The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-03-06
The Bungling Work Of an Bxsoutoner in
ENGLAND

One of the most singular incidents
ever connected with the execution or
attempted execution of murderer hap
pened at Exeter, on the occasion for
carrying out the death sentence passed
upon John lee, who was recently con-
demned TO be hanged for the murder
of Miss Emma A. w. Keyes, at Bah
bacombe, near Torquay, on November
18th last, Three attempts were made
to execute Lee, but each attempt prov
ed futile, the drop failing to work sue
cessfully The execution was conse-
quently postponed.
1t will be remembered that Lee, who
was an ex-convict, obtained employ
ment from Miss Keyes as valet by
means of forged letters of recommen-
dation. Lee wished to marry Miss
Keyes, who was an elderly lady of
wealth. She refused to wed him,
whereupou Lee assaulted her. He
then murdered her and set fire to the
house to cover his crime. The flames
were soon extinguished by neighbors
and the murderer was shortly afterward
captured. He was hiding in the vi
cinity.
HORRIBLE AFFAIR.
The details of the futile attempts to
hang Lee make the case the most hor-
rible that ever disgraced the gibbet in
England. At first Lee was perfectly
firm and went to the scaffold undaunt-
ed. When the first attempt to hang
him failed the prisoners spirit remain
ed unbroken We was led from under
the gallows and walked back to his
cell with firm step and erect bearing
When he was first placed upon the tral
he resigned himself completely, but
firmly, into the hands of the execution
er. He stood motionless during thu
preliminary ceremonies, and when thu
moose was placed and the spring wa
about to be touched he made an appar
ent effort to adjust his body to thu
expected drop, so that death might b.
as quick and as easy as possible, arr
when the click of the spring sounded
he drew breath as if he felt he wa
taking his last. When the murdere
was made to realize that the gibbe
had not done its work and that he wa
not vet hanged, he appeared to star, a
if from nightmare. But he quickl.
recovered himself. The machiner,
was carefully examined and the wood
work was found wet aud swollen, s.
that the spring and trap would no
move quickly and smoothly. The ma
chinery was then oiled and moved uu
til the officers were convinced that
was in perfect condition to carry on
the sentence of the law. Lee was agai
brought out from his cell He stoo
firmly again upon the trap and vile
the moose was fixed again tried to
his body for the fatal fall and whe
the spring clicked its signal he SCENE
again to drop in perfect physical su
render. But the machine of deaf
again refused to do its work.
THE THIRD FAILURE.
The victim shuddered, as if shakiu
himself out of some horrid dream, an
the executioner pounded the fran
work and stamped upon the trap, b.
the trap would not move. Lee straigh
ened himself up and was second tin
removed to his cell. 1t was eviden
however, that his spirit was very mue
broken and those in charge of the ga
lows were very nervous. A third tin
the machinery was overhauled and a.
justed; third time it was pronounce
all right, and third time the murde
er led out and noosed and blackcappe
The spring was again touched al
again it refused to operate. The stra
and suspense had, however, taxed LIE
He sank down in swoon and had
be carried away from the place. \
words can give an adequate idea of Il
painfulness of the scene. A kind
overpowering dismay, like that of s
perstition, seemed to have got com
of the Sheriff's officers. The gallo'
was deserted and no one made a.
more Attempts to put it in working {
der. The man that was to have be-
hanged was limp, motionless and in
most pitiable condition, lying in |
prison cell, dazed and stupefied al
physically exhausted The Sheriff {
cided to abandon his task. He clos
up the execution yard and went do,
to the post office, telegraphed to
William Vernon Harcourt, the Hor
Secretary, full history of the horrit
failures TO execute Lee and asked I
instructions what next to do. In
ply the Home Office sent an order
Yaanita