Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-12

terreu, ana Sner11 simmons Will keep
the body until he hears from Davis.
If the latter desires to carry out
the provisions of his trust the sheriff
will ship the remains at his own expense
to Delaware City. If Davis is not heard
from the sheriff will give the body a
Christian burial.
The jury summoned by the sheriff
subscribed to Drs. Black and Tybout's
certificate of death from judicial
hanging. The certificate sets for that
Reeves was the son of Eugene Fortune
and Martha Reeves and was born in
Rappahannock county, Va, 80 years
ago. II is presumed he was born out of
wedlock and took his mothers NAME
He claimed to have sisters and brothers
living at Atlantic City, but was not in
correspondence with them.
No attempt was made to have the
governor interfere with a reprieve or
respite, as his crime was so clearly es-
tablished that no grounds were left to
work upon.
HIS LAST NIGHT ON EARTH.
Captain Israel Rulings and his assist
ants completed, last evening, the scat
fold en- which Shakespeare Reeves suf-
fered the penalty of his atrocious crime
to-day, and everything was placed in
readiness for the execution. Reeves was
very quite last night, although as nervy
and happy as he was some time ago.
He was seen yesterday afternoon but
would say nothing further than he felt
quite well, was ready to die ana he eX-
pected by that time to-day TO be in a
better world.
All of his meals yesterday he seemed
to enjoy as much if not more than at
any time during his imprisonment. He
ate a mince pie, which was made ex-
pressly for him by Mrs. Simmons, wife
of the sheriff, late in the afternoon and
said it was the best he had ever tasted.
Henry @. Conrad, Esq, the prisoners
counsel, arrived at the Jail at o'clock
and was closeted for about 20 minutes
with him. After he left Reeves was
taken from his cell, and accompanied
by the sheriff he was taken to the west
yard of the prison and seated in
chair for his photograph, He was
told to smile and in few
minutes the photographer had
three negatives of the doomed man. As
it was the first time for several months
the prisoner had been in the open air,
he shivered considerably and remarked
to bystander as he stepped brisllly to
his cell that it was very cold out there.
He was placed in his cell under the
charge of Frank johnson, his death
watch. Johnson is long-term pris-
oner and is good natured and jolly, so
he proved excellent company for the
doomed man. John Il. Connolly, tailor,
measured Reeves for suit of clothes
yesterday afternoon. The suit was of
plain black worsted with Prince Albert
coat and fitted him well. The ropes
holding the trap door of the scafIold
were tested and stretched after the wood
work had been completed. The hang
mans rope on which is the moose and
which is suspended from the overhead
beam was adjusted. This rope is by
far the best ever used in Delaware
for the purpose, 1t is of Russian hemp,
over four-strand, water laid and three
fourths of an inch in diameter. II was
sent to the sheriff by Mayor Filter of Phil
adelphia,and il is said to have done duty
at 16 previous executions. The knot ON
the end where the moose is was made by
machinery and would be extremely diff
ticult to unite. Although solid as
wire the rope is without lkink 1t was
tested with 500-pound drop and proved
entirely satisfactory. 1t will be re-
turned to Philadelphia. Reeves spir-
itual advisers, the Rcvs. j. Il. Brinliley
and Fl, r, Edmunds, remained with him
until after 10 o'clock last night. Shortly
after they left the condemned man
went to bed and slept sound until
$3.50 O'Clock this morning when he
awoke and asked his death watch
to procure him and orange. This was
done, Reeves ate the fruit and then re-
turned to bed and slept until 515
o'clock, when he arose and quickly
dressed himself in the new suit Of
clothes. His breakfast was served at
| 7.20. 1t consisted Of pork steak, fried
eggs, coffee and bread, all of which he
ate with keen relish. The sheriff does
not know yet what disposition he will
make of Reeves body but it is probable
that it will be taken in charge by rela-
| tive of Reeves, named Davis, who re-
sides in Delaware City and who asked
for the remains several weeks ago.
REEVES SHOCKING CRIME.
The crime for which Reeves was
hanged was perpetrated on Sunday
afternoon, September Goth, 1890.
Hc was employed as farm hand by
Thomas Is. Clark, residing a short dis
lance out OF New Castle. MIR. Clarke
daughter, Oracle, aged 10 years, was
playing about the barn, when Reeves
enticed her into hay loft and assaulted
her. The child was taken seriously i'll,
as result OF the brutal treatment, and
on the following Wednesday told the
story of the occurrence. A warrant was
at once taken out for Reeves arrest
and he was soon after captured. The
girls father with a party OF men started
in pursuit of Reeves and pVartDDk him