The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-12
DEATH DECREE
ASSESSED ny PRINCETON JURY on
JOSEPH 5. KEITH.
Found Guilty of Murder in the First
Kifer April 3 Last.
SURPRISE TO THE COMMUNITY
A DISAGREEMENT OF THE JURORS
HAD BEEN LOOKED FOR.
Midland Right-of-way Fight I'm Mont
gomery County Results i'm the
Blowing Up OF Two Bridges.
COURT WILL NOT INTERFERE
ARMED FARMERS HELP GRANTH-
AM TO GUARD HIS PROPERTY.
Newburg Race War story Exagger-
ated-Man Tried Twice to Kill Him.
self-Two Incendiary Fires.
Midland Right-of-Way Fight I'm Mont
gomery County Results i'm the
Blowing Up OF Two Bridges.
COURT WILL NOT INTERFERE
ARMED FARMERS HELP GRANITE
AM TO GUARD HIS PROPERTY.
Newburg Race War story Exagger-
ated-Man Tried Twice to Kill Him.
seIf-Two Incendiary Fires.
pecial to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
PRINCETON, Ind, Jan. 1.-THE death
sentence was meted by a jury to-day 10
Joseph ID. Keith. charged with the murder
of Nora Kifer last April. The jury brought
in the verdict at O'clock this afternoon.
after being in deliberation for three and
one-half hours. The verdict was OF mar-
der in the first degree and was a distinct
surprise TO the community, as a Disagree
ment was very generally expected.
The defendant heard the fatal words pro-
nounced by the clerk with no visible sign
that he was in the least affected. Not a
muscle of the face twitched. not a move-
ment Of the body was noticeable. What
ever the ordeal was within. outwardly all
was calm. Neither his wife nor son was
present, and he had only his attorneys
by his side. Attorney Chappell asked that
the jury be polled. This was done and
all announced their belief to be according
TO the verdict. Notice of a motion for a
new trial was filed. After the verdict
Keith made the following statement:
''The verdict is a great surprise to me
and disappointment. / am an innocent
man and whatever suffering / may have,
SuilcT no IeInOTSe. lie TACT OF my lnn0-
cence accounts for my being able-to stand
this terrible ordeal so Well"
In Judge Welborn's instructions he coun-
seled the jury not to assess the death pen
atty If there was one iota OF doubt. He
emphasized this repeatedly. This was
taken generally as foundation for the be-
lief that the verdict would not be for the
state. The argument for a new trial will
be heard two weeks hence. Keith is the
first man sentenced to death in Gibson
county since 1872, when Thomas Camp was
sentenced and hanged here.
Nora Kifer disappeared from her home.
near Elberfeld, April last On May q
her body was found in Pigeon creek. near
this city. A rock was tied about the neck
and the skull had been crushed away with
some blunt instrument. The arrest OF Keith
followed. The state proved that Keith sent
a note to Nora Kifer on the afternoon Of
April 3. which read: Meet me at the
bridge" The bridge referred to is few
yards back of the Keith farm. and several
witnesses testified they saw the Kifer girl
on the bridge late that afternoon. Blood
spots were found on Keitfs's buggy, which
he repainted a few days before his arrest.
The sixtecn-year-old son OF Keith admitted
carrying the note TO Nora Kifer and that
she promised to meet his father on the
canal bridge on the night Of April 3.