Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-05

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
New CASTLE, March Through the
courtesy of sheriff Simmons TIE GAZETTE
correspondent was allowed the priVi'
icge Of an interview with Shakespeare
Reeves, the negro who is sentenced to be
hanged on Friday next, Yesterday after.
noon the reporter was escorted TO the cell,
on the upper floor, where he found the
condemned man gazing through the CRATE
doors, evidently watching the passers by
in the corridor below. Reeves, who is ~
years old, is a light mtllatto and of power
FIJI build. He talked and chatted for 2
minutes, and seemed to he in happy
frame Of mind: in fact, he said that he
thought he was about AS happy as he was
ever before in his life. He said he had
been converted two weeks ago, and he nov
felt like a different man. am fully pre-
pared to die, and will die las happy as
lived, he said. ! spend most of my time
in prayer and hope and trust in God. IL
said he did not worry as he did before his
conversion. Hewas in pretty good health
although suffering from slight colo
during the past week In reply TO the
question if he knew Just how long he had
TO live, he replied, smilingly, that he be
lieyed that it was not quite week; some
time next Friday in the morning or after
noon, he did not know which, but he ad
viscd the reporter to ask the sheriff FOL
this information
The prisoner did not think he had had q
fair trial, fIhad, hesaid 1would moi
he here to-day waiting To be hanged" Con
tinung he stated that it was the first timt
in his life that he had ever been inside q
jail and he never was arrested for any
offence whatever previous to the present
one lie denied ever having committed 3
similar crime near Delaware City few
few years ago, rs has been stated in sew
cral papers, remarking that he was limo
cent also of the crime for which he !.
under sentence. lie still clings to the story
he told during the trial, that his victim
was hurt by fall the day of the assault
and the bruises on her body were from
this, and were not caused by him
although he admits that the assault wa!
made, but without attempting further i'll
jury
Reeves said he would rather die thar
stand trial again, as after it was over HI
was completely broken down. This wa
the only time, except at the death of {
brother, that he WAS ever brought to tears
He said; II am tired of waiting to die, and
as am already, would rather die now thar
next Friday" lie was asked il he though
lie could 80 through the execution al
right, and replied that he was feeling
stronger every day and felt sure that HI
could bear it brayely. He expects to say
few words on the gallows. He said botl
the sheriff and the wardcns We're Yer!
kind to him since he has been confined il
his cell, and Sheriff Simmons in turn
stated that Shakespeare was one of tn
| quiecst and least troublesome men in tn
Jail appears 10 be and says he is in th
best Of spirits and displays remarkable
| nerve, the talk about his death next Fri
day not affecting him in the least
Reeves although an ignorant dnrkey ]
not at i'll weak mentally and he realize
his fate Notwithstanding the fact that ii
laughed and ioked all during the CONVEX
sation. He say4 lie never belonged to an,
church in his fife but he now belonged t
1 God whom he expected to see As the re
porter started to say goodbye to tn
doomed man the latter requested him tt
| tell the people that he was ready and wpult
| die happy and lie wished to send his loy
to Mr.. and Mrs. CLARK with whom he wa
employed and everyone else, and hoped Il
meet them all in heaven.
Reeves aged mother was here from
Baltimore last week and aflectionatcly hi,
him farewell. II is not likely that any o
his relatives will be present 1t the eNccu
ton. The prisoner spent a large portion
| Of his last Sunday on earth in devotion
and during the morning he was singih
and shouting and seemed to he Yer,
happy.
Prayers were offered at several az iii
churches for the doomed man yesterday.