Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-06-27
McKEEVER HANGED,
Protesting. His Innocence to the Last and
Asserting His Intention to Die
Game-He
Derides the Cross, Refuses to Kiss It, and
Laughs in the Face OF Death
His Last Moments.


almost proven against him, he faced his
executioner with grin upon his ugly face
and without the faintest sign OF repent
anee for his sins. The future only can de-
eide whether or not he was truthful, for
once in his life, when he asserted with his
last breath, 81 am no murderer"
The crime for which McKeever was
hung, the trial and his rambling talk pend
ing the execution of the death warrant,
have all been widely discussed, not on &C
count of the standing or celebrity of either
the accused or the victim, but because
the assassination was peculiarly cruel, aud
on account OF the wonderful nature of the
circumstantial evidence accumulated by
the officers of the law. When first in
formed of the charge against him, Nc
Keever was cool, and at no time during
his trial or while awaiting it did he betray
THE SLIGHTEST FEAR
of the result. He was defiant, impudent
and utterly reckless in his manner. Day
by day, as the police accumulated new
proofs and he was informed of the con-
vincing nature of the evidence against
him, he was interviewed by first one Off
Ger and then another, and though always
willing to talk, he kept his head and never
committed himself, except by trifiing CON
tradictions. During his trial IN the Grim
inal Court he kept his evil eyes fixed upon
the jury, and rarely ever changed his at
titude. The expression upon his face was
always the same-one of keen interest,
unmi1gled with alarm. Not a whisper
escaped his close attention. Removed
from the scene of his crime to Jackson,
pending his trial before the Supreme
Court. he was no longer a hero, but re-
eeiYed the same treatment which was in
differently melted out to all the prisoners,
and returned to his cell in the Shelby
County Jail with
MALICE IN HIS HEART
and curses upon his lips. He exhibited
his venomous spirit to all who approached
him, and declining to talk about the muir
der gave vent to his wrath in regard to the
treatment he received at jackson. The
next stage into which he fell was one Of
easy-going lying. 1t was his delight to
| strip himself of every stitch of clothing,
| loll about on his bunk, and spin long
winded yarns to those who visited him.
| He was exceedingly delighted whenever
he found a reporter who would consent to
| give his romances to the public. Sud
denly he changed his tactics and dropped
into poetry. This was regarded as sure
| sign that his backbone was weakening,
and it did not fail. In day or two he
began to betray every sign OF the most
abject terror, paced his cell day and night,
muttering unintelligible prayers for his
salvation. Last Tuesday morning he asked
that
PEIEsT BE BROUGHT
to him and his request was complied with.
Since that time he has declined TO talk to
visitors, answering questions addressed
him, b It volunteering nothing. Once OF
| twice when asked if he intended to con-
/ e. /, -. 4
though he persisted in his statement that
he was anything more than a witness to
the murder. Thursday evening when he
was visited by reporter he was very quiet
in his manner, and declared that he was
perfectly resigned to his fate. He re-
manned perfectly quiet in his cell all night
long, and the Waterman thought he was
sleeping. About : O'Clock in the morning
when he peered through the iron grating
of bis cell he discovered pool of blood in
the middle of the floor, and the condemned
man lay apparently dead upon his bunk.
DR.. Willifofd was instantly summoned by
telephone, and when he
ENTERED THE CELL
found the bedelothing upon which Nc
Keeyer Law saturated with blood. He waG
not long in discovering, however, that the
man was only pretending death, and had
Just reached that conclusion when he gave
vent to deep groan, rolled and twisted
for moment upon his narrow bed, anC
then opened his eyes, remarking when be
did so that if the matches he had managed
to obtain mad been of any account hC
would have cheated the hangman. you
bet your sweet life l wouldn't have beer
here now if my cell hadn't become dari
all of a sudden" he said with grin. Hi
wounds, when examined by DR.. Williiord
were found to BE- four in number, one
upon his right arm between the
SHOULDER AND ELBOW,
one near the wrist upon his lett arm, an
other higher up on the same limb, and {
fourth on the inside of his right leg. They
were all ragged and ugly, but none o
them very deep except that on the RICH
arm. DIR. Williford said McKeever proba
bly, had some knowledge Of the femora
artery and had endeavored to find it, Will
the knowledge that if it was severed dealt
would ensue ALMOST as quickly as if he haC
applied the knife to the jugular vein. Th'
wounds were dressed, and as Mex eeve
sank back upon his cot he broke out int,
a findish laugh and asked those about hin
il they had any curiosity to know how h'
mana ed to infict the wounds upon him
self. He said he got piece OF snuf-bo1
while at Jackson and kept it
so CLOSELY CONCEALED
that he didn DUl1I = :. - 49, -. -,
have found it. He thought it was a gooC
thing to hay g and held on to it. About l.
O'Clock Thursday night he got it from un
der his mattress, where he kept it con
cealed, and sitting down on the side of thu
bunk cut his right arm, then his left snt
finally his right leg He was endeavorin,
to find the artery when the cell suddenly
became dark and he fell back unconscioui
upon his bunk. He told this story in tn,
most fendish way, every other word bein,
an oath. He declared that he had as much
nerve as any man and intended to die
game. About o'clock he said he haC
eaten nothing for twenty-four hours anC
felt as if he could enjoy some
EGGS AND TOAST.
He greedily ate what was given him anC
washed it down with a glass of brandy
He said he wanted to be fed well so as t
make it lively for the worms when he wa
planted. He declined to say anythin,
about the crime except that he didn'
commit it, but said he could not tell wha
he might oivulge on the scaffold. Abou
10 O'Clock McKeever was visited by hi
father, who was deeply affected. H,
asked John if he had not raised hin
right, and the prisoner, breaking int
tears for the first time, replied that b,
had, and that he would surely go t,
heaven and be an angel. The old mar
then left the jail and did not return unit
AFTER THE EXECUTION.
Soon after bis departure the Rev. Fathe
Walsh was ushered into his cell, and re
manned with him until noon, when Sherii
Cannon read the death warrant to him
The copious draughts of liquor he ha,
, swallowed had taken effect, and he bic
, coughed several times during that legs
formality. McKeever said he bore no il
feeling toward Sheriff Cannon, as h
J knew he was doing his simple duty, bu
: he hoped he would be given a half hou
! extra on the stand, as he had somethin
to say. He was then dressed in his gal
lows clothes, white shirt and pair G
dark pataloons, and escorted by Deputy
; Sheriff Hancock and Jailer Lawless, de
scended the iron steps and walked
ALoNG THE CORRIDOR
toward the rear end Of the inner eourt
: where the gallows had been erected. H
laughed and grinned alternately, and hi
step was SIS firm as if he were treading tn
/ - II. 4. L. L