The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-06
DID NOT ADMIT GUILT
EFFECTIVE REPUTATION OF THE
STATEMENT THAT JOE HURST
CONFESSED
LETTER OF DENIAL IN FULL
1t Was Found Imme diately After
the Execution In the Cell
the Condemned Man
Had Occupied.

been highly respected residents Oh. IIlS
place He was convicted of the murder
of Sheriff Dominick Cavanaugh, Of Glen
dive, on circumstantial evidence, and as
his record was without blemish a mighty
effort was made to secure executive Glenn
ency People who knew him best Were
not convinced of his guilt. The state
ment that he confessed guilt before exc
cution to a minister OF the Gospel is
refuted by the following retter which
was found in his cell Immediately after
the execution:
Il feel that it is my duty to say a few
words in my own behalf. L did try to get
the vacant office after Mr.. CaVanaugn S
death, and L uon't nor never dld deny
IL. L wrote to MI Baird Sunday evening
after being advised to by Mr.. Alling, as
l intended TO go to Forsyth Monday on
No. /, and spoke to Mr.. Brown about
II Monday about noon, as several citl-
zens toIu me there was no officer acting
at that time, and 1t was necessary to
have one at once, and l spoke to Hadley
Robinson two or three days later. l
on money on election, | did not.
spent my time and travelling expenses
ana small amount over the bar, but
was not disappointed over the result of
the election, as l knew | stood a splen-
did show two years hence, as the only
excuse against me was my age, and a
great many had come to me and told me
so. Good people, l am man, every
inch of me- Some people say l must
have lots of nerve to keep up as l do, but
no man needs nerve TO what is right and
honest. God helps man to do that
Others say am cold-blooded because
whistle or play the mouth harp, but God
knows my heart is warm for what is just
and right, and cold blood never flows
truthfully that l ever harmed any one
IN my life. Poor Dominick knows III
he knows) who struck him his death
blow that 1t was not me. But it is my
m hot fIaa
who struck him, as it is my belief the
man that struck that blow, that left a
fatherless home with a widow and three
little children, must have been in the
stable, and when Dominick looked in he
was struck that fatal blow.
Il will give you the names of two wit
nesses who 4 know testified falsely
against me, and they know the truth is
that they were talked to and asked and
bribed to DO so. Frank Gilmore ani
Nell Ward are the two. Put them both
together, and what have you got. L. L.
p H, you can make it out yourself if
you know them. AS for other witnesses,
TWO OF them were mistaken about my
clothes, Mr.. Moede and Mrs. Hunt, as 1
haven had a canvas coat for over
year, and didn't have on my overcoat
the night Mr.. Moede thought L did AS
FOR the others, l think they told the
truth as near as they could remember.
1t will all be plain some day, and il will
be known who killed Dominick CaVa-
naugh and that | knew nothing about
it. Judge Loud has done me a great
wrong and injustice when he passed SEN
tence upon me, but he was misled by the
false witnesses and untrue stories told
about town. MIR. Cavanaugh never spoke
Il harsh word to me in his life, nor [ to
him. We were always good friends. and
how any one can say or think in their
heart that l committed this awful crime
Is more than can understand. We have
had considerable business together and
never had bit of trouble. He always.
spoke a good word for me during our
campaign, and L done the same for him,
ana no one can truthfully say different
Oh, where is their chain of evidence? L
nave Ialled to see one link connecting
me with this dreadful crime
might stand and talk for three hours
placed upon me, but that would not sat
1sfy the wicked people who have done
everything possible to injure me and my
family. My wife and and Almighty God
know 1 am not a criminal but an limo
cent man. l did not kill poor DominIck
SG;aaX,anaugh or know anything about his
the world, as old Tom Holmes has told
you, and would have had nothing to gain.
but everything to lose. l have a loving
wife and two little ones to shelter and
ness, and was happy, but they have plac-
eu TINS awful crime upon me by false
testimony, but God will have revenge. |
would if it could be, that God would
open and read my heart to the people and
show them that 1 am an Innocent man
l have lived in Glendive ever since I was
live and be an honest, upright man-and
no one can truthfully say that | ever
zone any one wrong or unjust deed
knowingly. ] have always tried to live
right, and had a warm place in nv heart
for the town / was raised in. but nv
heart is almost broken, since have been
this cold and dreary place for nothing.
God only knows the feeling of q man fo
be taken away from his happy home and
FAMILY, and be put In close confinement
for myself that | care, as / would be
willing to. give my own life to save any
one, but for my. own family and people
who know I'm innocent, it is hard for
them TO bear. If there is a just God (and
oeileVe there Isl, why should innocent
people suffer. and scoundrels and murder
ers prosper, God only. knows? AS I sit
mere listening at the running river and
thinking it is the first time in seventeen
years that l haven't seen the ice go out.
and 1t makes tears come to my eyes to
think of it. Oh, the sorrow of that night
poor helpless people, my heart aches for
them that mourn, poor Joie he knows
poor Nellie, will we ever forget that
pleasant face and kind heart? God knows
the end from the beginning. This life is
not ALL The grave is not the end of orr
dreams and hopes. A mans home is his
world, or at least it should be. for It he
works and thinks. and the loved ones
If am worthy when I die
Let my silent body lie.
floWerS, do no deeds of Scorn or shame
Nor burn they with fierce hatred's flame
How fair at last, when life is spent,
TO die pure souled and innocent
mo one is ever surprised at a had ac
ton, but good one makes human nature
at once look for bad motive in it What
good Is 1t to defend ourselves when no
one cares to listen, when we are con-
demned before we have spoken nothing
is SO cruel as prejudice; she blind and
deaf she shuts her eyes purposelv thai
she may stab boldly for she knows IL
she were to look honestly at her victIm
she could not do it. 1t was God that gave
me. ana lie mas right TO take me- when
and how He will. Oh, how sorry Won
people would be, II you only knew the
injustice you have done my poor wife apd
little children. God bless them. anu
L nave endeavored to do nv dntv and
am ready to die ''Aiu
Short has been my career. but nv life
has been a full one, for it was Ivrn
or praise to those who knew me as I real
ly was, and not as sinners have tried to
make me, nci in vain did I live. AZ NV -,
name is called up yonder, I'll be there
God forgive the poor sinners thew know,
not what they dOeth. Dear parents ana
loved ones, it is no longer open to douht
that l must leave this world within few
hours or days, and so I shall bid voI,
goodbye, dear ones, as / shall not sea
you any more on earth. Forgive me ali
the sorrow l have ever caused YOU fare
We'll, and be convinced that / suffer no
pain as l die innocent, and may God bless
ana protect nv loving wife and dear LITTLE
chlldren' and some day We will meet up
yonder, where We never more shall mart
God bless and watch over YOU all
our very loving son, brother father