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Schiller said, "I'm not here to express any of my personal feelings, but after Vern has left, I'll be more than glad to relate any of the facts anybody here would like to know. I don't think it would be proper to relay them in Vern's presence, but I will answer your questions then." He threw a look around the room and the only smile that came back was from David Johnston of the L.A, Times and the Orem TraveLodge. Then Gus Sorensen gave a wink.

ANNOUNCER FOR THE TV POOL Leaving the platform row are Ron Stanger and Robert Moody, two attorneys who have helped Gary Gilmore in the last couple of months to get the wish that he said he wanted, at that time, that he wanted to die, these men helped to see. that he got there. Also leaving, Vern Damico, Gilmore's uncle from Provo, Utah, the man who took Gilmore in after he was paroled from a prison. And now, Lawrence Schiller, a literary agent/filmmaker who's been involved in this case for some time.

Dave Johnston, watching Schiller, decided to give points to the guy's cool. Here, at this press conference with everybody hating his guts for teeing up the story, Schiller was still doing a real reporter's job. His adrenalin had to be high enough to make his frame shake, thought Johnston, yet not a quiver was showing.

Schiller spoke of the yellow line and the black hood and the black T-shirt Gary was wearing and the white pants, and the shots.

" . . . Slowly, red blood emerged from under the black T-shirt and onto the white slacks. It seemed to me that his body still had a movement for approximately fifteen to twenty seconds, it is not for me to determine whether it was an after-death or prior-to-death movement The minister and the doctor proceeded towards Gary," Schiller said, and kept on speaking in slow, clear sentences, trying to make the note-taking easy for tired reporters.

Then it was Sam Smith's turn.

SAM SMITH I have no formal statement. I think Mr. Schiller pretty well covered the detail. I will respond to questions.

QUESTION What was the official time, Warden?

SAM SMITH The official time was 8:07.

QUESTION How did you give the signal?

SAM SMITH I didn't really give the signal. I indicated all was in readiness.

QUESTION How did you do that?

SAM SMITH Just by a motion.

QUESTION Was there a squad leader?

SAM SMITH Yes, there was.

QUESTION Did the squad leader give the signal?

SAM SMITH What happened inside of them, I have no knowledge.

QUESTION Who were the forty people present?

SAM SMITH Well, I didn't count the same as Mr. Schiller.

QUESTION But you disagree with his figure of forty, though, Warden?

SAM SMITH Yes, I would definitely disagree with that.

QUESTION How many were there?

SAM SMITH Less.

QUESTION Thirty? Twenty?

SAM SMITH I wouldn't give you an exact number.

QUESTION Warden, can we inspect the site now?

SAM SMITH As soon as we find out that everything is clear and that we can handle the traffic.

When Sam Smith stepped off, Johnston went up to Schiller and said, "You amaze me. You really are a journalist."

Schiller got a glint in his eye. Johnston could see the compliment go all the way in. "Yes, it was swell," said Johnston, "but why did you give it all away?" Larry cocked his head, and got a sly grin like a big German shepherd who is lolling its tongue. He said, "I didn't give away anything that mattered."

But he couldn't keep it in. "Gilmore's last words," Schiller confessed, "were not what I said they were."

Johnston laughed. He had a feeling there was more to the story. "Larry, there are some," he said, "who might look on that as a lie." "No," said Schiller, " 'Let's do it' was the last thing everybody heard," Johnston said to himself, "This is one secret he'll have to tell. He's like a kid who'll have to tell one person anyway."

"Well," said Larry, and swore him to secrecy, "Gary spoke in Latin to the priest."

"He did? What were his words?"

"If I knew them, I couldn't pronounce them," said Schiller, and gave his sly grin again. "But I'll find out."

They drove over together to the