Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-09-14

% several whom he recognized in clear
tones. He paused for a moment be-
tween salutations he exchanged, cleared
his throat and began to speak. ..I see
down there a great many people he
said who are anxious to see me hung.
I see a great many young men down
there, and to them want to say that
liquor did this. (, Here he stopped,
and his opening statement led the
witnesses to think that he would fol-
low this with a complete confession.
But he changed the tenor of his re-
marks and broke into a violent TRADE
against his attorney. He talked in
this strain for several minutes and,
then declared that he was innocent Of
the crime for which he was about to
suffer punishment. He paused, and the
moose was adjusted about his neck and
the black cap pulled down over his
face. After the cap had been drawn.
down completely over his features he.
shouted through its folds in a loud tone
OF voice Il am an innocent man" The
lever was sprung and the condemned
man shot down through the trap. The
body sWayeds slightly and turned as
the rope was frightened. The; trap
was swung at 8: IA \ and at S::2233 the last
sign. .of. life had vanished The body
was cut down and placed in coffin
which was there to receive 1t, and was
taken Immediately to the home Of his
relatives, whence it will belinterred.
When the body was taken down !,
sealed envelope containing a number
OF letters in his handwriting were
taken from his person: The only let
ter of public, Interest was a brief note
addressed to Mr., Patterson, signed Ira
O. Jenkins, which read: Please clear
the old man for take all the guilt on
myself" Another note was addressed
to States Attorney Allen, stating the
fact fact that he had left a letter which
would clear the old man.
The funeral of Jenkins will take
place from the home of his relatives
'tomorroW morning alt 10 8 clock. The
remains have been taken there, and
there was little distortion or disfgure-
ment of sthe. features discovered when
the the cap was remoY There is a gloc
deal OF sympathy for; the young wife
and the mothe er4in-law Of Jenkins, who,
have a been persistent in their efforts to:
save him from the galloWs. 1t isssto
besregretted that the sins of the young
man should find such an end as will
cloud the lives of the women who.
have been left behind. Aside from
his wife, jenkins leaves an infant
child. t
With the confession Of Jenkins that
his father was not guilty of ,Ae crime,
the case against the father, James M.
Jenkins viii be dismissed States
Attorney Allen will file the written
statement Of the executed man exon
Grating his father, with his reasons for
the dismissal of the case, and the old
man will probably be released in day:
or two. .s II 2-sss
# The preparations for the execution
were all made by Sheriff Bogue, ana
the matter has been a considerable,
strain upon him. That the mandate
of the law was SO well and fittinglytcar-i
ried out, without hitch or incident, Isl
due to his care and chfulness, and
he Isl to be given credit lor the same
faithful execution of f5the duties Of his;
Office ia: this case that has characterized
him in all cases that have come before:
him for action.
II THE CRIME.
The crime for which jenkins was
convicted and executed is SO recent as
to be familiar to all residents of the
county. Last spring Ira jenkins
brought word that a dead man had ben
found in the coal mine at their place.
The authorities went out and tiiscov-
cred the dead man to be Gust Stark,
who had been working for the Jenkins
family. When Jenkins and his father
were questioned they told such contra
dietogy stories about the discovery Of
the body that they were suspe pected. The
two men were placed in confinement
and before the coroners jury told the
same contra dietpry stories. States
Attorney Allen subjected them TO a.
rigid crosse nination and filed In
formations against them for mnlsl ler,
upon the verdict Of the coroners jury.
ir. Allen has been convinced from
the first that Ira Jenkins was the man
who killed Stark and he prosecuted the
case with that view, weaving such Il
chain Of violence against him THAT he
was convicted and sentenced to death.
Prior to The trial the father confessed
that his son lad killed Stark and 4Ttsft