The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-15
HANGED TILL DEAD
JOSEPH KEITH ExPIATEs THE MUIR
DER OF NORA KIFER.
Goes to the GaIIows with the stOlid
Demeanor that Has Character
lied His Entire Conduct.
NoNACTIoN OF THE GOVERNOR
DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE WAS
NOT ASKED TO ACT.
Summary of an Alleged Brief by the
Murderer for Presentation to
the Supreme Court.
THE HISTORY OF HIS CRIME
ONE OF THE WORST IN THE ANNALS
OF THE STATE.
His Trial and the After Acts-Prepa-
ratiOns for the Last Scene
In the Tragedy.
Summary of an Alleged Brief by the
Murderer for Presentation to
the Supreme Court.
THE HISTORY OF HIS CRIME
ONE OF THE WORST IN THE ANNALS
OF THE STATE.
His Trial and the After Acts-Prepa-
rations for the Last Scene
In the Tragedy.
sreciaI to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind, Nov. 15.-At 12:10
O'Clock this Friday) morning Joseph d.
Keith was hanged in the prison here for
the murder Of Nora Kifer in Warrick
county in April of 1900.
Promptly at midnight the first steps in
the final act of his life drama were taken,
and in but few minutes. with the stolid
demeanor that has characterized his every
act, Keith went to his doom in the death
chamber of the prison. At the last minute
he confessed his crime.
When life was declared to be extinct
preparations were made for the autopsy,
and when this is completed the remains
will be taken in charge by Undertaken
Earle and prepared for burial.
During the day the condemned man bore
up with remarkable fortitude. and save for
the nervousness which he began to show
two days ago and which has increased
gradually. but not sufficiently to indicate a
possible breaking down, his condition has
been considered by the prison officials most
satisfactory. His last day on earth was al
most as uneventful any of the others
which he has spent in the cell that was his
last home on earth, save for the reading
TO him of the telegram from the Governor
denying application for Communication Of
sentence. Not until this afternoon was he
Informed that all hope was gone; that Gov
eTnOr Durbin would not interfere with the
carrying out of the mandate of the court.
and that ere another sunup his soul would
appear before another tribunal.
To Deputy Warden Bernard fell the duty
Of informing the condemned man. but the
latter had begun to realize the hopeless
ness OF his case, and the deputy, sad as
was his task. was met with almost stolid
indifference. Warden Reid was caller
several times to-day at the death cell
in order to give Keith a chance to say what
he might have I'm mind or to make his
wants known. but when he was asked If
he wanted to make statement he would
laconically and quietly answer, Nothing
now"
This had been his invariable answer since
he was placed under the death watch, but
he had within the past twenty-four hours
intimated that he might make a statement
after he ascended the scaffold. For the first
time since he came to the prison Keith to-
night asked for the chaplain, but what
passed between the two only that official
can tell. The fact that Keith had spent
hours in weeping quietly, singing hymns
and familiar songs and in repeating a few
words OF prayer is taken by the officials as
an indication that he has in a measure been
preparing himself for eternity. Reuben H.
Sanders. of LapOrte, who since the vacancy
In the chaplaincy at the prison has been
acting in that capacity. prayed with the
condemned man, and Keith seemed to be
affected by the clsrgymans interest.
AL preparations for the execution were
completed early. The death watch stood
sentry over him during the evening in the
customary way. Soon after midnight the
men allowed inside by the law-Warden
Reid. Deputy Warden Barnard Chief
Lewis, Chaplain Sanders, Prison Physician
Horn and DR.. Harry E. Morrison. of La
porte. who was selected as the outside
physician, and the six guards-entered the
corridor in which the death cell was To-
Gated. aroused the prisoner and dressed
him in a new suit of black clothes. He
then was quietly led to the black platform,
ten steps away. at the north end of the
corridor. from which he was swung into
eternity.
Keith did not request the presence OF any
OF the ten witnesses that the law allowed
him. The directors were not here and no
one passed inside the corridor at the fated
hour except those named. No formal re-
quest for the body has been made by the
relatives, but it will be held subject to their
order, but II II is not claimed Keith will
find his last resting place in the prison
cemetery.