Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-05-29
The Man That
w as Hanged
By ARTHUR FlTL PATRICK

so west.
When first reached r., county
seat in what was then territory, ii
looked TO me that | had jumped from
the frying pan into the fire. foun@
every one ready to help me, but there
was little or no law business in the
place, and law was my profession.
was three mouths without n job, and
then | got Il criminal case.
\ young man named Sargent. COW
punchcr. WAS accused of murder /;
jerks had a grudge against him. and
the two met one day out on the plain,
far from every one except themselves,
jerks began firing NJ Sargent, and
Sargent returned his fire, killing him
without getting Il scratch himself.
jerks fell on his face. and Sargent
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 y man passed jerks soon
after he was kiled and. finding the
dust, appropriated it and lii out, BE.
fore Sargent reported the killing he
was arrested for H. with gold dust
in his pocket and blood on his shirt
sleeve that he had put there 10y con
tact with lrukS when he had turned
him over
it was Il clear ease against Sargent,
though believed his story. was
unable to save him. and hc was con
victed and sentenced To be hanged
He told me that he WAS II younger son
of British uob.eWHn His family in
England had wished him to accept Il
living in the church controlled by his
uncle, an earl but instead he had
come to America and became COW
boy.
confess | didn't believe this part of
his story till the day before he was to
be executed. when II letter came for
him announcing that his uncle had
died without issue and he Sargent
was now Earl of Bucclcmouth This
was proof positive that he was what
he had represented himself TO be The
letter contained draft for hundred
pounds
There was Il reason why | couldn't
save him The man he had killed had
been popular, and his friends declared
that If Sargent We're not hung legally
/ they would hang him. and they ap-
pointed committee to see that the
Job was done 81 he might MS we'll be
hanged hy the sheriff rs by the com
mittee For II whole day rackcd my
brain for some plan to get the young
man off Finally | went 10 the sheriff.
told him the story and asked him to
help me
He was Il good man. that sheriff, and
after thinking the matter over he told
me to let the hanging go 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 it WAS To witness the exc
cution and the committee appointed by
jerks friends to see that vengeance
was melted ont To him
The body was left hanging till those
present were satisfied that all was
over with Sargent ana the last witness
had left the iail Then il was taken
down. placed in Il coffin. and, since |
had put IN IN application to be permit
ted TO send il to tn" dead man $
friends ii WIS delivered 10 me ! had
it carried TO II railroad station som" five
miles distant. and when a train going
east came along it was put into the
baggage ear went with it, and on
reaching the border of an adjoining
state | went into the baggage car and
gave orders to put the box off mt the
next station II was dark when |
stood on the platform beside it and
asked the agent t. put il Ia his bag
gage roor
During the night went 10 this
room. made jimmy of u ScreWdIITer,
lifted a window ana Went inside. The
next use | made of tn" screwdrlver
was 10 unscrcW the lid Of the box and
Sargent. alive and we'll. stepped out
An express due an hour later WAS not
to stop at the station but we tagged
II with a lantern ana got aboard. much
to the dissatisfaction Of the conductor.
who sworc like pirate IT MS
ON reaching the terminal Sargent
or, rather the earl, cashcd his draft
and insisted on my going 70 England
with him, whore he would pay my fee
for legal services There was 30 rea
car, Cor o r.aFtre4f and gousGufpt He