November 20, 1975 (16 pages)

; (Last week we recounted the tale of one of the first murders in Nevada county. Today the criminal will pay for his mistake.) Roberts received three wounds, according to the report, “One on the left arm and two on the body. One of them penetrated the walls of the chest, immediately back of the left -nipple, passing through the lung and cutting the pulmonary artery.” This was the evidence as adduced before the coroner’s ury. “The accused was arrested on the day of the killing by Constable James W. Peters and was duly committed to jail,” according to the newspaper report. ‘‘At the following term of the “County Court a true bill of murder was found against him and at the January term of the District Court, he was tried and found guilty of murder in the first degree.” The account goes on saying the governor declined to interfere after being asked to commute Butts’ sentence to imprisonment for life. The appeal was then taken to the Supreme 1800's. Court. but after several months the case was turned down and the sentence of hanging was fixed by the District Court. “In accordance with the edict of the court,” the story continues, ‘‘Sheriff Montgomery made all necessary preparations and yesterday the hateful day arrived. “The prisoner had been long assured there was no hope for executive clemency and had made up his mind to meet with firmness the doom that had been pronounced by the court of last resort. “Rev. George Davis of the Episcopal Church, had been constant in his attendance with the prisoner, and by his kindly and Christian advice had in a great manner prepared him for the trying thing through which he was to pass. ““A limited number of invitations were issued by the sheriff embracing members of the press, medical persons and citizenswho were kept to the number of 30 or less. ‘The gallows was erected in the jail yard and the front door of the court house being guarded by an officer, allowed that privacy intended by the law and kept away the crowd that otherwise would have gathered to the scene from curiosity. “A few minutes past 12 o’clock noon the prisoner was brought down from his cell into the sheriff’s office, attended by Sheriff Montgomery, Undersheriff Byrne, Deputy Carter and Len Harris, of Sacramento, and the Episcopal minister, Rev.George R. Davis. “A momentary pause was made in the office when the officers with the prisoner, followed by a number of those who were invited, descended into the jail yard and ascended to the scaffold with the prisoner. “During all of this time Butts was, to all appearance, calm and collected, manifesting no sign of nervousness nor making any exhibition of bravado. Upon reaching the scaffold he was seated in a chair when the sheriff read to him the death warrant. “He retained his composure throughout, and when the reading was finished, on being told by the sheriff that he could make any remarks he wished, Butts declined but asked Rev. Davis to speak for him, thanking the officers for their kindness and sympathy during his long confinement, and asking forgiveness of all friends and enemies and Almighty God for the wrong he had committed.” Going back about a year to the Sept. 10, 1878 Daily Union, we find reference to the first day of the session of District Court when the day of execution was set. After Judge Reardan asked the prisoner if he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be pronounced against him, Butts made a long speech. 2 “He declared that justice had not been done him in the STRIPES WERE THE uniform of the day in the late November 20, 1975 Th Part II The Punishment trial,” according to the newspaper, ‘‘and said he had not been properly defended.” After the execution day was set Butts told Sheriff Montgomery he ‘would die like a man,” although he considered that ‘“‘he was being murdered by the law.” “During all this fearful trial his features made no perceptible change and he spoke no word nor betrayed any anxiety as to his fate. It was only by a nervous twitching of the hands that spectators were made conscious of the terrible mental struggle which he was undergoing. “Butts did not look at the spectators who stood below him, but seemed interested in the manner in which the straps were fastened around his body. After the fastenings of the straps, the noose was adjusted about his neck, and the black cap drawn over his head. f ¢ BAGS AND BELTS SATURDAY — NOVEMBER 22nd — 1 to 5 P. 107 WEST MAIN MALL 4 SHOPS TO SERVE YOU e REFRESHMENTS e ENTERTAINMENT OAK HOLLOW ANTIQUES ¢ Furniture ° Christmas Gifts ° Collectables FREE Drawing For Coca Cola Tray BLAIR’S LAMPS © CUSTOM ORDERS ° RESTORATION AND REPAIRS ¢ KEROSENE LAMPS AND PARTS © STAINED GLASS & SUPPLIES * ALADDIN DECORATOR LAMP DEALER DRAWING FOR KEROSENE LAMP KLANER’S LEATHER SHOP © CUSTOM ORDERS °REPAIRS AND CLEANING ¢ PLANT HANGERS AND OTHER SMALL THINGS © FREE .. DRAWING FOR LEATHER BELT THE LIVING GALLERY eFINEART *EXOTIC PLANTS ° JEWELRY °* POTTERY ° GIFTS MEET THE ARTISTS AT WORK © FREE.. prawinG ror 6" FERN NO PURCHASE NECESSARY The Nevada County Nugget 3 WOMEN IN THE early days were usually found guilty of insanity. M.

; (Last week we recounted the tale of one of the first murders in Nevada county. Today the criminal will pay for his mistake.) Roberts received three wounds, according to the report, “One on the left arm and two on the body. One of them penetrated the walls of the chest, immediately back of the left -nipple, passing through the lung and cutting the pulmonary artery.” This was the evidence as adduced before the coroner’s ury. “The accused was arrested on the day of the killing by Constable James W. Peters and was duly committed to jail,” according to the newspaper report. ‘‘At the following term of the “County Court a true bill of murder was found against him and at the January term of the District Court, he was tried and found guilty of murder in the first degree.” The account goes on saying the governor declined to interfere after being asked to commute Butts’ sentence to imprisonment for life. The appeal was then taken to the Supreme 1800's. Court. but after several months the case was turned down and the sentence of hanging was fixed by the District Court. “In accordance with the edict of the court,” the story continues, ‘‘Sheriff Montgomery made all necessary preparations and yesterday the hateful day arrived. “The prisoner had been long assured there was no hope for executive clemency and had made up his mind to meet with firmness the doom that had been pronounced by the court of last resort. “Rev. George Davis of the Episcopal Church, had been constant in his attendance with the prisoner, and by his kindly and Christian advice had in a great manner prepared him for the trying thing through which he was to pass. ““A limited number of invitations were issued by the sheriff embracing members of the press, medical persons and citizenswho were kept to the number of 30 or less. ‘The gallows was erected in the jail yard and the front door of the court house being guarded by an officer, allowed that privacy intended by the law and kept away the crowd that otherwise would have gathered to the scene from curiosity. “A few minutes past 12 o’clock noon the prisoner was brought down from his cell into the sheriff’s office, attended by Sheriff Montgomery, Undersheriff Byrne, Deputy Carter and Len Harris, of Sacramento, and the Episcopal minister, Rev.George R. Davis. “A momentary pause was made in the office when the officers with the prisoner, followed by a number of those who were invited, descended into the jail yard and ascended to the scaffold with the prisoner. “During all of this time Butts was, to all appearance, calm and collected, manifesting no sign of nervousness nor making any exhibition of bravado. Upon reaching the scaffold he was seated in a chair when the sheriff read to him the death warrant. “He retained his composure throughout, and when the reading was finished, on being told by the sheriff that he could make any remarks he wished, Butts declined but asked Rev. Davis to speak for him, thanking the officers for their kindness and sympathy during his long confinement, and asking forgiveness of all friends and enemies and Almighty God for the

wrong he had committed.” Going back about a year to the Sept. 10, 1878 Daily Union, we find reference to the first day of the session of District Court when the day of execution was set. After Judge Reardan asked the prisoner if he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be pronounced against him, Butts made a long speech. 2 “He declared that justice had not been done him in the STRIPES WERE THE uniform of the day in the late November 20, 1975 Th Part II The Punishment trial,” according to the newspaper, ‘‘and said he had not been properly defended.” After the execution day was set Butts told Sheriff Montgomery he ‘would die like a man,” although he considered that ‘“‘he was being murdered by the law.” “During all this fearful trial his features made no perceptible change and he spoke no word nor betrayed any anxiety as to his fate. It was only by a nervous twitching of the hands that spectators were made conscious of the terrible mental struggle which he was undergoing. “Butts did not look at the spectators who stood below him, but seemed interested in the manner in which the straps were fastened around his body. After the fastenings of the straps, the noose was adjusted about his neck, and the black cap drawn over his head. f ¢ BAGS AND BELTS SATURDAY — NOVEMBER 22nd — 1 to 5 P. 107 WEST MAIN MALL 4 SHOPS TO SERVE YOU e REFRESHMENTS e ENTERTAINMENT OAK HOLLOW ANTIQUES ¢ Furniture ° Christmas Gifts ° Collectables FREE Drawing For Coca Cola Tray BLAIR’S LAMPS © CUSTOM ORDERS ° RESTORATION AND REPAIRS ¢ KEROSENE LAMPS AND PARTS © STAINED GLASS & SUPPLIES * ALADDIN DECORATOR LAMP DEALER DRAWING FOR KEROSENE LAMP KLANER’S LEATHER SHOP © CUSTOM ORDERS °REPAIRS AND CLEANING ¢ PLANT HANGERS AND OTHER SMALL THINGS © FREE ... DRAWING FOR LEATHER BELT THE LIVING GALLERY eFINEART *EXOTIC PLANTS ° JEWELRY °* POTTERY ° GIFTS MEET THE ARTISTS AT WORK © FREE... prawinG ror 6" FERN NO PURCHASE NECESSARY The Nevada County Nugget 3 WOMEN IN THE early days were usually found guilty of insanity. M.