Evening journal., 1891-03-02

JOURNAL, Morning News, Every Even
ing Daily Republican, Freie Press and
New Castle Star; the sheriffs OF the two
lower counties and ex-sheTiffs of this
county; jury 70 witness the execution.
On Wednesday morning Captain Israel
Rulings will begin the erection OF the
gallows The frames Of this, from which
many criminals have swung into eternity,
will be taken from the Court House store
room under the mayors Cffee, where
they are always kept. The gallows wilI
be built ON the same plan as Captain
Rulings has built q score of others. ex
oepting the beam, which will be two feet
higher. and every part of it will ba so ar
ranged TO make the execution AS painl ess
as possible.
Tho Condemned Man Talks
Reeves is completely resigned to bis
fate, and processes to have found peace
with his Maker. The EVENING JOURNAL
representative visited him IN his little
cell mo 90 upper tieD yesterday after
noon. This was the first time the doomed
man had consented TO see anybody since
mis- confinement. excepting his spiritual
advisers and the colored man who waits
on him He had faatened blanket in
front of his door TO arrest the stare of
curious passers- by, bat Warden Tucker
had it taken down and the heavy wooden
door closed instead
Reeves told Sheriff simmons that he
would talk to the reporter, as he would
not then have very much to say on the
gallows. When the reporter reached the
cell the man who can live but Ave days
was standing at the grated door He is
tall and proportionately large man
with very spare moustache and two
uneven rows OF ivory" teeth. He is a
very light mulatto and could not possibly
be distinguished from a sunburnt white
man. His hair is shorn close TO bis head
and he wears neat fitting check shirt,
dark trousers aud slippers.
Well, sir, sad the reporter, what
is your full name2"
Shakespeare Reeves Soon after 1
come to Delaware l got Jacob Starkey as
= nickname. Mr. Clark never asked my
full name and never told him
Shakespeare. how old are you aud
where were you torni"
- will be 80 ia May was born In vir-
ginis. and came TO Delaware four Years
ago from Maryland. NY mother was
save and my father, who never kuowed,
WAS named Eugene Fortune. Ee was
young man never married my
mother. De went off when he saw nue..
and they tell me he died fore | was able
TO notice anything lived with nv
mother uatil was 81, when left home
got along well, because | WAS aiwsys
taught TO work for my bread. and | got
20 could work beside any man went
to Mr. Clark's about three weeks before
the arrest.
cam an innocent Man"
1t 10 said that you once assaulted
white girl down the state"
It's not so, sir; never laid finger
on hite girl and the Lord knows
never touched little Oracle Clark. lam
an innocent man before God. never
knew what judge jury or trial was
until faced NY own fate in the vii
mington Court House. aud tell you. sir,
| would rather be hanged to morrow
morning than 10 60 through that again
Oh tell yen, that Is the worst part of
my hitter fate, and | broke down com
pletsly. That's the only time | ever went
under amt IL sheriff?
yes, Shakespeare. you re the bravest
man l ever saw" said the sheriff, and
that was the only time you ever gave
way.
VIII Not Break Down.
Yes sir, and intend that il shsll be
the last time that il shall ever happen.
Then you mean that you win walk on
he gailows and meet your doom without
quaking with fesrf"
II do, and am perfectly willing to be
taken out now as l have got ready Cor
death
foldY"
Hers he prisoner smiled and replied
Yes. cir, expect TO have a little to say
here. | have bsen thinkin' up little
speech, hat I'll not sing
All Ready TO Die
Reeves. do you know how long
yon have to liver
Yes sir, the law Is TO kill me on
Friday some time, don't know just
when, II | don't die before then
Did you ever belong TO any church.
No tut belong TO God aud am not
afraid to die Mr Brinkley aud Edmunds
showed me the way, aud about two
weeks sgo found blessed Saviour.
can 60 down to death SIS now live. happy
in Him, and know that He will not lei
me perish but take me to His home above
| do not desire to live longer, as / can die
but once, and when l do | will Join N,
master in Heaven ! am sure can &,
everything all right. have prayed foi
strength, and hope and trust ia God.
Hts Denial OF the Crime.
Reeves was then asked to tell hi
story Of the crime for the commission o
which he has been seDterced to die HI
said that on the memorable Sundal
evening, just at SUI set, Grscie and htti
Tasker, her brother, were playing Ia tn
hay NOW. Some pumpkins were piled il
4 wagon down stairs and the childrsi
vent down there and played anon,
hem. Tasker took my knife down viii
him and they began 10 cut the pumpkin
INTO faces. Grace sat on q rotten pump
kin and 1t mashed under her weight
This caused the soils on her uuderclothini
with which ! was convicted. Grace cam
up and laid down beside me, but toll
her to go away Fer mother called he
hen, but she did not 90, ard raised u
AUG saw Mrs Clark coming towards III
Darn. Grace then started In, and 4
climbing over the bsrnyard fence SD
ELI asiride Of a post. II must have hnr
he child as she writbed in pain, held be
hands to her stomach aud could no
Tslk straight.
WIN Tell This on the CAllows
do you intend to die with that stor
on your lips?'
u 90, as that is the truth as | no
ise, and intend 10 say it on the ga
'ows"
Is there anything can say for You