The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-06-02

TUESDAY, Feb. Sit is all over.
and l have been found guilty and
sentenced to be hanged. The curious
thing about it is that do not feel so
very gloomy about it. The suspense be-
fore the verdict was great deal more
narrowing than the certainty of the
scaffold seems to be. Perhaps it is be-
cause am stunned by the hopelessness
of the situation and tired out by the
long weeks of excitement and worry.
Anyway, know that tonight / do not
fear the death that has been decreed
Most certainly | do not regret the
act which has brought me to this cell
4 glory in it, and would do it again to-
morrow under the same circum-
stances. l want to set that down here.
so that all of my friends and any 9TH
ers who are curious enough to read
this diary may know after l am gone
that did not consider myself Grim
inal.
Ny lawyer tells me that my friends
are making strong efforts to have the
governor intercede, and that he has
promised to see me. But ii will do no
good killed Philip Sherry-there is
no question about that. They proved
1t plainly enough at the trial, in spite
of my lawyers most skillful efforts.
Even If they hadn't, it would have been
none the less true. But none of them
know why did it--only one-and they
never will know. Torture could not
drag it from me. She knows, and am
content. No, will tell nobody. / will
not even tell the governor.
Wednesday, Feb. 6.-Strange things
have happened to-day. saw the gov
ernor. l broke my promise to my
self that / would not tell why killed
Philip Sherry, and the governor has
pardoned me. They told me that he
was cheap politician who could not
be reached except by Doodle. But l
know he is a most masterful man, who
knows all the fountains and impulses
OF human action and passion, and that
he has heart that understands and
beats in harmony with his fellow men.
He was not at all the sort OF a Look
ing Nan l expected to see. His face
impressed me as being a type of the
pioneers, the men who have felled the
forests and reclaimed the wilderness.
He does not look the scholar nor the
orator, although he surely must be an
impressive speaker, judging from his
logical habits of thought and his mas
terful use of the English language. /
think 1t was his eyes which made the
greatest impression on me. They
were the most peculiar eyes l ever
saw. They seemed to turn inward and
be communing with his inner con-
seriousness most of the time. But every
now and then he would give me a
glance so sharp and penetrating that
] felt he was looking into my very soul.
entered the room sulky and un-
reconciled with my fate. The govern
or, sitting sprawled out in his chair,
loose-jointed, looking more the back
woodsman than the statesman. his |
eyes dulled with that peculiar intro
spection. He asked me number of |
commonplace questions, which / an |
Swered with mixture of contempt |
and doggedness.
Suddenly Strengthening himself up |
and fixing on me glance so sharp and |
penetrating, and at the same time so |
commanding as TO make me involun-
tarily rise from my chair, he fred at
me a yolley Of questions so pointed, 80 |
comprehensive, so searching, that IL |
seemed to me he was scanning my in
nermost consciousness.
Before l realized 1t / was pouring
put the most sacred secrets OF my soul |
20 this man who but moment before |
had been an utter stranger to me, and |
whom had been taught to regard |
only in the light OF coarse and self
ish politician. Something he said |
stung my pride, and his personality |
won my conhdence-all so artfully and |
so quickly that l involuntarily re-
sponded.
Listen to me, sir" cried, my fsts
cienching, while felt the veins stand |
put on my neck, even as had felt them
stand out on that day when / killed |
Philip Sherry, II am not criminal. I
am not bad man. / do not believe NV |
tendencies are vicious. God knows / !
pave an awful temper. But upon the
memory OF my mother. believe that
temper has never been aroused, EXCEPT
upon just provocation or by some act
Of injustice or brutality.
81 remember well the first time 7
ever realized ! had temper. II was
the same time also that realized |
was an independent personality. was
a peculiar boy, sensitive, lonely and
conscous-shunning the other
boys because their badgering ways
played upon all my supersensitiys
rerves.
HNy mother, God bless her, who