The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-05-01
IT'S LIFE FOR A LIFE
81 Larkins Has Paid the Penalty for
the Murder Of His Mistress.
EXECUTED AT BLACKFOOT
The Condemned Man Was Cheer
fui to the Last-He Urged His
Friends to Lead a Righteous
Llfe-Hlstory Of the Crime.
specIal pIspateh 10 the Standard.

Special Dispatch TO the Standard.
blackfoot, Idaho. April so.-The day
for the execution OF James Sidney Lar
kins dawned bright and beautiful. in
direct contrast To the gloomy feeling
that had peryad.d the community. Ey-
eryone felt very sympathetic for the
doomed man and "A number drove out
of town. Larkins passed his last night
on earth very quietly. sleeping soundly
toward morning. lie arose In good
spirits and ate a hearty breakfast. He
shaved himself and then attired him
self in new suit OF clothes. He re-
ceiVed callers all the morning. giving
the soundest advice 10 all. urging them
to leave on all evil habits aud to lead
righteous lives. His words were So
warm and tender that hardly anyone
could hear him without shedding tears
About 10 O'Clock he sent for his spiritu-
al adviser. Rev. Mr.. Yost. requesting
| him TO say few farewell words He
was told To believe that the spirit world
into which he was about to enter was
a much better world than this and To-
put his faith absolutely In Christ.
Prayer was then offered for him and at
its close, kn-"ling by the pastor, the
condemned man prayed for mercy and
help. He then hade his pastor fare
/ well In most tender and affectionate
way. During the rest of the morning
until the execution he received all who
came IL see him in most cor6s u man
ner To Sheriff coltman and other enI-
ployes of the Jail he talked most kind
| ~. giving them the best advice pos
sihle.
The death warrant was read at $50
| o'clock this morning. hut Larkins
showed no sign of fear or emotion. As
\ the hour drew near for the execution
he was stlll cheerful and resigned and
/ he did not falter or quail as he was he
ing led tp the gallOws and when the
last matters were heing arranged. lie
said Ia those who had charge of the
aifair not To- fear or IrCmblc but to
bear up as hfayely AS himself He
walked with steady steps to the gal
lows. As the shrrifr was putting the
| rope around his neck he told him to ar
| range II carefully. and as his feet were
| being strapped he told him tn arrange
them So h" could stand more easily
| lie made careful disposition NJ all his
little trinkcts Ia his friends and ex-
pressed the hearti.st thanks to all who
had befriendcd him In any way. He
was grateful that his body could be
buried In u regular cemetery.
At II O'Clock the trap was sprung and
IN n fcw minutes his sufferings were
over. His body was placed in a neat
coffin and shortly after noon the re-
mains We're deposited In the cemetery
at this place. About 30 people Wit
Messed the execution. some coming
from Pocaiello aud idaho Falls. and
among others the sh.riffs II Idaho.
Bannock ana Fremont counties
In an interview l.arkns declared that
he was not IN any way implicated iu
the Callahan murder az salt Lake; that
Josie Hill was with Callahan. hut Lar
kins said that he did not know her at
that time aud that she told him sh"
did not know who killed Callahan lie
said he and Josie Hlll were never mar
ried. but made pledges to be true Ia
each other and were 81 Tor a while, but
that her mother led her In III" way uf
sin. He said he was taught to gamble
by "A gentleman gambler" At tho
galluws his last words were these.
My friends. A savior died on the
cross for you and me-. lie was not sur
rounded by friends as I am to-day, FOR
believe you are here as my friends
Accept Him as your savior ! believe
II. Is mine. bid YOU a long forewell
| Adiru'