vulsive twitching of the body for a
moment and that was all. In eight and
a half minutes life was extinct. In Is
minutes the body was lowered into a
casket by Undertaken Flaherty and the
black cap removed. The features were
not distorted in the least. The body
was taken to the morgue ana will prob
ably be buried tomorrow in the pot
ter's field.
Dick Johnson, for whose murder
William Biggerstan was executed on
the gallows this morning, was killed In
dirty little hovel on Water street.
June Q, 1895. IL was a peculiar crime.
for the state was unable TO prove a mo-
tive. and the defense was unable 20
establish an excuse. The prosecution
did endeavor 20 prove that Biggerstaff
had threatened to kill Johnson for
breaking his fishing rod. but the effort
was practically a failure. and the de-
fense undertook TO prove. besides self
defense, that he was under the infiu-
ence OF liquor when the crime was
committed. but did not succeed in do
ing SO.
The tragedy occurred early Sunday
morning. Dick Johnson just one week
almost to the hour before had fought
Dick Case. the Yakima kid. In this
city. for a purse OF 500. After three
fierce rounds johnson lost the fight on
a foul. Thinking that he might arrange
a fight in Butte. johnson planned TO
leave the following Sunday for that
city on the early morning train. His
father. ]. r. Johnson. lives in Butte.
and he had spent several years there.
being well known as a pugilist. About
4.30 Sunday morning Johnson stopped
at the house Of Mrs. Lottie Matthews.
disreputable cOlOred woman. who
lived at 3l1 Water street. He wanted
TO say goodbye to her and her baby.
lie thought much Of the baby and often