Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-07-14
INNOCENCE
REESE ROBERTS SMILES
AS HE GOES TO HIS DEATH
Without Tremor He Marched to fh
ScaffoId, Recognized Friend in the
Gathering, and Then Made a
Statement F0rgiving His
Prosecutors.

cession left the cell for the gallows.
His hands were manacled and he was
marched between two Of the guards.
The four spiritual advisers walked
along with the party and sang hymns.
Roberts also was singing When the
party arrived at the enclosure where
the galows stood Roberts was smil-
ing He was taken into the engine
room at the foot of the gallows steps
and said goodbye to those who have
been close to him since his trouble
began. He walked smilingly UP the
steps and assisted the guards In
placing himself within the circle
about the trap. He then raised his
head, and glancing around at tho
forty witnesses present. began his
statement. He spoke in fast but
clear voice He was smiling all the
time and there was no tremor Of the
voice nor any other indication OF fear.
Those who we're gathered to see the
execution we're more nervous than
Roberts. His statement was as fol-
lows:
Roberts Statement.
r This day has come and this little
3 hour has come The time was ap-
; pointed by God and not BY man and
- thank Him that l am able to meet
, Him. He Is standing with outstretched
hands to receive me- May God have
mercy upon my soul and upon my
false prosecutors. ] stand before you
! an innocent man OF the crime for
! which | am being punished and say
that / am not only innocent, but
knew nothing about It.
II want yoN people 10 leave hero
/, feeling that I am innocent and abso-
. lutely know nothing about the crime.
= MY last words to you are to prepare
for this day. Life is short and You
I may all be dad within a week
n About thlr time he spied Houlo
I Sergeant AZ drew Lamont. Of the
n Chester Ponce Department, among
those who had gathered TO witness
r. his execution. With 2 smile on hla
~ face as he stood - fntfr7ss, hc -
,e There Is a friend OF mine ftelRard
IN You Andy am glad you are here on
H. this day"
=" lie then went on with his conversa-
IN ton and raising his face towards
10 heaven again asked God to bless and
Ne forgive his prosecutors and to receive
K his soul. He said he was not going 70
y. die. but just going to begin to live.
n When the black cap had been ad.
iusted and the guards stepped aside
he uttered the following prayer:
!, My Heavenly Father, ! thank you
u for this day and also am thankful
y that You know all things Have mercy
a on my prosecutors and receive my
IT soul, Amen"
q The words had hardly left his lips
r before the trap was sprung by Warden
2. Crawford His death was caused by
3 a broken neck and he seemed to suffer
no rain. He was pronounced dead In
d fifteen minutes.
IS Warden Crawford stood out in the
r open In the presence Of all the spec
VI tators as he pulled the trap.
d The following jury summoned by
q Sheriff James Logue to witness the
r execution. were present as well as
a other persons required permitted by
e law to see Il:
J. j. Ferris Belt, Daniel L. Bowers
p Frederick Harkins, X. NJ. Peacock
Frank b. Newell. Thomas O'Connell
is Charles r. Perkins, Walter Rash
m Luther Saltzgiver. Pennell Stetser,
1t Harry M. Wiley, George Yates.
* Fifteen minutes after the trap wa:
" sprung Roberts was pronounced dead
Ie and Peyton Rose, an underta1N
ne this city, removed his body ID
at for interment
Among the Chester visitorsV
Id were Committing MagistrateF
m Stockman, who committed Roberts
r. when he was taken into custody Il
M Chester; House Sergeant Andrew La
sr mont and officers Jacob n right. El
wood Donaldson. Charl@ Cannon
Clarence Cain and EdwaA Farmer.
Donaldson was one or che men VIII
~ arrested Roberts inrChester.
s Three Other Executions.
~ There have been three other execu
~ tions at the County Workhouse. the
,55 being John Joiner, colored, Septembe
% @ 1904: William Archer, colored