Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-05-01
THE LAW INDICATED.
SID LARRLNS HANGED BY THE
THE NECK UNTIL DEAD.

SID LARRLNS HANGED BY THE
THE NECK UNTIL DEAD.
DIES IN 5 MINUTES AND 80 SECONDS.
he GiYes His Life for the Life OF
His Mistress. Rhom He nur.
dered-Aakes an Anfe-Aorten,
Statement Before Going to the
Gaiiows-Is Brave to the Last.
The law has been yindicated. II Il
all over with James Sidney Larkins.
Precisely NJ ii:07 o'clock a. M. Deputy
Dekay touched the lever and, as quick
as fash light, the unfortunate man
was ierlSed 4 feet in the air and In {
minutes and 30 seconds was pronounced
dead by Drs. Moore and Mitchell, the
attending physicians.
Al llsD5 o'clock the prisoner walked
70 the galiows, preceded by Sheriff
coltman and escorted by Messrs. Hafer
and Winn, and as he took his stand un.
der the rope he gave directions about
It's adjustment and about the straps
around the ankles, and then, when
asked by Sheriff Coltman II he had
anything 10 say, he said:
My friends. q Savior died on the
cross for you and for me; he was no,
surrounded by friends as am to-day,
for believe you who are here are
my friends. Accep, him as your Sa.
vior; ! believe he IL mine. bid you
ali long farewell. Adieu."
Sheriff coltman adjusted the black
cap and stepped back and said: "Sid,
goodbye" the lever was touched and
all that was mortal OF Sid Larkins wa
hanging In the air. His neck was
broken.
The plans for the execution were
perfect. They werc carried out mos,
successfully, and Sheriff z. p. Colt.
man and the officials with him de.
serve praise for the manner in
which every detail OF their duty was
performed. The prisoner kept his
nerve 20 the last, and, be Il told TO his
credit and 20 the credit OF the sheriff,
deputies aud watch, not q drop OF slim
ulants was used 20 brace them up for
the trying hour. The execution in II:
entirety was q success.
In an interview with THE NEWS re
porter few moments before the execu
tlon he told US 10 repeat a former state
ncnt that he was In no way implicated
In the Callahan murder az Salt LAX,
City and that it was his honest belle
that Josie Hill, poor woman Of cir
cumstances, was as ignorant OF the real
murdcrers as he was himself.
His last day, Thursday, was spent In
the same quiet, calm and unmoved
manner a. the days before. He re
ceIved number OF visitors during the
day, women and men. and greeted all
with cordiality and In a cheerful man
ner. Thursday night he slept well
through the entire night and greeted
the watch and officers OF the jail Fri
day morning with bis characteristic
nerve and cheerful spirits.
AZ $50 Sheriff Coltman read the
death warrant TO him, and he listened
and heard him as apparently unmoved
az any one present. The nerve OF the
man was wonderful throughout bis
long confinement and through the try.
lug ordeals OF his laat hours. Men
who have witnessed other executions
declare they never witnessed a display
OF more nerve at any death scene.
Al 10 o'clock Rev. Mr.. Yost visited
the condemned man and remained with
him In prayer and other services until
the moment came for the solemn march
to the gallows.
WHAT HE SAID FOR THE NEWS.
The following brief history OF his
early life, OF his acquaintance and life
with Josie Hill, OF his plea for forgive
ness and his advice TO young men II
given substantially In his own words
a. given, and afterwards repeated, tc
reporter for THE NEWS. He admit
ted the murder but claimed to the last
n was committed at q time when he
was crazed with drink In u protracted
|aabaucb. In his interviews he always
insisted that he had no desire to impli
cate others In anyway with his troubles
and whatever he knew OF their efforts
TO rive him trouble with the woman ht
would not make known the names OF
tho nnrties or detail what they said o.
did. He wanted to die at peace with
NIL and ho forgave all and hoped TO b
forgiven.
ms EARLY HISTORY.
James Sidney Larkins was born II
tEth IQln Tim frs