The herald., 1896-02-11

Within the next thirty days the remttur
will arrive from the north and the prisoner
will then be taken to San Quentin prison
to be confined until date is fixed by the
supreme court for his execution.
Then it will be the duty of the warden of
the penitentiary 10 satisfy justice and
carry out tue mandate Of the law.
The intelligence that the supreme court
had affirmed the decision in the Kid
Thompson case was received by Sheriff
Burr about noon. It was conveyed by
telegram from Clerk Z. H. Ward of the
supreme court, who wired that, although
the decision had been affirmed, there were
three dissenting justices.
THOMPSON INFORMED
Under Sheriff H. C. Clements proceeded
at once to the county jail to notify the
prisoner of his fate. Thompson was found
in the cell with his seven fellow prisoners
who are either convicted OF or charged with
murder.
Calling Thompson out into the corridor,
the under sheriff in a few words Informed
him that the effect of a supreme court de-
cision handed down u few hours previous
was that in short ime he would be le
gaily and actually dangling at the end of a
rope OH the scatfold.
Kid Thompson is nothing if not nervy.
and when he heard what his fate would be
he was apparently unmoved. There was
not tremor nor even an indication that
he was surprised at the decision of the
court. The news, which would be rather
unpleasant to most individuals, he received
as matter of course. In a tired way he
threw his arms back over his shoulders and
said:
WANTED IT DONE QUICKLY
''If it has got to come off, anG reckon
ithas, hope that you will not delay mat
ters. Hurry it up and don't keep me lay
ing around here any longer than you have
to. l am no good to myself nor anyone
better it will be. | am tired any way of
laying around hero in Jail, That of itself
is just about as bad as being dead"
lis there anything you wish?" asked the
under-sheriff.
'.No, there is nothing 1 want except for
this business to be hurried. up and gotten
over with. That's all | care for, and if
they get a hustle on themselves they will
satisfy me better than anything else they
can do for me.
THE DEATH WATCH SET
The Kid was then Immediately taken out
of murderers' row and placed in the cell
where United States prisoners are ordina-
rily confined. The death watch was
set.
luis the lntenuiOu OF tDe Snerlll not TO
permit the Kid to be alone for one single
moment, either night or day, as long as he
is kept in the Los Angeles county Jail. The
fact that the death watch was set npon him
did not move the Kid. He simply carried
placid smile on his face, but said moth
Mg.
THE KIDS CRIME
Kid Thompson was convicted OF wreck
ing and robbing Southern Pacific pas
senger train at Roscoe station about two
years ago. He had accomplices. Kid
himself turned the switch which sent the
engine into the ditch and Engineer Haley
was killed. 1t was a fearful crime. Kid
was convicted from facts obtained from
him which were brought out in statements
he made to fellow prisoners. Corrobora.
ton for these statements was obtained
outside the Jail.
The appeal to the supreme court was
mainly based upon the legal point that the
complaint against the Kid charged two Of
fenses-tran robbing and murder-when
in order to be valid it should charge only
one.
This point is considered quite strong
one. and upon it the district attorney is OF
the opinion the three justices dissented.
A BRUTAL CHARACTER
1t is the unanimous opinion of the jail
authorities that the Kid is one OF the mosi
cold-blooded, brutal characters ever kept
ije acts as though he cared no more for a
human life than he did for the destruction
of bothersome fly.
In order tha. the Kids case might be ap
pealed to the supreme court his sistel
raised $3.50 to pay for the expense. A.
three justices have dissented from the con
snrring opinion motion for rehearini