The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-07
HANGED AT DEER LODGE
JONES M'ARTHUR, ALIAS JAMES
FLEMING, EXECUTED.
Hatched a Bold PIot While I'm Prison
Dropped from GaIIows While
Cursing and RevfIing.

DEER LODGE, Mont, Sept. 6.-James
Macarthur, alias James Fleming, was
hanged here this morning for the murder
Of Captain Oliver Dotson last February.
The execution was witnessed by nearly
every sheriff in the State and a large num-
Der OF invited guests. Macarthur kept his
nerve too the last and walked to the gall
lows without a sign of weakness. After
taking his place on the platform he was
given permission TO make a statement.
Facing the spectators, he launched into a
torrent Of abuse OF the men who had been
instrumental in sending him TO his death,
and declared again and again hat he was
innocent. He rambled on for several min
utes and finally the sheriff. seeing there
was no chance 10 stop him, gave the signal
for the trap 10 be sprung. The drop fell at
1916. and Macarthur was pronounced lead
seven minutes later.
James F1eming's crime involved a most
revolving and diabOlical conspiracy. On Aug.
s, 1889. Eugene COllOlane. an aged resident
of Washington Gulch. Powell county. was
found murdered. For this crime Clinton
Dotson. Charles Oliver Benson and Ellis
Persinger were convicted. Dotson was
sentenced TO life Imprisonment and Ben
son, who made a partial confession. and
Persinger were sentenced to ten wears.
Last January Persinger informed Warden
COnley, OF the state prison. that Clinton
DOtsOn and a. convict known as James
Macarthur, but whose real name was
James Fleming, had conspired to murder
al 4 =
father, an old man living in Washington
GulCh. Fleming. whose term was soon TO
expire, was 10 kill Captain Dotson, leave
a forged confession and will, and arrange
the surroundings in such a way as TO lead
to the theory OF suicide. The contents of
the confession were to be TO the effect
that Captain DOtson had killed Eugene
COllOlane. that his son, Clinton Dotson
and Benson and Persinger were innocent.
and through remorse for his treatment of
his son he had killed himself and left the
confession in order that Clinton Dotson
might secure his release from prison
Fleming's reward for the murder was TO
be a share in $4,000 which Clinton Dotson
the proceeds Of an alleged train robbery
So wild was this plot thar the prison
officials paid no attention 10 IL.
Early in January OF this year Fleming
was released. on Feb. 10 he was seen at
Washington Gulch. on Feb. 20 the dead
body OF Captain Dotson was found i'm his
cabin with a bullet wound i'm his head
on the wall was found n rifle with a string
on the trigger leading TO the dead mans
body. This arrangement Of the furniture
and the other articles about the place in
dictated suicide. The purpOrted confession
as previously outlined, was found on a
table. also a will bequeathing Captain
DotsOn's entire estate 10 his son. Flem-
ing was captured near Missoula. On trial
the circumstantial evidence showed that
he had concealed himself in the Dotson
house. and through a hole in the partition
had fired the fatal shot. The handwriting
in the alleged confession was Identical with
other specimens proven 10 be written bv,
Fleming. The defense's alibi theory was
completely demolished. and the conviction
was seucred within an hour on July Is.
Clinton DotsOn was also convicted and
sentenced To be hanged Sept. 8, but I'm his
the Governor on technical grounds.