The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-18
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
The Death-Penaliy.
Especial TELEGRAM to the Dispatch.

Especial teIcPrdln 10 the Dlspttcnl
SPARTANBURG, S. G., December 17.--Dan-
iel Keith (white), aged thirty.twO years, a
native of Pulaski county, KY, suffered the
extreme penalty OF the law at Rutherford
ton, n. c., to. day, for the murder OF Alice
Ellis, a eol0red girl OF eleven years OF age,
in the county OF cleveland, n. c., after
committing rape upon her. Keith was tried
before his Honor Judge Mccoy at Ruther-
Yorktown, and after q patient and fair trial
was found guilty and sentenced to be hang
ed on the oath OF July, 1880. An appeal to
the Supreme Court was granted, and there
the decision OF the lower Court was affirmed
at the fall term OF the Supreme Court. He
was sentenced to hang on the 18th Of De-
cember by Judge Seymour.
Thousands Of people, roundly estimated
at from five TO ten thousand, were present
TO witness tue execution. At III o'c'ock
Keith was taken from the jail, ard, with his
coffiu, which he had requested TO be left in
bis cell with him for several days before the
execution, was put into two-hOrse wagon
and strongly guarded. The immense pro-
cession moved toward the galows, erected
three quarters OF mile from the court.
house. Here the immense crowd bad al
ready assembled. Keith sat in the wagon
for some time, and when he was assisted
out be requested the privilege OF looking
into his grave, which was dug about twenty
fee, from the gallows. He then firmly
walked up TO the scaffold, coolly assembled
the steps, accompanied by bis spiritual adj
wiser. Rev. Me-. Osborn, who then knelt and
offered prayer in his behalf. Keith made e
rambling address to the large crowd and
said "Ladics and gentlemen, you see now
what whiskey has done for me. want all
you young people to take warning from my
fate. You know that the devil sets up bis
shops about mile from your towns, and
then the trouble begins. | wish there was
not a drop OF whiskey 10 the world
Some one here asked him II he was ready
20 die. He replied, g He hoped he was.
He had done all he could aud trusted to
| God for the rest. Let my sad death be
fair warning to all wbiskey-drinkers and
sinners. Nv own melnness brought me to
the gallows. trust have truly repented
| A year ago was free man, running round
drinking and fidding, without fear OF God,
| when TO. day l am on the gallows. Jndg
ment will come to all, and even In the
large crowd / see before me, judgment
will come when you do not took for IT,
He then a,bed that his friends would mol
allow his body to be interfered with al
ter death. He acknowledged that be wa
guilty Of killing the little negro girl, ans
wbiskey made him do IL. lie regretted tina
his life had been spent In wickedness; tina
II he had to live 1t over again he woul'
spend two thirds Of his time In prayer. :"
moi thank my God that l am willing nov
to give my life for the life took. neve
took the life OF any other person." Ill
manner was cool, deliberate, and withou
any manifestation OF fear. The sheril
informed him that be still bad SOM
time. and he said he would spend tina
thine In prayer. When he arose from d.
knees he gave several directions g
1.-The persons standing by, and tne'
babe farewell TO ALL. The sheriff and bis as
sistanis bound him. placed the fatal noos'
over bis head and the white cap, ana az tn'