The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-03-04


nected with theexecution or attempt |
ed execution of murderer happened I
to-day at Exeter, on the occ$ion for |
carrying out the death senteSce pas.
sed upon John Lee, who wal e.sent- |
ly condemned to be hanged the |
murder of Miss Emma A. " Keys
at Babbacombe, near TorQ ay, on
November Is last. Three attempts
were made to execute Lee, but each
attempt proved futile, the drop fail
ing to work successfully. The
execution was conse quently
postponed.
1t will be remembered that Lee,
who was an exconvict, obtlined en-
ployment from Miss keye' as valet
by means of forged letters Of recon-
mendation. Lee wished to marry
Miss Keyes, who was hn elderly
lady of wealth. She refuied to wed
him, whereupon Lee assaulted her.
He then murdered her snd set fire
to the house to cover his crime.
The flames were soon estinguished
by neighbors and the murderer was
shortly afterward captured. Hewas
hiding in the vicinity.
A HORRIBLE AFFAIR.
The details of the futile attempts
to hang Lee make the most horrible
that ever disgraced the gibbet in
England. At first Lee was perfectly
firm and went to the scaffold un-
daunted. When the fist attempt to
hang him failed the prisoners spir-
it remained unbroken. He 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 trap he resign
ed himself completely, but firmly,
into the hands of the executioner-
He stood motionless daring the pre-
liminary ceremonies, and when the
moose was placed and the spring
was about to be touched he made an
apparent effort to adjust his body to
the expected drop, SO that death
might be as quick and easy
as possible, and when the click of the
spring sounded ne drew a breath as
if be felt he was taking his last.
When the murderer was made to re-
alize that the gibbet had not done
its work and that he was not yet
hanged, he appeared to start as if
from a nightmare. But he quickly
recovered himself. The machinery
was carefully examined and the
woodwork was found wet and swol-
en-, so that the sping and trap would
not move quickly and smoothly
The machinery was then oiled and
moved until the officers were con-
vinced that it was in perfect condi-
ton to carry ont the sentence of the
law. Lee was again brought out
from his cell. He stood firmly again
upon the trap and when the moose
was fixed again tried to fit his body
for the fatal fall aud when the spring
clicked its signal he seemed again to
drop in perfect physical surrender
But the machine of death again re-
fused to do its work.
THE THIRD FAILURE.
The victim shuddered. as ifshaE-
ing himself out of some horrid dream
and the executioner pounded the
frame work ard stamped upon the
trap, bat the trap would not move
Lee Strengthened himself up and wa,
a second time removed to his cell
1t was evident, however that his
spirit was very much broken and
those III charge of the gallows were
very nervous. A third time the ma
chinery was overhauled and adjust
cd "a third time was it pronouuoed
all right, and third time was the
murderer led out and noosed and
blackcapped. The spring was again
touched and again it refused to oper
ate. The strain and suspens had, how
ever, taxed Lee. He sank down in
swoon and had to be carried away
from the place No words can give
an adequate idea of the painfulness
of the scene. A kind OF overpower-
ing dismay, like that of supers;i-
ton, seemed to have got control of
the Sheriff7s officers. The gallows
was deserted and no one made anv
more attempts to put it in work
ing order. The man that was to
have been hanged was limp, mo-
tionless and in most pitiable con-
dition, lying in his prison cell, dazed |
and stupified and physically exhaus-
ted. The Sheriff decided to aban-
don his task. He closed up the exc
cution yard and went down to the
post Office, telegraphed to Sir Viii
liam Vernon Harcourt, the Home
Secretary. a full history of the horri- |
bic failure to execute Lee and
asked for instructions what next to
do. In reply the Home Office sent
an order OF respite.