The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-05
(From Staff Correspondent
Deer Lodge, Sept. ), 1901.

James Macarthur, alias James
Fleming, convicted Of the
murder Of Capt. Oliver Dot
j son in Washington Gulch
Feb To- AS shortly after 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning as Sheriff
Mcmahon can possibly arrange for 1t,
the soul of the man who committed one
OF the most cold blooded crimes in the an
nails of Montana will he plunged into
eternity.
The arrangements for the execution
are perfect in every detail and unless
the principal creates a scene. which is
not generally conceded, everything will
go off without a hitch.
The scaffold yard is as greWsome as
such places generally are. 1t is an en-
closure bounded by a 16-foOt- high rough
Enpain.ed fence and covers an area OF
something over 5000 square feet and
Is capable of accommodating about 300
persons standing. 1t adjoins the Jail
on the southeast corner. In its extreme
northwest corner has been erected a
stand of vantage for the representatives
of the press who will witness the exc
cution. while almost diagonally in front
of it is the great engine of death To-
Gated about in the center of the west
side of the enclosure.
1t is the same scaffold on which Dan
Lucey paid the penalty for the murder
of Reagan in Butte in October last. 1t
has been thoroughly tested with the
weight which will be used in the exc
cution Of Fleming and is in perfect
working order.
Sheriff John Mcmahon will accompany
Fleming to the scaffold. He will have
with him two deputies, to be appointed
later They will bind Flemings arms in
his cell and proceed with him to the en-
gine of death. when his legs will be
bound preparatory to sending the mans
soul to his Maker.
Trouble Expected.
Fleming declared this morning that
he would give no trouble, but he made
the statement with a sinister look In his
eve, which indicated something in his
mind that he was not ready to give
utterance to. Later he declared that the
officers of the law would never take him
from his cell, and still later he stated
that he would meet death like brave
and innocent man.
Once previous to his last declaration
Fleming showed the venom that IS IN
him by telling Sheriff Mcmahon that he
would like to have him in his cell for
Just a sufficient period to finish. He
said he was confident he could dispose
of the sheriff in easy fashion. Mcmahon
rejoined flippantly and Fleming SUBJ
sided.
Fleming is a remarkable character
with a dual nature. He is possessed OF
the cunning and sangfroid OF Rlchelleu
and is as suave as an unpolshed Ches-
terfield could possibly be. That ne -
deceitful. hypocritical and desperate cam
not be doubted, all are evident at almost
all times. He has not abandoned all
hope either of cheating the gallows, and
is on the qui vive for some friend to
save him from the awful fate awaiting
him.
Prisoner in Irons
Several times he has asked visitors to
furnish him poison and more frequently
has he induced hobo prisoners to furnish
him with crude implements to aid MIN
III effecting an escape. Some of the prls-
oners were so intimidated by F1eming
that they acceded to his demands ana
the result was that Sheriff Mcmahon and
Undersheriff Richard Dee have had their
hands full frustrating the moves of the
convicted murderer SO desperate dld
Fleming become at times and SO far did
he carry his mate ingenuity into erect
with the aid of the meagre appliances
furnished by fellow prisoners that it be-
came necessary to put him in double
irons at night and lock his ball and chain
to his cell gratings.
Clinton Dotson, whose cell ad.oins that
of Fleming was subjected to similar
treatment as a matter of precaution.
Sheriff Mcmahon stated today that he
would reveal after the execution some-
tking of great interest concerning Flem-
ipg's desperate character. He intimated
that his charge had made desperate
and what might have been successful at
tempt at escape which was just prior to
an almost certain contamination. Nc
Mahon said he would divulge the details
now only he thought it better to wait
Vntil Fleming was no more.
When approached in his cell today by
the Inter Mountain representative
Fleming was as jovial as man attend
dng a feast or ball. In fact he found
fault with Sheriff Mcmahon for declin-
ing to allow him to attend ball to be
given here tonight. He jOked about va
rious matters, asked for needle and
thread to sew on some buttons. tobac-
co and newspapers. all of which were
furnished.
When asked how he felt, Fleming re-
piled as we'll as could be expected un-
der the, circumstances. He called at