Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-30
WILL MEET HIS DEATH
JAMES REED WILL BE HANGED II
COUNTY JAIL THIS MORNING.
Murderer Of Susie Dlakesley Must Pay
the Penalty for HIS Crine-An
HOPE G~0ne-SDends HIS Last
Day Cheerfplly.

James Reed. the negro who murdered
Susie Blakesley on December =. 1897. Will
pay the penalty of his crime with his life
on the gallows in the jackson county Jail
at 10 o'clock this forenoon. Marshal Chilss
and his deputies concluded all arrange
ments for the execution yesterday after
noon. The rope with which the negro will
be launched into eternity was tested yes
terday and the gallows Is in readiness for
the execution. Marshal Chiles was unable
to fix the exact hour at which the execu-
ton win take place. but 1t will be about 10
o'clock. The march to the gallows will be
taken up at that o
The coroner's jury summoned by the mar
shall yesterday includes DR.. c. W. Dulin.
DIR. A.. J. Broadman. DR.. William Buchholz.
DR.. W. c.. Iuen. DIR. T. D. Bedford. DIR.
w. s. Wheeler. DIR. C.. ]. Morrow. Major
A. p. Pease. Henry Kritz. Arthur Chap
man. c. p. Duf and l.. A. Farley. Mar
shall Chiies has issued about 30 tickets of
admission to the hanging. He was besieged
all day yesterday by men seeking to gain
admittance to the Jail to witness the execu-
ton and was compelled to refuse many per-
sons. None of the condemned mans rela-
tives will be present al the execution. After
the death penalty has been inflicted the
body Of the negro will be turned over to his
sisters.
The condemned man was uncommonly
cheerful all day yesterday for one who
knows that his hours on earth are num-
bered. He san and prayed with two min
listers, listened to the reading OF the Scrip
lures, and chatted and joked with relatives
and friends whO called to see him during
the day. Fannie and Linnie Reed and Mrs.
Mary McHenry. sisters of the condemned
man, and an aunt. Mrs. Esther Lucas. all
~ ,.,ho~r 1y,,a ot mn CouDho1l utnoot unout
the entire day with him. They sat in the
corridor just outside of his cell and laughed
n chatted with him. Once Fannie Reed
referred to the execution and then burst
into tears.
Come, now" remarked the condemned
man with a smile, as he arose from g. chair
and walked down his cell toward his sister.
don't go to crying. Tears are not s,.ing
to ave me. and I'd rather you would laugh
than cry.
Captain 6. G. Ragan. the venerable death
watch, read the Scriptures to Reed during
the forenoon. Later In the day Rey. MI.
church. and Rev. Mr.. BacOte, pastor OF the
Second Baptist church, held services In the
corridor alongside Reeds cell; The latter
and asked them to read to him passages Of
Scripture. The ser vices were marked by
great solemnity, and on two or three DIFF
ferent occasions the sisters Of the rom
demned man broke into tears. Twice the
tears came into Reeds eyes. and he brushed
them away with his shirt sleeve. Then he
talked to his sisters and begged them for
his sake to bear up bravely. Services were
held In the jail again last night. and Reeds
sisters and brother were with him until =
late hour.
Yesterday afternoon Reed laughed and
joked with Captain Raglan and seemed UNI
commonly cheerful. Once while he was
chatting with the death watch an English
sparrow few into the corridor between the
iron bars on an open window. The feath-
cred little visitor CAV a loud chirp and
fitted out through the opening again. As
II disappeared from view Reed turned to
Captain Ragan and said:
THAT bird likes a cell much better than I
do. II / had wings I'd fly away and never
come back"
Marshal Chiles IND a reporter for The
Journal dropped Into Reeds quarters dur