FEELS GOOD.

HANS THORPE OF MINOT TO BE HANGED SEPT. 14, SAYS HE FEELS GOOD.

Minot Aug. 4.—"Never felt better in my life," were the first words that dropped from the lips of Hans Thorpe, the condemned murderer, in a reply to a question from a Minot Optic representative.

The doomed man was found sitting at a small table in the corridor of the jail meditatively playing a game of solitary when the reporter entered. He was in his shirt sleeves and pinned upon his unbuttoned vest just over his heart he wore a picture of Ida Thorpe, his wife, who but a few months ago, in a fit of jealous rage, cruelly he murdered by sending a bullet through her brain.

"Of course," said the condemned man, "I killed my wife. I would not do it in the way I am feeling now, but I was not drunk at the time. I was driven to desperation. I was practically insane at the time, but that, of course, makes no difference in my case and I am ready and willing to pay the penalty. My brother-in-law, Albert, is responsible for her death. He drove me to it. No, I do not want any preachers and priests. I have nothing to confess and besides I do not believe there is either a heaven or a hell. I will be dead, that is all. I have had a lifetime to adopt the hereafter theory and I am not going to "back in" now. The sheriff said I could talk two hours on the scaffold, and that will do me. How am I treated? Well I want to say that I have no complaints to make. I have been treated nicely. Just one little spat, but it's all right now. Mr. Carroll and his assistants have treated me well, if not better than I could have expected under the circumstances. I have plenty to eat and a good bed."

Bismarck Tribune, 8/4/1900