Fergus County argus., 1901-10-30
WILL ASH FOR EXECUTIVE CltMGNCY.

Without for moment impugning
the motives of those who are circulat-
ing and signing n petition for the com
mutation of the sentence of Milton o.
Howell to life Imprisonment, we can
not endorse the movement, but on the
other hand feel it our duty TO oppose
such action.
The crime for which Howell was con-
victed was as cowardly as any which
has ever taken place in this county.
lie wasscaptured given a fair trial, and
convicted largely on his own evidence
after considerable expense to the
county and to enterprising inviduals
who were determined to bring the
criminal to justice. Lest our readers
may have forgotten the case-it is SO
long since the crime was committed
we give elsewhere an impartial resume
of the trial and the evidence elected
at that time. hence il will not be neces-
sary to enter into the details Of the
case in this article. Were there any
extenuating circumstances connected
with this case, we would he glad to
join those asking for executive clemen-
cy. Had Howell killed Rolling in the
heat of passion or temper in return
for the bruises he received in a fist
fight with the latter, no charge greater
than manslaughter could have been
sustained, but the facts are Howell
slept over the matter and had from five
o'clock on the day of the quarrel until
about 0 o'clock on the day following
to regain his.composure and self-control
But he seems to have employed this
time in screwing mp his nerve TO the
sticking point" and planning scheme
to murder foully and in cold blood the
man who had proved his physical
superior the day before. His plans
were well laid. He knew that Rolling
would be working in the field and he
had no reason TO believe he would be
armed, yet he approaches with all the
stealth at his command and hiding in
the grass awaited the opportunity to
end his victims life with no chance for
parley or defense, two bullets having
entered Rozling's body and both from
the rear That Howell had received no
crippling injuries is evident from the
fact that he was able to ride rapidly
away from the scene on stolen horse
and to spend several nights thinly clad
in the mountains.
AS usual in such cases time softens
the heart while justice waits; the muir
dered man, his widow and the orphans
are forgotten. The fact that the widow
has remarked does not lessen Howell's
crime. Murder is not a safe matrimon-
ial agency.
In an editorial on the Helena lynch
ing we volunteered the opinion that
nothing would come of an investiga-
ton and so it has proved, unless the
reprimand of peace officers and the
recommendation that an incompetent
night Waterman be removed from
office can be regarded as punishment.
We held that the lynching was in part
1,,n 20 ha la lnla IN, h,.tt ~
criminals to justice, the technicalities
taken advantage of by attorneys and
have used the pardoning power. We
still believe this had much to do in
determining the fate of Brady.
Now the governor will be asked to
intercede in behalf OF Howell to make
his punishment less severe. Who
knows but in few years petitions will
be circulated asking for a full pardon?
Some indiscreet friends of the con-
demned man have said that this will
he the next move. With governor
unfamiliar with the facts in the case
and an accommodating board of par
dons il is not improbable that Howell
would again be a free man, and IL not
reformed, ready for another victim.
We have no prejudice in this matter;
we are not biased in behalf Of one or
the other Of the men over whose prop
erty the quarrel had fatal termina-
ton. Both have long been friends Of
the ARGUS. Furthermore we some
times think that perhaps the world
would be better off without the death
penalty. Yet some of the states have
felt compelled to restore capital pun
ishment as a means of checking crime.
The danger of the pardoning power,
we believe has caused most OF the
states TO hold TO the extreme penalty.
Then, again, when one thinks Of such
criminals as Czolgosz and the fiend,
Brady, it is a question whether life
Imprisonment would meet the demands
of justice or the approval of the people.
Possibly we may attain that heighth in
civilization when the demand that a
life be given for life will be regarded
! as barbarous, but today it is the law OF
Montana and in the case of Milton o.
Howell we can see no reason for lis