The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-05-08

at Blackfoot Friday, April Both, for
the murder of his mistress, Josie
Hill, at Idaho Falls, on Christmas
morning, 1895.
The Blackfoot News gives the fol-
lowing particulars of the execution !:
Precisely at IL :O7 O'Clock A. NJ, Deputy
DeKay touched the lever and, as quick
as flash light, the unfortunate man was
| jerked four feet IN the air and in eight MIN
utes and thirty seconds was pronounced
dead by Drs. Moore and Mitchell, the
attending physicians.
At 11:O5 o'clock the prisoner walked
to the gallows, preceded 10y Sheriff Colt
man and escorted by Messrs. Hafcn and
Vim, and as he took his stand under the
rope he gave instructions as to its adjust
ment and about the straps around the
ankles, and then, when asked by Sheriff
Coltman if he had anything to say, said ::
"My friends, Il Savior died on the cross
| for you and for me; ne was not surrounded
by friends as am to- day, for believe
you who are here are my friends. Accept
him as your Savior; believe he is mine.
| bid you all long farewell. Adieu."
Sheriff Coltman adjusted the black cap
and stepped back and said: ''Sid, good
bye" the lever was touched and all that
was mortal of Sid Larkins was hanging
in the air. HIS neck was broken.
The prisoner kept his nerve to the last,
and, be it told to his credit and to the
credit of the sheriff, deputies aud watch,
not drop OF stimuiants was used to
brace them up for the trying hour.
WHAT HE SAID FOR THE NEWS.
The following brief history of Larkins'
early life, of his acquaintance and life with
Josie Hill, OF his plea for forgiveness aud
his advice to young men is given substan-
italy in his own words to a reporter for
The News. He admitted the murder,
at tine when he was crazed with drink
in prOtracted deDauch:
/ was born in Utah, February 18th,
1860. The first years of my boyhood
were spent with an aunt, but ut IL years
OF age | returned to my father and re
NAMED with him for SIX years. When
18 years old began railroading, aud a,
one term of service was freight aud after
wards passenger conductor on a division
of the Northern Pacific railroad.
In all my years spent On ranch and
in the service OF the railroad companies
| lived an honest and ghttOrward life.
never had al inclination or propensity
to do wrong While not moral man,
yet it was not charged against me that |
was very wicked Or bad man. My
course furnished me passport into good
company.
My first steps in gambling were taught
me by gentleman gambler" one OF
those smooth, polished men who claimed
that all his games were ION the square"
and that he robbed no man Of his money.
From association with this man | learned
To play at cards and determined to play
on the same plans and according to the
same principles. | never had any desire
to play at the low, swindling games. The
most of my playing was for Others, and
on salary. During my gambling days
was only m"ierate driukcr, or rather
social drinker, drinking only with
friends to bc social and keep on good
terms. l always believed could drink
or quit at pleasure. But in tins | was
mistaken. IN an hour of excess | com
mitted the deed which brings me in
shame and disgrace, to an untimely death.
LIFE WITH JOSIE HILL.
At time when | was dealing faro for
d Iirm in Salt Lake City, met Josie Hill.
for the first time. She was IN jail charged
with being implicated in the murder of
Callahan, Il murder that was SO well ad
vertised in Utah and Idaho.
She was soreiy in need Of assistance
ana my employer sent me to the jail to
carry her some money. At that meeting
our acquaintance began and as it extend
ed my infatuation for her grew until my
whole being was warped up in her. She
became part of my life, and | believe
she was devoted to me. We were never
married but We made pledges one TO the
other rs man and wife, and for q long
time we were true.
As long AS we were left to ourselves We
were happy, but her mother would now
and then come upon the scene and would
persuade her to her former ways of life.
[ paid her mothers way to Ireland once
to get rid of her, but she came back to
US at Boise City and induced Josie to go
again in path untrue, and from that
moment | began my downward course 10
drink which followed until crazed with
the stuff, l shot and killed her at Idah"
Fails.
The mothers wicked ways and Josie's
connection with a man OF some prOml-
nence in Boise City set me atire, rs 1t
were, and from that moment until my
murderous deed was as crazy man.
The mention of the name of the Boise
man who wronged me is withheld. 1t
would do no good to tell it at this time,
I forgive him and would bring no trouble
to him or his family. 1t has often been
charged against ME that / knew some
thing of the circumstances OF the killing
of Callahan on the State road in Salt Lake
City. l say now in all candor, sincerely
and truthfully the charges were untrue.
I,was in no way, directly or Indirectly, a
party to it and never knew of it until
after it had be reported in the city. 1t
will he remembered that Josie was with
Callahan when he was murdered, but
did not know her then, and 1t IS my hon.
est belief now that she never knew the
men who killed him. She told me so.
Callahan was displaying a big roll OF
money that afternoon in saloon and
believe that he was followed and killed
by thugs who saw it.
The charges made against me in the
Callahan case, and the one which has
brought ME in sight of the gallOws are
the only two in my life of 81 years ever
laid ut my door. But for those two cases
l might have gone through life as thou
sands of other men, no better and no