Evening journal., 1891-03-06
LAST EDITION
PAID THE PENALTY
ShakespearReeves Hanged
AT New Castle To-day.
DIES WITHOUT A STRUGGGIL E
lie Was Ready to Cross The River
Jordan
DIES WITHOUT A STRUGGGGIL E

The Mulatto, Kaown as Jacob 'starkey.
Expiates ATS BeastIy Crime on the
scanOld-The Drop Fell at 1O.541z land
lie Died In 1913 Minutes-He Never
Moved Muscle and Death Was Pain
less-sheriT simmons's First Hanging
an unqualified suocess-stOry OF the
Crime
STAFF Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
New CASTLE, March 6-Shakespeare
Reeves, a mulafto was executed in the
county Jail yard hers this morning, for
rape on Grace Clark, II years old, daugh-
ter of T. 4. T Clark OF New Castle.
The execution was complete in every
detail and the man died without strug-
gle. It was the easiest death ever wit
messed in the old jail yard, and the man
could not have been put to death in
more humane manner.
The drop fell at 10.54I o'clock. At IL
O'Clock respiration ceased. The pulsa
tion became slower and more irregular
and at 11.04 it ceased. Circulation con
tinued until II 05l when the heart stop.
ped and the man was pronounced dead.
His body hung for % minutes by order of
DR. Black. Il was then cut down and
placed in plain, zinc-lined coffin that
was under the g1llows.
Preparing 20 Die.
Sheriff Simmons and the deputy sheriff,
his son, went Into Reeves's cell at 10 40
o'clock, and read the death warrant.
Reeves was Informed that the hour for
execution had come. The deputy sheriff
then locked On the handouts. The
doomed mans hands were pinioned be-
hind him.
Reeves then said that he wa ready
and asked to have his little SLOUGH hat
put on him This was done by Frank
johnson, the death watch.
The iron door creaked loudly when
opened, as If sounding a death knell to
the ordeal The march to the gallows
was then begun Reeves walking beside
Sheriff Simmons, the latter keeping pace
with the colored mans long strides
Reeves never faltered He looked
straight ahead Of him with resolute
stare, and held his head erect.
on the 6aIIows.
Reeves walked to the trap without a
culver. He raised his head toward the
heavens, and his staring eyes glistened
In the bright sunlight On the scaffold
about him we're his two faithful spirit
uai advisers, Revs a. r. Edmunds and
J. r. Brinkley Directly behind him
were Sheriff Simmons, Warden Tucker
and Captain Rulings, while Frank John
son, who has been Reeves's death watch
all this week, stood in the farbhest
corner.
The Death Chant
Mr.. Brnkley then started "Theres 8
Light Beyond" ard all the colored men
on the scaffold mingled their voices in a
soft chorus. Reeves closed his eyes aud
sang the verse with a clear and
audible voice. Mr.. Edmunds then
offered an earnest prayer. Reeves
engaged in devout supplication during
uttered almost as distinctly as the
minister's.
Reeves Speaks.
At the conclusion of the prayer, Sheriff
Simmons stepped forward and asked
replied yes" and stepped to the FROM
OF the trap In an unfeeiing tone, Reeves
said my friends, am az peace with
God am prepared to cross the river
Jordan"
Expiated His Crime.
Warden Tucker then stepped to the
front of the scaffold and adjusted the
moose. Reeves never moved
q ,,nsela duri,c .ba 800.
ton. He stood erect while
the rope was slipped over his head and
the moose frightened. The warden was
deathly pale and his hands trembleC
visihly
When he had finished he stepped bach
and DO we'd his head. From underline black
cap Reeves called out good bye friends.
The ministers began to sing softly
We shall Meet Beyond the River.
Just as they had sung the words Bye.
and-bye." Captain Rulings, who was
standing on the rear of the scaffold
nodded TO the sheriff
There was a sharp sound Il wa
caused by the glistenilg Ratchet in the
sheriffs hand coming down against tn,
heavy beam, along which the trap rop,
ran. Reeves shot down like a cannon
ball.
There was dull thud, a shaking o
the gsllows, and everything was over.
The fall was Just five feet ana Reeves
feet hung just fourteen inches from
the ground Not a muscle O.
his body moved, nor d:t
the body swing. rhA execution wa
somplete, and not an accident occurred
Life Fades Away.
Everybody on the gRllows then cam
down except Captain Rulings. The ply
sicians present were Drs John ]. BIacl
and R. R Tybout OF New Castle, and DR.
Shaw of Trenton. N. j., who was tn
Eheriffs guest. They took charge of tbs
hanging man and announced the change
in his condition. At ii Is tn
body was cub down and taken il
charge of by Undertaken Clewen.
How Reeves spent Yesterday.
The doomed man did not display an
more unessineas all day yesterday. HI
ate big breakfast of fresh fish, frie,
potatoes and coffee, and good dinner o
corn beef and cabbage, roast beef an,
several vegetables and small mince pie
which was made for him at his specia
request by Mrs Simmons. He ate ligh
supper.
When the sounds Of the hatchets ant
saws, which were being used to erect hi
gallows, began TO echo in the jail corridor
IA ne graof btp, l., 4ho 1a,et II