The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-18
First Legal Execution to Take Place
In Alaska.
HOMER BIRD IS TO DIE
PRESIDENT PARDoNs ONE OF
soAPY SMITHS GANG.
United States Judge Johnson Re-
signed Because His Salary Was
Not Large Enough to Pay His
Travelling Expenses = Prisoners
Going to San Quentin Pen.

Port Townsend, Wash. Dec III.
Homer Bird. the condemned Alaska
murderer. after being refused a new
trial by Judge Johnson, will make an
effort to prolong his life by an appeal
to the United States supreme court,
according TO reports brought here to-
day by the steamer City of Topeka.
Judge johnson in imposing the death
penalty on Bird stated that in all the
evidence in the case there was not one
single extenuating circumstance TO JUS
tify Birds crime.
The execution of Bird will be the
first legal hanging in Alaska during
American occupation In the early SET
Element of Juneau some Indians killed
a white man. They were arrested and
given trial before a tribunal of miners.
Judge, prosecuting attorney and jul
rors We're selected from among the
miners The three Indians were found
guilty and sentenced to be hanged A
temporary scaffold was erected and the
Indians were executed the next day.
On the gallows they confessed.
On the Topeka were six prisoners IN
charge of United States Marshal Shoup
of Alaska, who is taking them to San
Quentin TO serve terms ranging from
three to twenty years. Among the prlS-
and one white man named Carl, SEN
fenced to twenty years for murder
Desperate Is Pardoned.
The "Soapy" Smith gang which ter
rorized Skagway during the early days
of the Klondike excitement, and who
were finally tried. convicted and SEN
fenced. after the death of Soapy Smith.
their leader, will soon have their lib
erty. News has just reached Alaska
that President Mckinley had pardoned
w. F. Foster, alias slim jim" Foster
had served twelve months and his par
don is due to the fact that he is dying
of consumption. Another of the gang
named Triplet has served his time,
while Bowers will be turned loose in
March.
United States Judge Charles S. john
son of Alaska, has at last made public
his reasons for resigning. His letter
to the United. States attorney general
is as follows:
''Sir-Through you l desire to tender
to the president my resignation as
United States judge for the district of
Alaska The present term of court
will probably terminate in January,
leaving business in good condition for
the spring term. But my business ar
engagements are such that / must sur
render office by the first day of March.
If my successor could be appointed,
confirmed, and reach Alaska on the
date last named it would be highly
gratifying to me.
In rendering my resignation it af-
fords me much pleasure to extend to
the president and to you my hearty
thanks not alone for my appointment.
but for the uniform confidence and
kindness shown me during my incum-
bency. My duties while arduous, have
been uniformly pleasant and my retire
ment is due solely TO the necessity of
lettering my financial condition. Three
thousand dollars a year is not enough
to pay ones necessary expenses in
Alaska and | am gratified with the as
surance / have received that my SIC
cessor will be better paid. Very truly,
CHARLES S. JOHNSON.
Judge"