Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-09-15
Exonerates His Father ii a Brief Written
Statement, Taking the Guilt 9 n
Himself Alone.
"a Remarkable Exhibition Of Bravado, Reck-
@lessness. and Apparent Unfeeling in
His Last Hours Of Life.
From Yesterdays Last Edition.)

lFrom Yesterdays Last Edition.l
With a dismal wind signing through
the pine enclosure erected for his exc
cution, and a drizzling rain falling
steadily, Ira O. Jenkins this morning
expiated his crime, In the murder of
August Stark, last spring. A thun-
deryAborm began at 5 o'clock in the
morning, and the rain fell steadily un-
til s o'clock. The execution wa TO
have taken place between 5 and Z
o'clock, but Sheriff Bogue did not pro-
coed until after the intensity Of the
storm had lessened. It was 5 minutes
past s O'Clock when the march to the
scaffoId began and at $3.50 the body
had been cut down and placed in the
coffin in readiness for the reception of
his remains. The neck OF the exc
cuted mar was broken and he was
pronounced dead by DR.. Matchan at
1875.
The scene on the scaffold and the
demeanor Of jenkins during the last
hours of his life stamped him as a re-
markable example of depravity and
villainy. From the time he had break
fast at about a o'clock in the morning.
until THE cap had been pulled down
over his face just before the trap was
sprung his conversation was inter
Iarded with vulgarity, profanity and
blasphemy. He did not seem TO real
ize his condition or car that the end
of his Life was o to be reached.
Never once was there an expression OF
genuine feeling, remorse, sorrow or
fear. His breakfast Of ham and eggs
he ate heartily, pausing to criticise the
quality of the ham with profane en-
phasis. After his breakfast he sat in
his cell, smoked and made occasional
remarks to the jailors, deputies and
those who were permitted to see him
in his cell. He commented fippantly
ON the rain which delayed the execu-
tlon. and other matters which came to
him from time to time, or were sug-
gested by reflections of his approach
ing end. When the death warrant
was read to him at s O'Clock by Sheriff
Bogue he heard it through, with APP
parent carelessness, and when it was
finished asked nonchalantly: Us that
all?" He asked to have the death
warrant given him, that he might sig
nify his contempt for 1t.
The delay in the time OF the exeeu-
ton did not seem TO make him nerv-
out, and except for paleness there was
little trace OF nervousness in his APP
pearance and anner When the cell
door opened to pass him out for the
last time, he stepped out briskly and
held out his hands for the handouts.
He offered no objections when his
hands were cuIed and his arms
strapped to his sides, and the black cap
placed on top Of his head. His last
remark TO the sheriff was garnfshed
with an oath, as was nearly his last
remark on the scaffoId before the drop
was sprung.
The deputies and Witnesses to the
execution arrived ait the court house
at hours ranging from 2 DO 4 O'Clock ia
the morning, and waited until the hour
for the execution The sky was over.
cast and at The time at which 1t was
Thought 70 hold the execution, the light
outside was insufficient. The rain In
creased and the wind howIed rather
dismaIly. but neither the weather nor
his impending doom seemed to affect
the pTisoner. He waited Id his cell,
sonastinnes aitting near the door con-
veraing with those who sat outside.
sometimes walking the floor Of the
cell AT nc time. did he appear to-