The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1922-04-19
SLAYER KILLS SELF
AS HANGMAN WAITS
Nancy Kelly, Murderer of Two
Still Raiders, Cheats
GallOWs.

Jacob F. Green, United States pro-
h1bition officer, and w. Lawrence
Durham, marshal of Richton, saved
the Circuit Court officials of Greene
county the trouble of hanging him
when he slashed his throat fatally
as the procession of those who were
coming to hang him were entering
the Jail here today. The deed was
done with tiny pocket knife which
he had concealed in his shoe.
In note left by Kelly, he said
that he did not wish to be hanged
for the crime, "the rope looked too
big,
The suicide was committed in the
presence of deputy who was open
ing the door to allow Rev. F. w.
Johnson, Methodist preacher, to
confer with the condemned man.
Kelly was brought from Hatties-
burg to the jail here last night by
Sheriff Webb Valley and deputy,
]. N. Sowell, and was lodged in the
death cell. From the first news that
he was to be hanged Friday he had
maintained an appearance of the ut
most composure, eating and sleeping
regularly, it is said.
This morning all arrangements
were completed for his execution.
The trap and the rope were all in
perfect condition, Sheriff Valley hav-
ing attended to those details before
Kelly was brought here. The board
of supervisors, the sheriff and his
deputies and the legal number Of wit
nesses were to witness the hanging.
Rev. Mr.. Johnson was coming to
the condemned man with Sheriff
Valley as the time for the execution
drew near. The prisoners wife was
leaving the cell. In the time between
when Mrs. Kelly left and the deputy
opened the door, Kelly had slashed
his throat. Mrs. Kelly said her hus-
hand had told her he had obtained
the knife from fellow prisoner in
the Jackson Jail, who had showed
him how to conceal it in his shoe.
Kelly showed signs of nervousness
as he heard the procession of off,
cials draw near. Suddenly, and with
out any warning, he grabbed the
knife, opened it and slashed his
throat, making deep cut. Rev. Mr..
johnson gave the alarm and the ply
sician who was with the official par
ty rushed up and gave what attention
was possible to the dying man.
The hanging was scheduled for 1
o'clock. At-1 o'clock Kelly had died
from loss Of blood, having slashed
himself at about quarter of one.
Kelly is the first to die as the re-
suit of the crime for which he was
tried. Henry Bond, another of the
party of alleged moonshiners, is un-
der sentence of death. Both he and
Kelly were wounded in the battle
with the officers of the law. Kelly
had maintained most obstinate and
lowering disposition since his capture
and never had been a pleasant pris-
oner, though taking his coming exc
cution in an apparently fatalistic
manner, according to officers.
The officers had attempted to raid
a still which he and Bond, in COM
pany with Will Morris and Johnny
Adams were running, evidence show
! ed. Adams will be tried at the May
term of Circuit Court at Leakesville.
The officers were found face down
ward in the mud, near the still, on
their knees. headed toward the moon
shine apparatus, which showed that
| they had died fighting, according to
the evidence at the trials. Both bo-
dies were riddled with bullets.
The prisoners have been kept away
from Leakesville, where the feeling
is high, and Kelly is the first to have
been brought back following the trial
OF himself and Bond.
Action by the Supreme Court on
Bonds case Is expected soon.