This week in 1888

“I wish you all a restful conscience and a useful life on this life on this earth. I hope when you come through this door you will bring some little child that has no father and mother on this earth for protection. That is all I have to say on this earth, Good-bye.”

— John Patrick Hart, convicted of murder, hanging, Montana.
Executed February 10, 1888

Hart’s mother died when he was nine months old, and his father died when he was fourteen, leaving him an orphan presumably the “little child” he refers to. After the father of the young woman he was courting accused him of visiting brothels, Hart shot him. Following his trial, Hart told reporters that he felt justified in the murder because the victim had been trying to wrong him.