The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-04-03
Several Petitions to the
Governor Prove of No
Aydil--he Will Die FRI
day Forenoon on the
Same GdIIOWS Which
Ended the Life of Nc
Arthur, His Partner in
Crime.
(By STAFF Correspondent.)

ny SUN CofrcSpOnuent.)
Deer Lodge. Apr.i 3.--Clnton Dotson
had given up ali hope at a late hour
this afternoon OF getting some word
from Governor Toole that will save his
neck from the gallows.
Up to this morning he had hope that
the sentence of death would be com
muted to life Imprisonment In the peni-
tcntlary.
Until today he has had steadfast faith
that the appeal made by his 13-year-o -old
daughter Amy. and his wife. sent to
Montana from their South Dakota home
would touch the heart of the chief execu-
tive and that he would at the last hour
extend clemency.
AT O'Clock this afternoon, County
Attorney Joseph G. Smith had received
no word from Governor Tooe. 1t is
not expected now that he will interfere.
He Slept Well.
Dotson slept well last night and did
not awaken until nearly 10 O'clock, when
Rev Martin, his spiritual adviser, ar
rived to give him comfort and advice.
soon after the arrival OF the latter.
Dotson's breakfast was brought I'm TO
him and he ate hearty OF meal con-
sisting of fried eggs. toast and coffee.
lie was In surly mood this morning
and talked but little.
He was asked II he thought the gov
ernor would yet intcrcede I'm his behalf
and his only reply to that was II am
afraid not. but l am ready to die"
Everything IL In readiness for the exc
cution tomorrow
Sheriff John Mcmahon today ordered
| the suit of clothes that Dotson will wear
when he goes to the scaffold. His meas
ure was taken by j. 10. Maple, OF Butte.
Will Not Break Down
II is believed by Sheriff Mcmahon and
the Jail attendants that Dotson VIII
maintain courage to the last and will
not break down as some have predicted.
Two men Will be placed In the cell
with Dotson tonight TO see that he does
not attempt self destruction.
The hour set ror the execution tomor-
row s 10 o'clock, but Sheriff Mcmahon
has announced that he will delay until
1870 n. m, In order that several sher-
ffs In the state can be present and can
leave Butte In the morning In time for
the event. This postponement Is made
on account OF no west bound Northern
Pacific passenger train arriving from
the east tonight.
After the hanging tomorrow Dotsons
body viii be buried along side that of
Macarthur.
Q o @ o o @ Q o @ . 9 Q @ Q 9 9 o
Late this afternoon Governor o
9 Toole telephoned to County At @
g torney Smith that he had given @
" all OF the petitions careful con- @
g sideration and that while he had @
q sympathy for the family, he felt @
9 1t his duty to let the law take Its @
(. course. o
g Dotson who had refused to @
:. speak until the governor rendered @
g the decision then gave the Inter @
9 Mountain representative the fol- @
+" lowing statement: @
/ VIII give up. | have fought O.
" this thing off as long as / can, @
" and until | am tired and weak 9
] am ready to die but am inno- @
q cent of my fathers death. | go @
9 hoping that the people who have o
+. had 1t In for me Will think of me @
@ as kindly as they can. But l am @
" innocent. That Is all. @
g @
o Q o o Q o Q 9 o o . . o o o o o
Deer Lodge. April 3.-For plotting
against the life OF his father In order
that he might be released from prison,
where he was serving a life sentence,
Clintin Dotson must die. His execution
Will take place at II o'clock tomorrow.
petratlon of the deed for which one man.
The crimes which led up to the per-
Macarthur, has already been hanged and
for which Dotson will give up his life on
the galloWs are the most remarkable In
tie history of Montana.
Indeed, criminologists assert they are
the most remarkable In the criminal
annals Of the country.
Killing Of Cullinane.
In 1899 eugene Culllnane, a resident Of
Washington Gulch, situated in what Is
now Powell county, but was then the
northern part Of Deer Lodge county
was foully murdered.
After long chase Clinton Dotson,
Ellis Persinger and Oliver Benson were
captured, tried and convicted OF the
crime.
They were sent to the penitentiary at
Deer Lodge Dotson for life, the other
two for term of years.
The Arch Criminal
II was here that Dotsor first met
James Macarthur, man STEPPED in
crime, mental degenerate Of the most
dangerous type. He had served time in
several prisons besides Deer Lodge.
He was made the cellmate of Clinton
Dotson, and together the two men de-
CONTINUED on Page 81