The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-09


He reached her house at two O'Clock In the after
noon OF dismal, rainy day, and, finding her hus-
band absent, attacked and cast her upon the floor.
Being feeble woman she could offer no resist
ance. Thinking to scare him away she told him
that she heard her husband approaching At this
Information he rushed to the front door, while
she attempted to make her escape through
, she rear door. But the ruse failed; Kelley fol-
lowed her, dragged her into an open field and back
through the house again. While in the building
he obtained razor and put 1t in his pistol pocket,
with the avowed purpose Of cutting her throat
after outraeing her. He again dragged her into
the field, she abstractng the razor from his pocket
on on. his opening gate, and throwing u away with.
Sssn s IT. bsayage " not
THREATENED TO MURDER HER.
she pleaded that II ne would not carry his threats
INTO execution she would never reveal his crime
his clothing and left. Upon the arrival Of her Ter
bly, bruised. with her hair matted with mud. She
fingered for weeks. little hopes being entertained
invalid.
Kelley made s, his escape and was subsequently
vile, where he has been confined ever since.
THE TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
hit ne was tried at the December term, 1873 OF the
DAVIDSON County Court, ana convicted. On the
18th OF February last Kelleys attorney argued
motion for new trial, but unsuccessfuIly The
dence showed that Kelley had been guilty Of one
Of the most henous crimes in the criminal calen.
gar on ne rec6ed the facts Of the ontrage and SAID
and would pronounce the death penalty accord
ingiy. Kelley remained unmoved during the de-
livery OF the Judges opinion, and did not seem to
realize the awful position In which ne stood.
He was sentenced to be hanged on the goth OF
tanned respite. his counsel relied upon excep-
tons taken to the charge OF the Judge, but Chief
OF the Appellate Court, concluded that the defend
ant had been properly convicted, and pronounced
pass sentence as fOllows:-
THE SENTENCE.
"Kelley you have been tried by jury and con-
ylcted Of the crime OF outrage, committed, accord
most aggravated manner. The case Is 50 Clearly
Garded as July satisfactory. You had fair trial,
and the jury had iull warrant to come to the
CluHlOn they did. Annexed to this crime Is the
tpenaty OF death. 1t becomes my unpleasant duty
pow to pronounce that solemn sentence upon the
at the law that declares that this prisoner has
forfeited his life. 1t is impossible to conceive OF
higher crime than that for which he, Bill Kelley,
II recommend to you most earnestly to occupy
the few remaining days allotted TO you in prepar-
ing especially to meet your God.
at IL useless with such record as this to indulge
In the hope OF pardon from the Governor.
Day the sth day or May, 1914 between the hours Of
ten A. N. and four p. NJ, you be taken 70 gall0ws
to be erected in Davidson county, at distance
hanged by the neck until dead; may the Lord
have mercy on your SOUL"
AS the last words OF the sentence died away
Kelley was observed to undergo Kind OF shiver
and appeared dumbf0Huded for the moment. He
soon recovered his self-pOSSes6iOn, however, and
NOT long after was returned to his CELL
THE CONDEMNED BAPTIZED.
Shortly after nis sentence Kelley was baptized IN
large tin bathing tub In the presence or thirty
persons, consisting mostly Of his own color.
kelley coming out Of the water clappng his hands.
ing but really gave no facts and when questioned
TO the details OF the crime, peremptorily refused
nav something which might make his chances for
the communication Of his sentence less probable
that he had his Statement written out and out
side OF it nothing could be obtained from him.
= ' sfATkMKSr OF KELLEY.
: here now state about what l know about Mrs.
Moore. She has swear something against me that
1 was never guilty Of although wish her no harm
hope she win meet me IN heaven: went 70 ner
on my horse and got OF my horse and went In,
and she requested OF me to go to the spring to
bring q couple or buckets OF water for her, and
went and brung them; and after brung the water
she requested OF me to bring her some wood, and
brung the wood according TO her request; and AZ
ter that one OF her neignbors children came into
the house. Then she asked me to Kill the chicken.
After she had dressed the chicken, then she
asked me Tor two dollars, and asked her what did
sue want with the money, and she saiQ that she
wanted to get her pair Of shoes, and told her
didn't have the money to spare. ! needed all the
money / had, and she still insisted Of me TO
qtve her the money. l never hurt her
but told her would give her the money.
am thirty-eight years of age was bred and
born IN Evansville, Ind, and was raised at Jefer.
sonve: NY parents removed to !eiersonviiie
Myself ana Mrs. Moore had been eating and Sleep
ang in the same room before this occurred.
persecutor and all my beloved friends in heaven.
since my confinement in jail have been very
mtted ali spiritual advisers, desiring it, to visit
me ~ all hours in the Gay. More white friends
sSs not ne n
degree OF kindness and commiseraton to which
man in my situation is entitled. l mad plenty OF
am out OF money and In jail have heard nothing
of them. They seem to have entirely forgotten or
In Inc case Of Rev. Nelson Merry, who mas visited
me and given me spiritual consolation. But
would IKE much II he would come oitener:
since was ten years OF age have travelled
among all, nations OF people. l have been IN
France, England, Ireland aud other lands. was
cook on sailing vessel. During my travels,
which have peen rather extensive, have never
Il would be very great comfort to me now il
ministers would come and even talk to me.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION.
Some days since Sheriff Whitworth selected the
point for the execution. 1t is In Lewis Bottom,
few hundred yards to the left OF the Murfreesboro
Of Nashville. The gallows consisted or platform,
erected about ten feet IRON the ground, assembled
reaT Of the platform was an upright beam
which was q crossbeam firmly braced the entire
length OF the platform. The rope was tied near
the base OF the upright beam, extending over
she crossbeam, and connecting and upholdnQ the
tran door, while the moose fastened to the end
OF the crossbeam.
A DESIRE TO BE HUNG "oFFIcIALLyn
Kelley sent message to Sheriff whtworth the
0ther day requesting to see him. Un Sherin
Whltworfh visiting his cell Kelley told him that It
was his desire That he, Whtworth, should hang
MIN, and no one else; thar 4 he was TO be hanged
he wished II done officially Hearing AL
erward, from some vague source, perhaps
that sheriff Whitw0rth proposed engaging some
one else TO cut the rope that was to launch MIN
into eternity Kelley again sent Tor him, and ear
nestly requested him that no one else but himself
ehouid hang him. Sherin Whitworth told him that
IA 1WhjIw0rtbl did moi propQse to shigk any ON