Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-05
MARCH 10 THE GALLow.

Tho Sergeant then asked II be had anything
else 10 stteud 10, ami h"ing informed ny tho
prisone~ in The negative the march tothe gai-
lows wa5 taken ~, he Deing between reiE'Hhl
Edrng,0n aud Onicer Gore followed by tho min
listers and his four psll-nearcr- MS altp
though slow was steady, ani M spite Of all DIS
endeavors to appear upconcened, upon hls ar
rival al the steps leading 10 tho gallOEs he was
unable 10 ascend without assistance. Aiter
being placed in position, with his hands, ieei'
aud knees tied, hymn was sung ana passage
Of Scripture read, iOllCwO by prayer. Inc cnn-
dnmnod mal never raised his eyes du.iue tho
march from tho ground, and whtn asked n ne
had anything 20 SAY replied in very feeble ann
hardly audible voice What SAID last highi
ia true. / have no ill will towards any man'
aud Iny soul viii be carried 70 Heaven, who're IL
will rest forever. GOOd-Dy.'
ASSERTS HIS INNOCENCE TO THE ENO.
His spiritual advisors ,hen asked him Il ho was
Innocent or guilty, u which he replied:
Ny statemout IS correct"
Tho BLACK cap was then adjusted.
HANGED.
At ii:3i the drop fell and the body Il the con-
demBed man dropped Ave feet ten inches hriug-
ing hs feet 10 about two foet ten Inches from the
ground As soon ~ he fell his body gave quick
nervous struggle. after which not muscle coull
be eeou 20 move HIS neck was trOaen ihree
minutes after tho drop had fallen his pulse had
ceased 10 beat AZ 1906 he was pronounced deai
by Drs. e. = HerndOu ani 4. b. Carmichael ani
tho body wa. cut down. His remains Nero then
turned over % bis wife, VINO hal them prepared
for burial AMI Inferred ia Tie cOlOrod eemstery
hero this evening.
HISTORY or THT CONDEMNED.
Keys was born In Nels)u county in 1888. and
was owned in slavery times by the Dickinsons
OF that county. After the war he went 20 Ala
bama where he stayed for a number "a years,
finally coming back 20 virginia and locating ln
This city. where ne was married He was about
fye feet ten inches high and thckly GOT.
THE cgIaE.
Tho crime tor which he was hanged was tho
assault on the 4th Of April last on Alice, the
youug daughter Of Ar Arthur Ballard. AfteF
perpetrAting his hendish work no managed 10
e.cape tho authorities. All efforts 70 capture
him Or 10 ascertain bis Whereabouts were fruit-
less until tho ~ Of May, wheu he was captured
In Essex county, and Oh the Jtn WAS brought 20
this city aud lodged Ia Jail AMI his iriai com
menced, which ended in his conviction after u
most earnest and faithful defence b. nis cOuu-
sci, a. Il. Dickinson.
INCIDENTS OF THE HANGING.
The execution Of Keys is tbs first ono evor
known 10 have taken place IN this city, ana hence
attracted great deal Of attention. tarly IN
tho morning tho crowd began assembling Ia tho
fail-aIley and continued until tho execution,
numbering between three and four hundred.
Too much praise canDOt DO given 10 mo Illy ser
geant for the able manner IN which the execution
was performed. lie is one Of tho Oldest ser
geants In the state. aud IS ono Of the most ell-
cent The cOlOred people mauifosted gfaat
deal Of interest In mo case and COM posed thfee
fourths OF the crowd around the jail, bLt thcre
WAS no disturbance Whatever.