Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-03-21
The Young Murderer Pays the Extreme Penalty
u for the Killing of Farquhar McRea
in 1903.
THE EXECUTION SUCCESSFUL
Game to the Last, His Final Words Were, sAll
Can Say Is That | Am
Innocent"
(Republished from Fridays Extra.)

ACCUSED ana as humane as Sucn n
terrible proceeding could possibly be.
Notwithstanding Sheriff Shaw had
no previous experience there was no
accident and the awful duty was
promptly and well done. The
only delay was made by the
condemned man himself, when he
wanted to scribble a lot of stuff Just
before being led out. AS he showed
no disposition to write anything OF
Importance, the sheriff wascompelled
to stop him and perform his duty.
On the scaffold he made no COMES
sion and died declaring his Innocence.
Rev. Albert Pfaus was with the
condemned man on the scaifold and
frequently before. Calder has always
spoken OF a minister with scorn and
To the officers it seemed probable that
he would continue to entertain the
same feelings to the end. Sheriff Shaw
was unwilling that this should be,
and Tuesday and Wednesday Rev.
Pfaus called and talked with Calder
on generalsubjects. Wednesday night
Calder asked the night watch who
the man was who had called, and
when told he was a minister the
prisoner expressed great surprise,
pleasantly adding, ''They havejobbed
mo-"
He seemed to have taken a liking
to Mr.. Pfaus and Thursday asked
twice that he might see him.
In talking with the minister he ex-
pressed absolute unbelief In a God
and would not be led into a discus
sion of the possibilities Of the here.
after. His language toward him was
carefully selected and free from all
abuse Of any n Mr.. Pfaus asked
Thursday morning tn be allowed to
offer prayer, but Calder told him.
mo, not now" The minister desired
that Calder see his mother again and
make amends for his charge that she
knew more Of the crime than she had
told. fearing her husband, but he
gave no encouraging response. This
request referred to Calder's persistent
insinuations and open charge on his
trial that Sam Smith had killed the
men.
Wednesday night a great change
came v Calder and from then until
his death his conversation was free
from the abuse which had character
lied it through his long imprison-
ment. He maintained c~Iieerfulness,
but abandoned his use OF obscene
words and reference to such topics.
That night he seemed very restless
and did not get to sleep until nearly
4 a. M, when he rested until 7:l5.
Thursday afternoon he asked for
fruit and was given some oranges,
which he appeared to relish.
Last evening he was very cheerful
and told many stories to the guards,
not going to bed until about 1880.
Removed restlessly for twenty min
utes and then settled to peaceful
slumber, not awakening until after Z
O'Clock in the morning.
His first words were to Geo. East
man, to whom he said Good morn
ing" as pleasantly as though no
thought of impending death dis
turbed him. Later, after dressing,
which he did as upon every previous
morning. seeming to make no extra
preparations, and while waiting for
breakfast he continued quietly en-
gagged with the watchers.
At supper time yesterday Calder
asked for oysters, hut none were pro-
durable and he was given eggs which
he enjoyed.
When Jailer Nichols arrived In the
morning he told Billy that some
oysters had arrived on the coach
and that he could have some for
breakfast. to which he expressed
pleasure and further thanked Nichols
for also offering some halibut. This
and hot cakes and honey, for which
he also asked, was included with his
regular fare, which he seemed to-
relish. hut he ate scantily.
As the jailer left the room to get
the breakfast. Billy said III you see
the folks, Theo. tell them ain COM
ing down soon."
Roy Ayres, a young man. sleeps
In the jailer's room, and as he
LETT for breakfast this morning he bid
the condemned man goodbye, to-
which Billy cheerfully responded.
Good bye, Roy, be good to your
SELF"
For some days two men were con-
stantly with him day and night,
Clyde Osgood, John Foster and Mike
Riser being the regular guards, these
being supplemented by n fourth.
Wednesday night JEFF Sherman, the
leader OF the posse which captured
Calder, was one Of the guards. but
Calder manifested an antipathy to
Sherman and he was relieved by Geo.
Eastman. whom Billy liked.
Sherman and H. II. Watson Of the
ARGUS, we're the only ones whom
Billy seemed to object to seeing, the
latter solely on account OF the re-
ports of the trial which appeared In
these columns.
The gallows used were OF the lift