The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-02-18
Negro Who Was Executed Asked That
the Job be Done Properly and
Wishes Were All
ObeyeS.
IT TOOK SIX MINUTES
Man Killed Motorman on Street Car
Last December and Paid
The Penalty This
Morning.

BELLEVILLE, H., Feb 1S-Wills
Clark, the negro who shot and killed
Motorman Eugene " Goudey in East
st. Louis on December IS, was hanged
today in the presence of 500 specta-
tors. Goudey's widow, who applied to
the sheriff for permit to witness the
execution but was denied It, did not
attempt to enter the Jail yard.
Don't get rambunctious," said
Clark, when Sheriff Cashell tied the
straps tight about his feet.
What are your last wordsg" asked
the sheriff.
DO good job of it." said Clark
Six minutes later he was dead
Every detail of the arrangements
was completed by Sheriff Charles
Cashell and his deputies last evening
for the hanging at 5 O'Clock this morn
ing in the Belleville Jail OF Willis
Clark, aged twenty-five
The workhouse gang of prisoners
was kept at work all of yesterday,
shoveling snow in the jail yard into
wagons and carts and hauling it away,
so that the inclosure might be as COM
Portable as possible for the spectators
in the weather conditions.
About twenty-five sheriff of Illinois
counties who were to witness the hang
4 ing arrived in Belleville last evening
The number was REINFORCED early this
morning and cards OF admission to the
jail yard had been issued by Sheriff
= Casheil
Clark yesterday signified his wish to
1 receive the rites of the Roman Catho-
lie church. They were administered
by Rev. Father P. j Bryne of st.
Luke's church, Belleville, this morn
ing, after Sheriff Cashell read the
death warrant at o'clock.
Clark had good nights rest Wed.
nesday night and awoke early yester-
day morning, greatly refreshed. He
joked with the prisoners and with
what few persons were permitted to
see him. With reporters he was par
ticularly jovia1. His mother and sis
ter visited him yesterday for the last
time. He manifested no signs of a
breakdown.
He was given the privilege OF pass
i ing through the negroes department
of the Jail and joked with the half
hundred prisoners. He told the pris-
!. oners he was coming back tonight to
see them and in pure white raiment.
and they had better have clean
clothes He said there would be no
doubt concerning his return as a ghost
and that his colored friends had best
be on their good behavior
: When seen by reporters Clark re-
fused to make statement for publica-
ton. but said he might have some-
thing to say on the scaffold He
II seemed to be not depressed.
, The burial will be in Green Mount
cemetery at the personal expense OF
Father ByTne.
Clark boarded an Alta Sita car
while it was waiting at the end of the
: line. Fireworks station, and was the
only passenger. When the car started
he drew revolver and shot Conductor
NJ T. O'Brien in the mouth. O'Brien
fell and Motorman Goudey opened the
front door to see what was the matter
! and was shot in the face, dying a few
minutes later. Clark took the money
the conductor had in his register, cut
ting away his belt, and also took $40
of O'Briens money. Then he jumped
off the car. Clark was captured twen-
ty-four hours later and confessed.