Bismarck daily tribune., 1908-10-23
NOAH PLEASED
Young Murderer Greatly Re.
lieVed Over Postpone
IIlent Of His Execution
Believes He Will Now Sc
cure New Trial

Il &
# d. M. Noah, the murderer Of Gust
Johnson last spring, is a happy man
in that he is spending this evening
| with the devoted sailor brother who
has come ten thousand milesfrom
China to try and save his neck, rath-
| er than spending his last hours on
earth with a spiritual adviser.
It was not until last evening that
! Warden Hellstrom officially informed
Noah that he would not be hanged
before morning, owing to the appeal
made to the supreme court by his
brothers attorney, which acted as a.
stay of execution and postpones the
hanging to an indifinite time.
Noah was pleased over the finality
of the news, although he gave no
particular outward demonstration Of
| his satisfaction, but 1t was noted that
his old time cheerfulness returned at
once and with considerable confidence
he said: That assures me of a new
! trial and lighter sentence, I am
sure. !" He had been walking his cell
most of the day until taken out for
his daily stroll in the yard, and while
he had been led to believe he would
not be hanged as scheduled, he was
not entirely at ease over the situa-
ton.
Those conversant with the case do
not think Noah will secure a new
trial, but the delay will enable his
attorney to secure evidence upon
which to go before the board OF par
tdons asking for commutation Of SEN
ftenee to life imprisonment on the
ground Of insanity. This plea was
Isgiven a black eye yesterday by Supt.
Baldwin of the state insane asylum,
1 who with DIR. Smyth of this city, ex-
]amined Noah late Wednesday night.
While the findings of the experts has
not been made public it Is understood
tthat they believe Noah sane, but a
degenerate, though under the circum-.
istances they prefer to hold back their
decision until they have an oppor-:
tunity to look into his iheredity and
past life. Had not the appeal stayed
the execution they doubtless would
thave made known their findings at
fthis time. 4,.-xs aftsl 4,sf:..s 81:
E Noah is 27 years old and a fine
looking fellow, in the pink of condi-
| tion physically. He came from Man
itoba to Kenmare last spring and
hung around town until he went to
work for Gust Johnson as farm
hand. He had been with johnson
three weeks when he killed him, ON
March 26. There is only Noah's word
for how the shooting occurred. He
said Johnson was respondent over his
wife's leaving him and during a drink
ing bout at the house, said, Il wish
II was dead and the trouble ended"
well, I'll help you olltt, : Noah says
he remarked in josh, and picking up
a gun which stood in a corner, and
which he supposed was unloaded,
pointed it at Johnson and pulled the
trigger, after which he claims he
knew nothing more until he aWoke
and found himself alone in the house.
That day Noah told neighbors that,
Johnson had gone to Sweden and left
him to take care of the place. He
hauled some grain to market and
tsold it and was in town with another
load three days after the crime when
arrested The neighbors had become
suspicious and while Noah was away
searched the house and found John
tson's body In the cellar, having been
simply rolled down the stairs and a
little rubbish thrown over it, not even
enough to conceal it from anyone
looking down stairs. Noah had made
Ia deed of the farm and bill OF sale for
personal property to himself and had
signed Johnson's name to both with
T out any attempt to counterfeit it. IT
was the story OF Johnson's departure
and the other acts of Noah which
told so heavily against him at the
trial and overrode all ideas of Glenn
ency on account of his confession.
Noah made little or no defense owing
to his confession and although the
trial lasted three day the verdict OF
death was quickly given by the jury.
Noah had served one term in the
penitentiary for forgery and this mil
|itated against him. He has told SO
many stories regarding himself and
the crime before and after the mur-
der that ii is difficult to separate the