Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-14
Harry D. Egbert Still
Has HOpeSOfa New
Trial
1t Is Probable Though That
Aa Will Be the First to
&c hanged at the
Pen


demned to be hanged at the peniten.
tiary on Friday, January 29th, is bear.
ing his confinement in the shadow OF
the gallows well, and is much more
cheerful than would be expected from
a man placed in the position in which
Bgbert finds himself. He eats we'll
sleeps well, and spends his time in
conversation with the death watch
that is constantly at his side. Almost
every day he is given exercise, his
death watch and other guards walking
about with him in the narrow limits
allowed him, and he is cheerful and
pleasant when in conversation with
visitors when he feels certain they
are not here from idle curiosity, but
are anxious to assist in every legal
and proper way to make his short stay
on earth as pleasant as possible. He
is constantly under the eye of one
guard, J. p. Peterson keeping him
company during the day shift, and
Troy Branson at night Both men
were especially engaged for this duty,
and are doing satisfactory work.
A representative Of The Journal
visited Bgbert in his cell in the peni.
tentiary yesterday afternoon, and
found the young man comparatively
cheerful He stated that he had great
hope Of securing a new trial and
change Of venue, when he was salts.
fed that he would escape with a much
lighter sentence, urging that he should
not, under the evidence produced by
the state, be held for a greater degree
OF crime than manslaughter.
"My conviction was not so much
the result Of the damaging testimony
introduced by the state" he said, "as
! IL was the demands made for my life
by portion of the people of Burns. A
mob was formed before was returned
to Burns for trial, and when the Off
GERS having me in charge neared that
place, the mob, provided with a rope
was waiting me, with the firm deter.
mination to mete out summary pun.
ishment to mo, and 1t was only the de-
termined stand taken by Sheriff Allen
an excellent officer, by the way
that saved my life at that time, and
his force OF deputies prevented the
mob from hanging me. Threats were
frequently made that II the jury did
not convict me of murder in the first
/ degree, / would be hanged anyway,
and, as a result, nothing else could
prevent mob law than my conviction
OF a capital crime, when, IL l could
have secured a change Of venue, with
the same testimony. would only have
been found guilty OF manslaughter. My
attorney, Mr. ]. y. Leedy, writes me
that he is in hopes Of completing ar
rangemonts that will enable him TO
perfect an appeal, and il that can be
done, and / can have a change OF ven
ne, / will not be executed. / am more
hopeful now than ever, and believe
that the appeal will be taken and a
new trial secured for me-"
Egbert is fine looking young fel.
low, 27 years old, and was born and
raised in Audubon county. Iowa com.
ing from there TO Oregon in 1900. He
is fairly well read, talks intelligently.
and is cheerful and open. He said
that, by the kindness 0f Supt. James,
OF the penitentiary, several Christian
women had been allowed to come 10
his cell door, and that heir visits and
conversation had cheered him, and no
especially thanked Supt. James for
keeping away the morbid and curious.
He SPENDS a good portion of his time
in reading, securing what books no
asks for from the prison library.
Since his arrival at the prison he has
written his father for assistance in |
lighting his case. His father resides
at Smith Center, Kansas. and the pHs
Oner hopes to secure from home the
necessary aid to tighten his punish
ment but expresses himself as ready
TO die, If he must DO so.