Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-07-14

New Castle County Workhouse nc
and without a tremor
a statement in which he pro
tested his innocence and voiced his
forgiveness Of those who falsely
prosecuted him, Reese Roberts, coli
ored, was hanged this morning, for the
murder Of Mrs. Ann Casey. of Clay
mont, who with her husband, Robert
Casey was battered to death as they
slept on August 10 or 20 last
It was exactly 1922 o'clock when
Leonard Crawford. warden Of the
workhouse, sprung the trap, and nf-
teen minutes later Coroners Physi-
clan Joseph w Bastian, Dr. George W,
X. Forest and Dr. Harvey B. Patton
pronounced Roberts dead The execu-
ton was conducted without a slip in
any of the arrangements made.
Throughout the gruesome ordeal, In
which Roberts paid the death penalty
imposed by the court and upheld, de-
spite the hardest kind Of a fight made
to save him by his COUNSEL former
Judge j. Frank Ball, the remarkable
nerve of Roberts stood out like the
supernatural Never once did he fall
ter. As he stood upon the scaffold,
knowing that the next instant he
would be plunged into eternity, he
seemed the coolest of all the persons
present Nothing disturbed his sound
sleep during the night He walked
down the narrow corridor from his cell
TO the enclosure of doom without the
least hitch in his step. He mounted the
scaifold as If he were TO get his break
fast AS he gazed upon the jury and
other witnesses assembled 10 see him
executed, he smiled.
Hello. Andy. I'm glad you came he
exclaimed, as he espied House Ser
geant Andrew Lamont. of the Chester
police department, among the spec
tators eco back and tell the Chester
people | am innocent
Indeed thla was a display OF unof'
\ fected nerve. but Roberts iurthcl
demonstrated his self-possession as Ia
snrveyed the small gathering and thei
'Italmly made a statement of his ilr
lnocence and his forgiveness "Amen,
he said, as he finished his statement "a
which the words came rapidly The
next instant the trap was sprung. Th'
assertion of innocence was his last eX
pressed words No man. apparently
ever went 10 death with less fear Of II
Slept Sound All Night.
Roberts. in fact. maintained the
same assurance and lack Of fear all
along. At the Workhouse yesterday
afternoon, after the doomed man had
been notified that he need look for
nothing but death, his wife and the
Rev. Albert Price held religious SER
vice I'm the cell with him. The Rev.
Mr.. Price has been untiring I'm his
efforts TO save Roberts life.
In the presence Of the condemned
man, his wife and the prison officials
the colored minister read the eighty
fifth Psalm, the eight chapter of
Romans. and sang the hymn. "And
Must ! BE to Judgment Brought" The
two then knelt In prayer Later
Roberts reiterated his innocence.
The condemned negro asked DR.. Price
to accompany him 10 the scaffold. to-
gether with the Rev. Ralph r. Cour-
sey.
Last evening he spent most of his
time in reading his Bible. and wher
he retired shortly before midnight
he went to bed 10 sleep. AT o'clocl
this morning, when Warden Craw
ford went to Roberts cell to read the
death warrant to him. he found th'
condemned man so sound asleep tha
he would not awaken him.
Roberts awoke about o'clock an,
when the sentence was read to hin
he did not show any change. He af
forwards ordered a breakfast of han
and fried eggs with bread, butter
and tea.
Mr.. Ball With Him.
Mr.. Ball. counsel for Roberts. spen
sometime with him in his cell thi
morning. Warden Crawford also wa
present Roberts in the presence o
both reiterated his innocence and sam
some verses Of "The Resurrection
Morn" Then he gave Mr. Ball tw
letters, one addressed to himself to b
; opened later, expressing his thanks {
Mr. Ball, and one addressed to IN
Christian Friends" He gave Mr. Bal
a Bible that had been presented to hin
by the Rev. R T. Coursey shortly afte
he was convicted, and also his rim
with the request that they and som
letters he had written be given 10 Mrs
Roberts.
The Rev. Ralph T. Coursey. OF Bran
dywine NJ r. Church. and Gospel Sing
er Luther F. Mezick, assisted the Re,
Albert Price and the Rev NJ
Brooks, the latter two colored, in con
Quoting about a half hour religion
service in the cell Of the condemne
man this morning.
Upon beginning the service MI
Coursey said to Roberts: Reese. Co
can forgive a man even for murder
Now II you killed these people confes
It and have your sin forgiven"
Raising both hands toward Heayei
Roberts replied $50 help me God Nh
Coursey, i know nothing about thi
case except what / heard in the Cour
House"
Walked to the Scaff0ld.
Before leaving the cell for the gal
] lows he presented Mr.. Coursey wit
= his hair brush; Mr.. Brooks with hi
/ comb. Mr.. Price received his tootl
4 brush and Mr.. Mezick was given th
e condemned mans pencil. This wa
: all he had to give, he said, and OF
J fered them as souvenirs.
1t was 1015 o'clock when the Pre-