The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-26
LEGAL BUToHERING.
AN ATROCIOUS SPECTACLE.

THE EXECUTION OF KELLEY, AT NASHVILLE,
TENN GREAT CROWD AND IT'S ACTIONS
WHAT KELLEY SAID, AND HOW HIS HANG
ING EXCITED TIN THOUSAND SPECTATORS.
The Nashville Union OF May % gives the
following detailed account of the hanging of
William Kelly in that city, whereby the
supposed majesty of the law was indicated.
AS an evidence of the civilization of to-day,
1t is worthy of historical preservation: The
sun rose in an unclouded sky, and at an
early hour throngs of men, women and
children struggled out of the city in the d.
rec:ion of the place chosen for the execution.
Vehicles of every description whirled up the
soft, sitting dust, and gay words songs and
laughter fioated off on the gentle breeze,
leading one to forget that On this fairest of
days an outraged law demanded the expia-
ton of terrible crime by an ignominious
death on the gallows. On the distant hills
could be traced the outlines of ruined forts
that told of past days of war and ruin. The
burning sun hung high in mid-heaven,
white fieecy clouds swan in the realm of
ether, and nature was in her joyous mood.
From the vast and instantly increasing
crowd which surged and swayed in the vail
ley and rolled its gayhued waves hack to
the crests of the distant ridges, there arose a
confused murmui OF many voices, and The
jest, the idle word, the careless laughter
mingled in a strange confusion. Idle rumors
ran the rounds of comment, sallies of care
less laughter met the light jest, and none
seemed to regard the occasion as one of
warning-as an exhibition of the power of
the law and its dread vengeance on one who
had violated its commands. The majority
of those present were colored people, al
though the reporter noticed in the throng
some of the leading citizens. The demi,
monde were out in all the glory of attire for
which they are so conspicuous, and formed
no inconsiderable portion of the crowd
present.
WHAT KELLEY SAID.
The prisoner advanced to the front of the
platform, made a profound bow, and, as he
stood facing the Moose, spoke as follows, in
very distinct, clear voice, and without a
tremor: 'Friends. both white and colored:
am here to-day to suffer death, but as Paul
said when the crowd gathered to see his
head chopped off: They may murder my
flesh, but my soul they cannot KILL Jesus
is with me, am here ready to be offered up,
am ready to die-hear me, am prepared
to die, have religion and don'tfe death,
Pm going home. (Cries of 'Yesp syesi'0
Some of you here to-day are not prepared
for death, and say to such, Prepare your
selves for death and the Judgment Don't
put it off until Tomorrow. Why? To-
morrow belongs 10 eternity. az haye been
in prison now eight months. / have been
treated kindly by the officer of the prison,
and hope that all, both white and black,
will keep him in Office as long as he lives.
You could't get better man to keep the
prison than Captain Patterson. Friends,
he has treated me as gentleman. ST will
| not detain you long am here now for what?
Something that was sworn against me. II
is false. but hope them that swore against
me will try to meet me on the right hand
side of the Lord. / have travelled all over
ithe world 1 am SO years of age. have
TWO CHILDREN LIVING IN INDIANA.
| have an uncle that is left in Mississippi,
have one that is left in Cincinnati, but these
hope will prepare to meet me in heaven.
L am willing to be offered up between
heaven ard earth because of the small sum
of two dollars. The person who charged me
svore false against me. She made an offer
to me, went to the spring at her request.
I brought her a couple of buckets of water.
After brought thu water. her request to me
was to go for wood. went as she asked me,
as servant would. You know, friends,
that sometimes, If you should be waiting on
ANYBODY and they told you to do something
you 90 and do it. Well. just so it was with
me. When / went to the house that morn
ing. she invited me in, staid awhile and
talked to her and then went for the water.
Then came back and went around the hill
and cut her some wood. After came with
the wood she said to me that one of her
neighbours chickens came into the house,
and her request was for me to kill it, and L
did so. In the meantime she dressed the
chicken, she asked me fer the pitiful sum
of g. said hadn't the money to spare,
had some debts to pay, but she said to me,
you can pay your debtors, let nae have the
two dollars.' / told her couldn't do it; yet
she kept insistip' on me for the money. /
- l. Il roll oA hxQx tn
bedside. She sat down on the bed after
she had madsthe toffer. But, friends, ] say
to you, / am here to-day eisDo2 ~ .liH ~
81 : INNOCENT OF THE CHARGE,
but, thanks be to God, am willing to goby
the laws of Tennessee. Friends, hope that