The Law: Death Watch in Salt Lake City

"I think this time it's going to go through. I think I'll relax, play it cool and see if they'll leave me alone. And see if they'll bug out. "

—Gary Gilmore

Throughout last week's countdown for the execution of Gary Gilmore, scheduled for 7:49 a.m., Jan. 17, lawyers kept bombarding the courts with petitions to delay—for the third time—the convicted murderer's death by firing squad. Not knowing whether they would succeed, Gilmore was finding it hard to play it cool. "He's like a caged animal," said a prison official. "He's very nervous —more...