Executioner's Song, The - Norman Mailer [248]
Nicole was fascinated with Milly that night. Tamera had told him, Don't talk about Gilmore, but try to cheer Nicole up. Milly really had her laughing. Tamera began to realize that Nicole, in a funny way, was kind of sheltered and didn't know a lot about certain aspects of life like music and backpacking in Oregon, or even rap sessions like this. She just listened all night as if they were feeding her, and Tamera left with an optimistic feeling. Told Milly on the way back, "Maybe if we keep hanging around, we can change her attitude about life a little bit." Tamera felt it was going to be a while before Gilmore was executed, if he ever was. She had about concluded they could discount a suicide.
Chapter 5
TESTAMENTS
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
Church Leaders Air Capital Punishment Views
Nov. 13, 1976-Msgr. McDougall said the majority of modern theologians oppose capital punishment, believing the death penalty tends to work against the socially and economically disadvantaged.
The Rev. Jay H. Confair, pastor of Wasatch Presbyterian Church, 1626 17th East, said "The Old Testament idea of 'an eye for an eye' was replaced by the New Testament concepts of love and rehabilitation."
But the Gilmore case presents a different problem, Pastor Confair said. "The man wants to die. He doesn't want to be rehabilitated," and pointed out it is similar to the case of a person being kept alive by machines in a hospital who wants the "plug pulled."
Many here, although saying they believe in the death penalty, especially for crimes as brutal as Gilmore's, say also that they cannot stomach taking part in the execution itself.
"You couldn't drag me up there," said Noall T. Wootton, the county attorney who prosecuted Gilmore.
"I've done my job, I asked for it and got the death penalty-and I believe in it. But execution is a dirty, messy job and I don't want to be part of it."
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
Old Rifle Ready Again If Needed
Nov. 13, 1976-A gun at present in a rifle shop, and used in previous Utah executions, will be among the five loaned to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's office if and when convicted murderer Gary Mark Gilmore is executed.
Leo Gallenson, one of the corporate managers of the shop, estimated that the unsold rifle has been used in 6 to 12 executions..
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Former Boss of Utah Killer Would Serve on his Firing Squad
Nov. 14, 1976 Provo, Utah . . . Spencer McGrath gave Gary Mark Gilmore a good job and an extra $10 to $20 a week out of his own pocket. He fixed Gilmore's car and kept Gilmore on the payroll even when the ex-convict took to drinking and showed up late for work.
Now McGrath, a kindly sort of man who runs an insulation factory and who has helped many former convicts, says he would willingly serve on the firing squad Gilmore wants to have execute him, "just to show Gary that laws do apply to him."
November 14
Honey, I'm becoming very famous.
I don't like it not like this, it's not right.
Sometimes I think I know about fame and how it feels because I was famous in a previous life. I seem to understand it. But l don't want to get to the point where we're enjoying fame and not being ourselves anymore. We are just GARY AND NICOLE and we've got to remember that.
November 4
Hey Geebs
He was just-a-heed.
Nice to hear from you you know you got a little class yourself.
If at some time you are flush and have a few dollars to spare, I'm sure my mother could use it. She's old, crippled, and on welfare. Or if even now you'd care to write her a letter to help ease this thing a bit.
Thanks for the ten spot.
A friend GARY
Gibbs thought to himself, how do you write to someone's mother you've never met?
Dear Mrs. Gilmore, it's going to be alright. Only 4 of the 5 rifles are really loaded.
He asked Big Jake to pick him up a nice card and Gibbs enclosed $30 and mailed it off to her.
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Death Lawyer's Lively Career
Nov. 14-Only last January Boaz became a self-styled crusader against what he called the "hypocrisy of