The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-01-24
GOVERNOR GRANTS RESPITE TO
CONDEMNED MAN.
PLEA OF INSANITY RAISED
Billings People Make Affidavit That
He is Not Of Sound.
Mind,

~ AAAS AS ~ ~
spite to William P. Hardee, under
sentence Of death at Glasgow, Valley
county. The date for Hardee's execu-
ton fixed by the court was January 81,
but on the strength of representations
made to the governor the time has
been extended until March 10. The
interference of the executive was
PROMPTED by the showing the prison
er's attorney made in the matter of
efforts O pending to secure a new
trial. The motion for a rehearing can
not be heard until after the date fix
ed for the execution, hence the extern
sion.
Local interest attaches to the case
because. he has relatives in this city
and that residents of Billings are
among those whose testimony is ex-
pected to have material bearing on
the final results. Their evidence will
be used in strengthening the plea
of insanity and absolute irresponsi-
bility on the part of the convicted
mar when the matter of the motion
for a %rehearing comes up.
Attached to the petition filed with
the governor asking for a respite
were a number of afidavits from per-
sons acquainted with the condemned
mar testifying to- his insanity. Walter
Clifton, one of the atlantis of this
city, swears that he believes Hardee to
be insane and says he has known him
for 10 years, and has often noticed
the mental defect in the condemned
mar to which he testifies.
Lottie Hardee "a sister of Hardee,
we'll known here and who was until
recently a resident of the city, but
now lives at Sheridan, Wyo., says
that her brother has not been in his
right mind for 10 years; that he has
drunk excessively and upon occasions
of visits to her home prior to tie COM
mission of his crime she noticed that
he was mentally unbalanced; she
knew that he had been in the habit
of indulging in opiates to an excess
sive degree. Miss Hardee further
says that the fardee family for two
generations had been afflicted with
insanity; that Hardee's grandmother
became insane and committed suicide
while in a spell of insanity at Bed
ford, Iowa.
Another affidavit attached to the
petition is that of DR.. Mimmiminger
of Glasgow. The doctor declares Har-
dee was insane at the moment he COM
mitted the murder and Furthermore
declares the man to be afflicted with
homocidal mania. He further shows
that Hardee has for years been a slave
to morphine and liquor, a combination
which has unhinged his mind and
made him irresponsible for his acts.
1t is also shown that since his incar-
ceration in Jail Hardee has been given
II grains of morphine daily, under
directions of a doctor, such a large
amount of the drug being necessary
to keep him alive.
Hardee's attorney, George E. Hurd
of Glasgow, does not deny the guilt
of his client so far as the actual COM
mission of the deed is concerned, but
says that had Hardee told him the
facts in the case the verdict would
have been different; there could have
been but n defense-insanity. Har-
dee, however, he alleges, rendered
him nj assistance in defense and since
he has become more familiar with all
the conditions and circumstances the
attorney believes the man was incap-
able of helping him.
December 2 of last year Hardee
killed Charles Snearly at a ranch near
Glasgow. He and Snearly had return
ed from a hunting trip and dispute
over a trivial matter arose between
them. Hardee threw his revolver onto
the floor and dared Snearly to pick it
up. Snearly replied he desired no
trouble, and Hardee without a word
fired a shotgun at him.
Hardee secured a horse and escap-
ed, riding about the range for a couple
of days after which he sought shelter
at a ranch. where he was captured.
Hardee's only excuse for the murder,
since and before the trial, has been
that it was necessary for him to kill
his man"
Fighting in Armenia.