The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-07
THE DEATH PENALTY.
TWO Negro Murderer6 Hanged
Yesterday.
STORIES OF BRUTALITY AND TPDITY'
The Justice Of Their Doom
Admitted.
500. Az. AugusL 8. Isl.

SELMA, Ala. August 6, 1875.
Eugene Archie Kelley, negro, was hanged here
at twenty minutes before twelve tnls morning Tor
the murder OF Andrew cunningham, under cir
cumstances OF peculiar atEocty. few minutes
before Inc execution took place Kelley acKnowl-
edged his guilt anu said mat the sentence was
just, and warned all present against the sin Of
covetousness. The wretched man struggled very
little ana appeared TO die easily Inc eXecu-
ton was witnessed by about 5000 persons, who
manifested throughout the ghasuy proceedings
the most perfect order. IL was he hrst cXecu-
lion ia Dallas county IN twenty yeals an the nFst
that has taken place since Selma became the
county seat OF Dallas county. The negro popula-
uon or Ehe county, anu IN iaet, for twenty-five
miles around Selma, were much excited by tue
case. but almost universally denounee the crime
and pronounce Keley's COON JUS, enc.
PARTICULARS Or THE CElMA.
In the early days OF November last some wood
choppers who were wOrEtng IA the woods about
one ana three-qu4rter miles northeast OF Selma
heard groans eyldeutly rom human being
short distance rom wAere th-y were cutting. II
was about noon when the attention o. the labor
ers was attracted. aud proceed ~ IL TIE direction
oil the sound, they soon came up1A = negro man
weltetlng ia MS blood ana suffering intensely.
The wounded man, tuougn hurt unto death, was
able 10 tell now ne came 10 be there. his stAte-
ment, eOrrUO0rated bg lndlsputabe crcum-
Stances ana the statements OF witnesses on the
trial OF mis- murderer IN the Circuit Court.
was ABOUT substantially as lohoWs:-he sald
thGt Eugene ArcnIe Kelley, negro man VINO
lived ia selma, suOt Nun with one barrel Oh L
double barreHed shotgun cary that morning. he
cont tue WuoochOpper5 tnas MS maine was
Andrew Cunningham, and that he lEed near
Marion, IN Perry county, about thlfty miles rom
Selma; tnat nc came 10 selma Two days Delore
with "a bale OF cotton, whcn he had sOid, anu that
Archie Kelley ndd seen MIN with TIE money ana
had persuaded bin 10 90 Win MN (Archie kelley
lhlo the country, W"ete me nule cOuIu oe
bought Ior = s.a ali sum nom another negro VINO
was nara up. Archie heAey called Tor hlm (Cun,
nlngham) VI IN early nUur that morning and
could be found. Kelley had with him d
leaving the corporation limits was through
dense WOOD by narrow pain, aud heHey TOOK
the lead Cunningham was a slmple-lmued
country negro ana nad no suspicion OF keley's
lntentlCns. When they RAD gone nearly u mile
into tue WOOD Kelley framed some excuse and got
cunningham ahead oI ann, ana IA 4 4ew moments
raised his deauly weapon aud gave his unsuspect-
Ing victim the contents OF one barrel.
TILE ROBBERY.
Cunningham was terribly aud fatally wound ed
and ieil apparently dead, bat did not lose con-
AS soon Ss lie huu done The awlul deed Kelley
came up TO the BODY and took from It pocket
book, contaiuInS about 80, when sum alone
caused helIey 10 Decoulc q murderer anu to-day
10 eXplate ais crime On the galoas. AS soon as
Kelley got Possession Of Lhe money he dragged
inc Oouy q. AItle way from tuG path lulO the
bushes aud let 10, thinking mat MS ylctim WAS
uead. the wuoGchoppers came Ia and
man to town. ca LIS arrival Or.
{. J. Clark examined MS wounds aud told hlin
LLag lie mad bul Il few HOUrs to llye. a Coroner
was sent fOr ana Cunningham made an ante
mortem statement embracing SUBS tanilally the
above facts. ABOUT nlne O'Clock Juat nlgaL Gun
.Ilngh died.
CAPTURE OF KELLEY.
Sheriff posse, win TIE proper warrant, at
once started IN searca " keeJ and Oyeraa uled
hlIn ABOUT Twelve O'Clock thtt uiVuJ ana dyed
MIN tu IAN preliminary cNantnatlon de.
NelOped Jne strongest cOrrOboratiug evidence
ana lie was committed without Bill.
Kelley quite young, being uuuer twenty
years Of age, but as young as nc was ne mad a
most upenyiaDe notOrlsty, ana belonged 10 d
gang OF sneak thieves and scOundrtls who live by
Bwindlug ignorant ana unSOphI, ticated country
negroes. he knew tAat Cunningham brought a
baie OF cotton 10 TINS city sVugnt his acquant-
bnce saw nlm sell tne cotton anu receive the pro-
cceds, ana determined 10 get the money even II
he hAd 10 commit murCer. He CmpnatlcaAy de-
Lied ms guilt up to tIe gIue OF MS death.