Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-03-10
TAKEN FROM
SHADOW Of
CALL0WS
JOE MILO EMERGED FROM
DEATH WATCH" AT THE
STATE PEN1TEN1ARY LAST
NIGHT.
BILL SIGNED !! tY GOVERNOR
Abolishes Capital Punishment in
This State and Saved
Milo's Neck.

Milo's Neck.
B At O'CLOCK last night, Convict 1866
Of the state penitentiary, OF North Da.
k0ta was led from the death watch"
10 the office Of Warden Frank Talcott.
He had emerged from the shadows OF
The gall0ws that were to claim him on
August Il, 1915. the penalty OF death
having been imposed upon him for
murder in the first degrees The pris.
oner was Joe Milo.
Governor Signs Bill.
Yesterday Governor Hanna attach.
ed his signature TO the bill ab0lishlng
capital punishment IN this state, max
Ing possible paraons to "llters'' who
had spent 81 per cent OF their lie
expectancy. For three weeks dur
lns the last session OF the Legislature,
AillO :, fate was in the 'Dalance., Last
Algnt the door OF the dealn cell clos.
ed behind him and today he Is count
ing Inc years lLat sllll remain be.
tween nim and possible freedom with
The horror OF The death penalty swept
away. g&..
Milo 70 speeches.
Milo was speechless when Warden
Ta.cOtt informed him OF his good for
tune. ne nand he prolerred was cold
VIE a grip or steel. FOR a 1eW MN
utes ne seemed IN = trance, unable
~ lulIy realize the tact that he .ad
escApeu from the jaws OF death. Since
ms commitment 70 the death cell Oh
december H., the prisoner had satlsfieu
himself that his uays we're numbered,
ana mad resigned himself to his tate.
a Catholic priest came regularly to
the aeath Cell preparing TO save the
soul OF the body that was to die. Up
70 three weeks ago Mic appeared 10
possess the nerves Of steel with which
ne is credited, claiming he would
rather hang today than tomorrow" II
his tate was sealed. Then ray OF
ngnt penetrated the death cell with
lhe news that bill had been intro,
auced In the legislature for the abolish
ment Of capital punishment. The
prisoner accepted the spark Of life.
lIis attitude OF apparent ildinerence
Immediately changed to one of ex.
pectancy. His attendants in the death
watch stated last night tina. since the
ime Milo frs heard OF this news, he
seemed to realize fully the hope for
life. They added that despite Milo's
brave effrontery he would have un.
doubtedly weakened as his end ap.
preached and would never have been
able to walk to the gallows.
Tells His Story.
To the warden and newspaper men
in the Office Milo told his story Of the
murder. He was born in Austria Of
humble parents and practically with
no education. At the age OF six years
he was obliged to meet the struggle Of
life unaided. He came to America II
years ago and four years later drifted
to the harvest fields of North Dakota.
He told OF his employment and his
meeting with Miller a partner In
crime, at Minneapolis. On the night
of September %, 1914, ir company with
Miller, Albert Sisal. and Nick Karst,
the quartette set off from Lansfprd ov-
er the 500 tracks to accept work in
a harvest field up the line. Sisal
and Karst walked ahead. OF a sud-
den Miller remarked Lets do It,"
Then, according to Milo, they picked
up rocks and slew Sisal and Ka:st. II
was sorry the minute had done it but
it was too late," said Milo. -
Sentenced to Death.
Milo was arrested at Moorhead and
sentenced to death at the trial held
in Bottineau. His companion, John
Miller, was given life sentence. Both
were committed to the state peniten-
tiary on December 10, Milo being
placed in the death cell. Captain
Marsh and Duncan Mcdonald attend
ed the watch" day and night. Dur
ing the three months that have elapsed
the prisoner spent the greater part OF
the time in reading and playing cards.
He spoke freely to his guards and
seemed possessed of a hearty appetite
at all times. Until apprised of the
news that the death penalty might
be abolished, Milo showed signs of for
titude and indifference.
Milo is 35 years of age and claims
to have had no trouble for which he
was responsible previous to the MUIR
der. although he admits having been
2TrGSLoQ H. NlOVAASou oAu oSA W. ~
days in Jail there when found carry
ing concealed weapons. He has QUICK
eve and quick temper. However, the
prisoner is determined to mend his
ways now and believes that he will
make good. ..~
Miller Claims Innocence.
In direct contrast with the attitude
shown by Milo last night, was that OF
John Miller, who was summoned to
the wardens office with Milo and who
told contradictory story to that OF his
companion. Miller insists that ne Is
innocent of the crime with which he
was charged in connection with Milo,
and claims that the latter drugged
the victims with poisonous whiskey
Continued on Page Eight.)