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DAILY INDEPENDENT. | Porter. Then a little spirits was ad- i put in place. *ministered. Mrs. Potts’ death war- I The black caps were not removedrunt was then read. She stood erect. so none saw’ their faces after death.FRIDAY............JUNE 20,1890. but he leaned forward with an inquiring look. Then she sat down and Mr. Dawley asking for water Mr. Potts j did.“That is all,” said the Sheriff as he asked the crowd to disperse, which itJoslab ad EMMl FallsWar tie Peaall; of He Law for ffiarfler. j __ • ' .» — woffered him some from a tin cup. Then his death warrant was read, she sitting down and taking Bupsof water the while.Mrs. Potts raised her right hand, and rising, said:“Innocent, so help me God.”“We are innocent,” said Potts also. •‘Have you anything to say?” asked the Sheriff.“That’s all we can say; we are innocent froan first to last,” said Bhe,The funeral was announced to beshooting himself rather than have his crime revealed, which, according to Mrs. Potts’ statement, was that Faucett had been caught in the act of attempting to outrage her little daughter, Edith. Potts admitted toSCENES AND INCIDENTS OF hod he agreed with her.concealing the body for fear that they might be accused of murder, and also| at 12 o’clock and word was Bent .admitted thut ho exhumed the re-I. mains afterward, mutilated and triedaround by the officers so that any to destnjy tbom AUorne.one who might feel sympathy for W. C. Love conducted the prosecu-the unfortunates might attend. At, tion, and J. A. Plummer Esq. was ap-j 12:10 the bodies were lowered in twoftgraves side by side. A bouquet of wild flowers, provided by the officers, was placed one on each casket. The funeral service was then road—ua requested by them before death. About twenty-five persons all told attended the funeral, including one woman andTHEIR LAST MOMENTS.Another tonic vas given and then 801110 half dozen children.The sun rose bright and clear onthis Friday, June 20, 1890, the mosteventful cay in the history of Elkodounty, being the day fixed for tho execution of Josiah and Elizabeth Potts. Although there wore but few peoplo in town, outside of representatives of tho press and a few Sheriffs J a£a*D a$k°d them.Mrs. Potts started with Mr. Daw.ey and Mr. Potts and Sheriff Barnard followed. Time 10:38.There was a calm, straight walk to the top of the gallows.The following account of tho proceedings in the ease, togethor with a brief history of the criminals, will be of interest to the public:THE POTT’S FAMILY.vided for them there.“Have you anything to say?” wasand ex-Sheriffs who were invited to“No; we are innocent,” was thewitness the execution, an air of fever- reP*y repeated several times.Josiah Potts, his wife and two chil-They then sat down on chairs pro- | dren, had resided at Carlin about twoyears, where Potts worked in theshops of the C. P. Railroad. There also resided at Carlin at this time a man about 57 years of age named Miles Faucett, who camo from Sacramento, Cul., several months previously, and who for a time boarded with the Potts family. In the Summer of 1887 Faucett bought a ranch a few miles from Carlin, and also a wagon and slept well throughout the night, but by several from behind. During this team of horses. After removing tothe woman was restless until about 3 process Mr. Potts remained silent but his ranch, sometime in the Fall of thesame year, Mrs. Potts washed for himand did his baking.On the 1st duy of January, 1888,Faucett told a man named Liue-ish excitement seemed to prevail.The prisoners passed the nightTheir shoes wore then taken off and they were pinioned; she by Mr.quietly, the man having apparently Dawley, h« by Mr. Barnard, assistedo’clock this morning, whon she, too, J Mrs. Potts uttered a few words di-foll asleep arid passed several hours reeling how it was to be done.in deep slumber.At 10:40 they shook hands with thepointed by the Court to defend them. The following names composed the jury: Claus Schoer, G. W. Phillips, S. M. Beard, Oscar Graham, Robert Johnson, Jas. A. Ralph, Knox A. Crane, James Kiernan, F. H. Klaine, N. Hoy man, Geo. Monks and. J. L. Shelton.THE VERDICT.On the loth day of March, 1889, the jury rendered a verdict of murder in the first degree, and on March 22nd Judge Bigelow sentenced tho prisoners to death, and sot Friday, May 17, 1889, as the time for executing tho sentence. An appeal was taken to the Supremo Court, pending which a stay of execution was ordered, and in November, 1889, tho Supreme Court rendered a decision affirming the judgment of the lower Court. On tho 25th day of last April Judge Bigelow again sentenced the prisoners to death, Friday, Juno 20, 1890, being fixed as tho day of execution. An appeal was then made to the Board of Pardons to commute the sentence to life imprisonment, but without avail, after which a second appeal was made with the same result; and to-day the sentence of the Court was carried into execution.Josiah Pottsman was missing inAt the request of tho prisoners all officers and minister, thanking ull for reporters were excluded, even Aonie kindness.Laurie, the lady representative of theThev were then told to rise, butExaminer, who came from San Fran- 5ust then Mr. Potts said faintly “good-cisco for the express purpose of inter- bye,” and at the same time nudged viewing Mrs. Potts, being^enied ad- Mrs’ Potts with h'8 pinioned hand.mission to the cellThey shook their hands from theirAfter partaking of a light break- wrista; and leaninK forward, kissed fast the condemned prisoners ap- affectionately.peared more cheerful than they wereAs the ropes were being adjustedyesterday, and about 7 o’clock they “*®y were exhorted, as all along, to began to dress and make final prepa- look Christ’ whereupon he said rations for their approaching doom, nervously, and with emphasis:barger, with whom he was somewhat intimate, that Potts and his wife owed him (Faucett) a certain sum of money; that they bad tho money to pay thejbill,and that he know enough of the past life of Mrs. Potts to compel them to pay itrather than to havo these things revealed. Faucett and Linebargor went to the Potts residence in the evening of that duy,where Linebarger left Faucett after #Mrs. Potts had invited the latter toIn reply to a question by Shoriff Barnard Mrs. Potta said she would wulk firmly to the scaffold and submit quietly to the inevitable.At 7:30 last night the prisonerssent for Rev. Porter wno has been at-. 4.*. • I cord and the drop fell,tending them. Mrs. Potts was in a v“Lord have mercy on me,” and she: “Lord huve mercy on my soul,” These words were repeated several times us the black cap was drawn over their faces.At 10:44)^ Sheriff Barnard cut thehigh state of excitement and in greatv,mental strain. After a few minutesA second ufter a voice from below said distinctly breaking thestay nil night, which invitation was accepted, and his team put in Potts stable. This was the last ever seen ofFaucett alive.THE MISSING MAN.Was born in Manchester, England, October 12, 1842. There be lived with his parents until ho was grown, in the menn time having obtained a common school education, and there he learned his trade, that of machinist. In December, 1803, he was married at St. John’s Church, Manchester, to the woman who wus executed with him today, and in 1865 the young couple came to America where they have since resided. About five years ago they eame to the Pacific ^ j Coast from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Potts had worked at his tradeFor about twoWilming, of North Fork, this county* since the prisoners were condemned to death.The hanging of Elizabeth Potts is the first instance of the legal execution of a woman that ever occurred on the Pacific Coast, and wo hope and trust that it may be tho last one.A FEW ADDITIONAL FACTS.The story would be incomplete without the addition of a few facts inregard to this remarkable tragedy.Whilc it is truo that at tho inquestheld at Carlin before Justice Palmer,acting Coroner, tho Jury returned a verdict finding the remains to be those of Miles Faucett, it is equally true that there wore no moans of identifying them,, and the jury must havo based their conclusions on the following facts: AJanuary, 1S98; the remains of a human being were found in January, 1889, in the cellar where Potts formerly resided; hence the remains must be those of Miles Faucett andPotts and wifo must have murdered0him. Had the remains beon found any other place it is not probable that any one would have suspected them to be all that was left of Miles Faucett. Tho conviction was made principally on tho admissions of the prisoners themselves, and had they adhered to tho story that they told in January, 1888, they could not have been even hold for trial at the preliminary examination before Justice Palmer, much less convicted, of any crime in the District Court.They have persistently maintained their innocence of the crime of murder, and adhered to tho statement that Faucett committed suicide; and under date of Elko. May 29, 18‘.X Mrs. Potts wrote to C. H. Wilming* who recently adopted her youngest, child, as follows;talk she became calm. She was ex- d80P 6il6m,e °- K ” A look ,romliorted to continually say “Christ”above saw the horror-stricken fuceswhenever her mind was tortured. Mr. ot tbe on*lookora' boinKPotta was then visitod in another cell.pL»/’He was not ut all excited and said he was trusting in Christ. lie was alsoahhon.One man fainted away.The sudden disappearance of Faucett causod a suspicion of foul play in the minds of somo, and an attempt was made to investigate, tho result of which was that Potts showed a bill of sale from Faucett, turning over all his property to Potts, and both he and his wifo assorted that Faucett had beon. suddenly called East on business. Thus the matter restedfor soveral years, years ho worked in tho shops of the Central Pacific Railroad at Terraco, Utah. Then the family removed to Carlin where he was employed for tho Company until September, 1883, when the family removed to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where Potts and wife wero arrested on tho charge of murder, as above stated.and in September, 1888, Potts and family removed to Rock Springs, Wyoming.Goorgo Brewer and wifo movod , into the house vacated by Potts, andbod* of Mrs* PottB dld not about the 19th of January, 1889,exhorted to think the same great movo Bavo a fuint flavor of the hands name. They both lay down and wore and *oet’•till until morning, and gavo theA few quivers of tho muscles wasofficers no trouble whatever—the least ad seen on Mr. Potts.of any night yet.Drs. Meigs, Potty und Hendor-This morning they again sent for I BOQ standing on chairs folt of Rov. Porter who visited thom at 8:30. j their pulses with the characteristic They were at the minister’s request 000008 thoir profession.wput in one cell. They both spoke ofBy degrees tbe crowd reooverodthe effect of the epeakingof tho name, itself from ite horror and talked freely Christ, and profossod hopo in that °* the heart-sickening work.Name. They wore very calm, saveMrs. Potta died immediately; thethat if feet Bhufiled in the office Mrs. cftratid arUry hong broken by tho Potta would awuy a little in her chair r°P(* afl waa shown by a stream of The miniater again visited thom at blood.Brewer discovered the remains of a human being in tho cellar. Ho called assistance and the greater part of the mutilated romains of u man wore exhumed. A Coroner’s inquest wna hold, nnc? tho jury returned a vordict finding iho remains to he those of Miles Faucett, and accusing Josiah and Elizabeth Potts of having murdered him on or about tho 1stf• day of January, 1888.” THE ARREST AND TRIAL.Shoriff Barnard tolegrnphod to Rock Springs aud had Potts and his wife arrested, and on tho 28th day of January, 1889, they were roturned to Elko and lodgod in jail. On tho 15th10:15 and talked of tho hopo in Christ, and exhorted them to koop that name: “Mr. Wilming, as God is our :: judge wo are as innocent of the ;; crime we oro charged with as you :I are. Wo shall only be two more I:I added to toe list of victims hanged :: innocent on circumstantial evi- :: dence. So for God's sako don’t :: even imagino that my sweet child ;L Edith is the child of a murderess.” 7I , f fTo show tho dr;ft of public sentiment wo may add that a petition for the commutation of tbe sentence to* life imprisonment, signed by about 2G7 persons, among whom wero tho-best citizens of this county, was presented to the Board of Pardons; und in addition to. this Hon. R. R. Bigelow, tho Judge who sentenced them* to his credit bo it said, made n inua-torly appeal for such commutation* but ull proved fruitless, tlie Board remaining firm in their decision.But. Josiah nnd Elizabeth Potts are dead; und with the exception, perhaps, of Charley Potts, tho sixteen-year-old son of tho deoosusod, no ono is able to solve the mystory of Miles. Faucett’s death. The theory of suicide is not at all plausible, and no ono*seems to boiiovo it; and tho mannerof his death will ever, perhaps, remaina mystory.AGrTheuB°.l IW\\\W' KEN* Elizabeth Potts,Whose maiden name was Elizabeth Atherton, was born in Manchester,II01 IIOHtc jan.KliCTr« mifiion III viiIt Ihm 1willt; bo:nppll*rpri'K„ day of February, 1889* an indictment j England, December 21, 1816, nnd iso was pronoun e a . «. 0j|8rgj0g Josiah Potts and Elizabeth tho mother of seven children., all ofAt 11:07 the body of Mrs Potts was p0tta with murdor was returnod by ! flrhom are living, nnd who, with onoon their lips as they wont to the I cut down und delivered to the tbe Grand Jury of Elko county, and \ exception, havo all bc*n adopted byoxeoution. At oxaotly 10:30 the undortakor, and at 1L17 the body of on the 12th dny of March they wero different families in various parts of i evlt;£placed on triul on that churge.. The j tho United States; the youngest, j sondefendants entered c plea of not Edith, who will be seven years old on • pguilty, and their line of defonso was tho 4th day of Ju(y, having boon *Rive time for a short prayer by Rov.* unpinioned, shoos put on and hands that Fuucett committed suicide by adopted, by Mr. and Mrs. C.. H.officers uppeared at the cell door with I Mr. p°tts also u .insk of spirits but stood book to The bodies wore laid out on boards,
Newspaper Details
Elko Daily Independent
Elko, Nevada, US
Fri, Jun 20, 1890
Page 3
Full Page
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USA 18 Oct 2022
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