Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1921-08-12
DOUBLE HANGING AT ST.
JOSEPH.

JOSEfH.
Robert Keethen, aged 33, and ice
Keethen, aged %, uncle and nephew,
respectively, convicted of the crime
of murder, in this parish, were hanged
by the sheriff of Tensas parish, with
in the four walls of the parish Jail,
at st. Joseph, on Friday, in presence
only of the officials and seven wit
nesses, as required by law. The drop
fell at 1910 o'clock and both men
were pronounced dead at 1921, but
the bodies were allowed to hang 81
minutes before being cut down.
The condemned were remarkably
calm and collected, indeed stoical,
and unhesitatingly announced their
readiness to die, saying that they had
made peace with their Maker and were
prepared to 60. They expressed ex-
IRENE repentance for their crime, con-
Tossing its commission, that same was
solely for purpose Of robbery and that
they believed their punishment just.
For some days before the execution
the sheriff had admitted several COL
ored preachers to the death cell, where
religious services where held.
At 10 o'clock, the sheriff, accom-
panied by two deputies, entered the
death cell and, as required by law,
read the death sentence to the con-
demned. The reading of that instru-
ment occupied possibly ten minutes,
which seemed hours to the sheriff,
who showed good deal Of emotion in
its perusaL The prisoners were un-
disturbed, each appearing calm and
collected and in excellent spirits.
The sheriff explained to them the
purpose of the document, stating
that same is his warrant and au.
thority for their execution, and that
they would be lead to the scaffold
shortly after IL o'clock. He told
them that they had but two hours
longer to live and urged them to
use that time in meditation with
their God. This they said they were
doing, and had done, and were now
ready. New clothes were brought
them and they began to dress them
selves for burial. The death march
began at 1905. With firm step they
walked out Of their cell into the
corridor, where stood the awful gal
lows, and by direction of the sheriff
took their places on the trap door,
standing back to back. Their hands
were handcuffed behind them and
their legs tied together with rope.
Their spiritual advisor STOOD by them
and offered final prayer for the
repose of their souls. When the
amen" was said they responded in
firm voices. The black cap was
drawn over the head of either con-
demned. the rope was placed about
their necks, and the knot adjusted
just behind the right ear of either,
which is calculated to break the neck
Immediately. All being in readiness,
the sheriff pulled the lever which
displaced the trigger supporting the
trap, which fell instantly under the
added weight Of the condemned. The
two bodies shot downward like q
flash, the drop being about seven
feet. Their bodies rebounded slight
ly, but the ropes had been stretched
to utmost tension some days ahead
and gave no further yield, holding
their burdens suspended high from
the floor. The shoulders of either
raised slightly as by convulsion, q
tremor passed over each frame and
then the bodies hung limp. Both
necks were broken by the fall and
Inconsistencies if not death was in
slant in either case. DR.. L. A. MUIR
dock, parish coroner, and DR.. w. D.
Noble, parish health officer, stood
by and each held the pulse, the for
mer of Robert and the latter Of Joe,
until both were pronounced dead.
Joe's pulse stopped beating in IL
minutes and Roberts also in like
time.
And thus it was that their cruel
and cold blooded marde. of an un-
Offending and aged fellow being was
avenged and the MAJESTY Of the law
sustained.
The crime for which the Keethens,
uncle and nephew. to day paid tho
extreme penalty Of tie law was the
murder Of an old white man named
Frank Dudley who lived the life Of
a be rmit, on the Bowie Tract, on q
remote part Of Laxe Bruen, in this
parish. and was committed on April
18th, Last. Dudley had lived at his
hermitage for possibly forty yearx
and made his living repairing clocks
and firearms and fishing. The ne
groes believed he had money in hid
ing and conceived and deliberately
planned the diabolical idea Of assas-
sinating him that they might rob him.
Armed with revolvers they called at
his house shortly after daylight on
the date stated. and calling him tn