Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-04-23
Mlistellaueons &eadiua,
UNDER THE GIBBET.
THREE ATTEMPTS TO HING 4 MAN AND
THEY ALL FAIL.

connected with the execution, or attempted
execution of a murderer happened at Exc
ter, England, on the occasion of carrying out
the death sentence passed upon John Lee,
who was recently condemned, to be hanged
for the murder of Miss Emma A. w. Keyes,
at Babbicombe, near Torquay, on the 18th
of November last. Three attempts were
made to execute Lee, but each attempt prov
ed futile, the drop failing to work success
fully. The execution was consequently
postponed.
The details of the attempt to hang Lee
make the case the most horrible that ever
disgraced the gibbet in England. At first
| Lee was perfectly firm and went to the scat
fold undaunted. When the first attempt to
hang him failed the prisoners spirit re-
manned unbroken. He was led from un-
der the gallows and walked back to his cell
with firm step and erect bearing.
When he was first placed upon the trap
he resigned himself completely, but firmly,
into the hands of the executioner. He stood
mOtionless during the preliminary ceremo-
MES, 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 he drew breath
as if he felt he was taking his last. When
|
gibbet had not done ITS work and that he
was not yet hanged, he appeared to start as
from nightmare. But he quickly recover
! ed himself. The convict was then removed
| to his cell.
The machinery was carefully examined
and the wood work was found wet and sWol-
len, so that the spring and trap would not
move quickly and smoothly. The machine
ry was then oiled and moved until the Off
= kl>o% IN foot
condition to carry out the sentence OF the
law.
Lee was again brought out from his cell.
He stood firm upon the trap and when the
moose was fixed again tried to fit his body for
the fatal fall, and when the spring clicked
its signal he seemed again to dropin perfect
physical surrender. But the machine of
death again refused to do it's work. The
victim shuddered as if shaking himself out
of some horrible dream, and the execution
er pounded the framework and stamped
upon the trap, but the trap would not move.
Lee Strengthened himself up, and was
second time removed to his cell. Itwas ev-
ident, however, that his spirit was very
much broken, and those in charge OF the
gal0Ws were very nervous.
| A third time the machinery was over
hauled and adjusted, and third time was
it pronounced all right, and a third time
was the murderer led out and noosed and
black-capped. The spring was again touch
ed and again it refused to operate. The
strain and suspense had now overtaXed Lee.
He sank down in sWoon and had to be
carried away from the place. No words
can give an adequate idea of the painful
ness of the scene. A kind Of overpowering
dismay like that of superstition seemed to
have got control of the sheriff's officers. The
gallOWs was deserted and no one made any
more attempts to put it in working order.
The man that was to have been hanged was
limp, motionless and in most pitiable con-
dition, lying in his prison cell dazed and
stupefed and physically exhausted.
The sheriff decided to abandon his task.
down to the post Office, telegraphed to Sir
| William Vernon Harcourt, the. Home Sec
retary, a full history of the horrible failures
| to execute Lee, and asked for instructions
what next to do. The Home Secretary in
reply telegraphed a respite.
It will be remembered that Lee, who was
an eX-convict, obtained employment from
Miss Keyes as valet, by means OF forged
letters of recommendation. Lee wished to
marry Miss Keyes, who was an elderly lady
of wealth. She refused to wed him, where
upon Lee assaulted her. He then murder
ed her and set fire to the house to cover his
crime. The flames were soon eXtingulshed
by neighbors, and the murderer was shortly
afterward captured. He was hiding in the
vicinity.
THE HAMMER.-The hammer is the uni
versal emblem of mechanics. With 1T are
alike forged the sword of contention, and
| the ploWshare of peaceful agriculture, the
press of the free, and the shackle of the
Slave. The eloquence of the forum has NOV
ed the armies of Greece and Rome to a
thousand battle-felds, but the eloquence of
the hammer has covered those fields with
victory or defeat. The inspiration of song
has kinded up high hopes and noble aspl-
rations in the bosoms of brave knights and
gentle DANES, but the inspiration of the
| hammer has strewn the field with tattered
helm and shield, decided not only the fate
of chivalric combat, but the fate of thrones,
crowns and Kingdoms. The forging of thun-
derbolts was ascribed by the Greeks as the
highest act of Jove's omnipotence, and their
mythology beautifully ascribes to one of
their gods the task of presiding at the
labors of the forge.
In ancient warfare the hammer was
powerful weapon, independent of the blade
| which it formed. Many a stout skull was
broken through the cap and helm by blow
of Nulcan's weapon. The armies ofthe cres-
cent would have subdued Europe to the
sway of Mohammed, but on the plains OF
France their progress was arrested and the
brave and simple warrior who saved Chris
tendon from the sway OF the Mussulman
was named Martel-"the hammer" How
simple, how appropriate, how grand-"the
hammer" The hammer is the saviour and
bulwark of ChristendOm. The hammer is
the wealth of nations. BY 1T are forged the
ponderous engine and the tiny needle. 1t
is an instrument of the savage and the civ
ilized. Its merry clink points out the abode
of industry-it is domestic deity, presid-
ing over the grandeur of the most wealthy
and ambitious, as we'll as the humble and
impoverished Not a stick is shaped, not
house is raised, a ship floats, or carriage
rolls, wheel spins, or engine moves, a press
speaks, viOl sings, spade delves, or a flag
waves without the hammer. Without the
hammer civilization would be unknown,
and the human species only as detenceless
brutes, but in Skillful hands, directed by
wisdom, it is an instrument Of power, OF
greatness, and true glory.
SIZE WANTED No FOOD.-"Step this
way" said the judge. She arose and APP
preached the railing. "This officer tells me
| that YOU have been arrested for vagrancy.
1t is, indeed, hard to enforce the law in
case like this" She made no reply but
clasped the child closer to her breast.
"Haye YOU no hOme?" "No, sir" "When
did yoil come to this town." 'Nearly a
week ago. My husband came here to seek
employment. Shortly afterWard L heard
that he was in hospital. Then | came as
best could When 1 reached the hospital
and asked for him, an old man pointed to
coffin in II wagon and said, lie Is IN