The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-05
HE IS UNCONCERNED
BiggerStaff Is Told That His Last
Hope Is Forever Gene.
NO AID FROM THE GOVERNOR
He Refuses to Interfere In the De-
cree of the Court-Another Petit
ton handed to the Executive
The Prisoner Puffs at His Cigar.
Special Dispatch to the standard.

Special Dispatch TO the Standard.
Helena April 4-Governor Richards
this afternoon decided not to interfere
with the decree Of the court in the Big
gerstaff case, and the condemned man
will be hanged Monday morning in the
Lewis and Clarke county Jail Bigger
staff took the news calmly. not show
ing the least emotion. The decision of
the governor arrived at about 3
O'Clock, but Biggerstaff was not told
of his fate until $3.50 O'Clock Deputy
Sheriff kleinschmidt performed the
unpleasant duty, handing him copy
of an evening paper with the news set
forth in flowing headlines. Biggerstaf
read through the scare head. putting
away at the same time on a cigar.
Well, Big. I'm sorry for you" re-
marked the deputy.
1T don't amount to anything" was
the reply It's all right; I'll take IL"
Was il a surprise TO you2"
Not particle. I've been expecting
IL right along. No more surprised
than If take a drink of water. 1t
wouldn't have any difference If a mill
lion names had been on the petition.
I've been handicapped from the start,
both inside and outside. I've not had
a fair show But I'm a man and not
mouse" he added vehemently. They
can kill me easy enough, but / won't
weaken"
Biggerstaff then began to speak of
his case. His manner convinced those
who heard him that he believed he had
not been fairly dealt with. Ten minutes
after he received the news he was
Laughing at one of his own jokes.
Three hundred and fifty persons visit
ed the Jail to-day and nearly all signed
Biggerstaff and Gays petitions. All
preparations have been made for the
xryhf will tal no
tween 10 and IL o'clock Monday morn
ing
After the governor had declined to
help Biggerstaff, but before the latter
knew of the decision, j. +. Ball, a
friend of the condemned man, pre-
scented a petition for a reprieve of a
few days. Biggerstaff had signed IL in
case of an emergency" not knowing
an emergency was at hand. 1t was an
attempt to influence the governor by I'M
just accusations against Biggerstaff's
attorneys. 1t was directed TO the gov
ernor and reads:
Dear Sir:-The undersigned, WILL
lam Biggerstaff, under sentence of
death, hereby appeals to your excel
| lency for a respite of a few days in or
| der to prepare his soul for his maker.
/ The last few days have been spent by
him in an earnest and unceasing eff
fort to make such a presentation of his
case as might secure executive Glenn
ency. rendered necessary by the fact
that those to whom he entrusted his
affairs i'm the early stages of the case
were not faithful TO their trust, there
by making him a victim of misplaced
confidence q ora sanguine tempera-
ment he has never doubted that the
merits of his case would finally entitle
him to executive clemency, but at the
very threshold OF death he finds that
all hope is passed and he is horrihed
and appalled, with death staring him in
the face and he is totally unprepared
to enter the everlasting hereafter.
He therefore most sincerely begs
! your exeellency to grant him a few days
respite that he may be enabled to pre-
pare himself with the assistance OF
such kind Christians as may volunteer
their aid in an earnest effort, to atone
for his sins and prepare his soul tC
meet his God"