The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1913-04-03
&
The Man That
Was Hanged
B. ARTHUR FrTz PATRICK

After being graduated from the law
school l looked about ne for an open.
ing. The Geld seemed very crowded
There were 0OO lawyers in the place,
and all the business was confined to q
quarter Of the number. concluded to
60 west. asa
When I nrst reached b.. q county
seat in what was then q territory, It
looked to me that had jumped from
the frying pan into the fire. found
every one ready to help me, but there
was little or no law business In the
place. and law was my profession. l
was three months without a job. and
then got criminal case.
A young man named Sargent, COW
puncher, was accused Of murder. It
wasn't murder at all. A miner named
jerks had grudge against him. and
the two met one day out on the plain,
far from every one except themselves.
jerks began firing at Sargent, and
Sargent returned his fire, killing him
without getting a scratch himself.
jerks fell on his face. and Sargent
turned him over to see his condition
and. finding that he was dead. rode
on. intending to report the matter
when he returned to town. jerks had
some gold dust on him, and so did
Sargent. A man passed jerks soon
after he was killed and, finding the
dust, appropriated 1t and lit out. Be-
fore Sargent reported the killing be
was arrested for 1t, with gold dust
in his pocket and blood on his shirt
sleeve that he had put there by con.
tact with jerks when be had turned
him over.
It was a clear case against Sargent,
though believed his story. l was
unable to save him, and he was con.
victed and sentenced to be hanged.
he told me that he was a younger son
Of British nobleman. His family in
England had wished him to accept q
living In the church controlled by bis
uncle. an earl, but instead he had
come to America and became q COW.
boy.
I confess didn't believe this part Of
his story till the day before be was to
be executed. when a letter came fol
him announcing that his uncle had
died without issue and he. Sargent,
was now Earl Of Bucclemouth. This
was proof positive that be was what
he had represented himself to be. The
letter contained draft for hundred
pounds.
There was reason why I couldn't
save him. The man he had killed had
been popular, and his friends declared
that II Sargent were not hung legally
they would hang him, and they ap.
pointed committee to see that the
Job was done. So he might as we'll be
hanged by the sheriff as by the com.
mittee. For whole day I racked my
brain for some plan to get the young
man OF. Finally went to the sheriff,
told him the story and asked him to
help me.
He was good man. that sheriff. and
after thinking the matter over he told
me to let the hanging 60 on, leaving
the matter with him. did so, and
the next day Sargent was hanged in
the presence Of the officers Of the law
whose duty 1t was to witness the exc.
cuton and the committee appointed by
jerks friends to see that vengeance
was meted out to him.
The body was left hanging till those
present were satisfied that all was
over with Sargent and the last witness
had left the jail. Then It was taken
down. placed In a coffin, and, since
had put In an application to be permit
ted to send It to the dead mans
friends, 1t was delivered to me. I had
1t carted to railroad station some five
miles distant, and when q train going
east came along It was put into the
baggage car. I went with It, and on
reaching the border Of an adjoining
state I went into the baggage car and
gave orders to put the box OF at the
next station. It was dark when l
stood on the platform beside 1t and
asked the agent to put It in bis bag
gage room.
During the night I went to this
room, made a Jimmy Of a screwdriver,
lifted window and went inside The
next use made Of the screwdriver
was to unscrew the lid Of the box. and
Sargent, alive and well, stepped out
An express due an hour later was not
to stop at the station, but we tagged
1t with a lantern and got aboard, much
to the dissatisfaction Of the conductor,
who swore like pirate at us.
On reaching the terminal Sargent,
or, rather. the earl. cashed his draft
and insisted on my going to England
with him, where he would pay my fee
for legal services. There was no rea-
son for q refusal, and consented. He
drew moro money in New York, and
We sailed ct once, for my client was
IN terror lest the deception should be
discovered and hs be stopped By tels-
Gf1ph. though With his title and his
~ clothes no ono would have taken
HIN foF . cowboy murderer.
Well We wsnt 10 England. I ~
manned ~ clisurs guest for q month,
when he sent mo home with q fee Of
A.. =. 40 u.