|
People of the State of Illinois
vs
Elizabeth Reed,
(of Crawford County)
Crime committed in Crawford County in vicinity of Palestine, August 15, 1844. Trial held at Lawrenceville, Lawrence County, April 26, 27, 28, 1845. Execution date May 23rd., 1845 at Lawrenceville, Illinois. Rev. John Seed, Methodist minister, delivered the sermon prior to the execution. Lawrence County Circuit Court Records.
The first woman sentenced to death in Illinois or perhaps in the Northwest Territory, received her doom like a stoic, never changing a muscle of her countenance. She was guarded by the court house after the court adjourned, and one women in particular-labored hard for her soul's salvation. At last the condemned said she was saved, and from that time to the moment of her death displayed a very emotional religious life. She was baptised in the Embarrass River by Rev. John Seed, a pioneer Methodist minister. Public sentiment, however, was entirely against her. As the day of execution approached, the birds saw the whole population within the radius of a hundred miles moving towards Lawrenceville. In Wagon, on horse back, afoot, the nebulous population gradually concentrated into one mass. The women came and brought the children to be held upon the shoulders of the men. Men, now gray haired, affirm that this is not an exaggeration to say that, that 23rd. day of may not a soul in Lawrence county was at home. Such a crowd has never been seen in this part of the State. The scaffold was built of rough timber and was a simple affair. A braced beam, projection from a single post, had the noose dangling from it's end. The trap was held up by a smaller rope which ran over a pulley in the braces and was fastened to the floor behind, where the Sheriff cut it with an axe. The most "convenient place" for the execution was at the foot of the hill which runs parallel with the river here, as elsewhere throughout the Wabash system. Mrs. Reed rode from the jail to this place on her own coffin, and by her side sat a woman, still living(1885), who had devoted much time to her religious training since her sentence. The murderess was dressed in a long white robe, not unlike the ascension robes of the Millerites, with not a bit color to relieve the purity. In the face of the populace which filled the natural amphitheatre she mounted the scaffold singing hymns and crying out that she trusted in the Lord. With nothing but sickening crime in her past, she died as though she had the strengthening sense of a mission fulfilled which upheld Joan of Arc and Charlotte Corday. While the Methodist minister preached a long funeral discourse she acted like she was in the Amen Corner of a log church and endorsed all the preacher said. Her fervid responses along disturbed the perfect quietude of the scene; the multitude remained perfectly silent. When the long ceremonies were finished she firmly stepped upon the trap, a black cap drawn over her head, intentsifying the whiteness of her robes. The noose was adjusted, and a few minutes before 12 o'clock Sheriff Thorn with one blow cut the small rope that suspended her above the newly-dug grave below the trap. She whirled rapidly around a few times, but did not struggle, and in a few minutes she was pronounced dead. (Contributed by June Kessinger who adds that Mrs. Reed killed her husband with arsenic)
1874 News Articles
Submitted by Kim Torp
Frank Stevens of Robinson, was in town (Newton) last Sunday. It was surmised that he came over for the purpose of seeing his "gal." Newton Press, July 2, 1874
From the Robinson Constitution (as quoted in the Newton Press) A young girl named Butler was accidentally shot by her brother last week, 6 miles outwest of Robinson. We did not learn the particulars. July 9, 1874
A.M. Brown is now in Robinson. His trial has been set for the 11th day of August in Lawrence county. Subpoenas have been issued for some 50 witnesses in this county. Mr. Brown appears anxious to have his trial take place. July 9, 1874
Uncle Sam Parker kills all the jay birds that come upon his place, or at least tries to. They eat his weeds, young apples, and carry off his young chickens. Who ever before heard of jay birds eating weeds? July 9, 1874
From the Jasper County, Newton Press:"The following named persons have stopped at the American and Miller houses in this place (Newton, Jasper County, IL) since our last issue:
June 18, 1874
MILLER HOUSE
Thos. Ryan and John Attey, Martinsville, IL
Capt. Long and Geo. McCrellin, Oblong, ILAMERICAN HOUSE
Dr. Hecker, Oblong, IlJune 25, 1874
AMERICAN HOUSE
J.B. SMith and Capt. WM. Wood, Crawford county
From the Robinson Constitution, reprinted in the Newton Press:
June 11, 1874: "Will Alexander, of Newton, was in town Saturday and Sunday last. He is a jovial, good-hearted fellow, and has a pretty wife."
From the Lawrenceville Republican - reprinted in the Newton Press:
June 11, 1874: "The catterpillars have destroyed the young apples and left hundreds of trees leafless in the southern portion of our county, and still are continuing their depredations. In many places the gum and hickory trees are as leafless as in mid-winter."
From the Robinson Argus reprinted in the Newton Press June 11, 1874:
"The wind storm which proceeded the rain on Sunday, blowed down some considerable fencing in this vicinity, and quite a number of which fields presented a very flat appearance after the storm. The stalks, however, were not broken to any considerable extent, and not much damaged."
From the Casey Times: June 11, 1874:
"The chinch bugs have commenced their ravages in this section. In some places they are destroying entire crops."
"Hotel Arrivals"
"The following named persons have stopped at the American and Miller houses in this place (Newton) since our last issue:
Aaron Landers, Crawford county
Frank Miller, Terre Haute, wholesale notion wagon, and Win. Neal, driver, Marshall, Ill
Joseph Marshall, Oblong, Crawford co, Il
R.W. Dalton, Oblong, IL"
Probably the oldest man in [the] county was James Higgins, Sr. [of] Palestine Tp., who died s[ome] weeks ago. He was 84 years [of] age. It is thought that he had -- pile of gold buried, but failed [to] give any account of it before [he] died fearing his heirs would fi[ght] over it.
From the Robinson Consititution as quoted in Jasper County's "The Newton Press", March 16, 1876
It will be remembered that -- Heacker has had a land suit -- the Court of Jasper county -- several years. The case was ta[ken] to Salem, Illinois, where it [was] disposed of last week, and in fa[vor] of Heacker, who received his l[ein] and a judgment for $1000 aga[inst] Ed. Wilson as damages.
From the Robinson Consititution as quoted in Jasper County's "The Newton Press", March 16, 1876
(Unfortunately, the copy cut off a few words here and there, as evidenced by the --. The words I've placed in brackets are my guess as to what goes there) :-) Kim
The Newton Press, November 5, 1874:
George N. Parker reports the vote of Crawford county as follows: Halley 1,088; Bricee 737; Orendorf 802; Yelton 262; Callahan 1496. Henderson, democrat, for sheriff, from 70 to 100 majority. Eden's majority, over 200
Originally From the Robinson Constitution, quoted in the Jasper County Newton Press on Aug. 19, 1875:
Dr. Jas. M. Barlow, of Annapolis, has been lying very low for some days and not expected to recover -- quick consumption.
McClung Cawood is a prophet, and says we will have wet weather until the middle of August.
The Hutsonville News is to be resurrected in a few weeks by a man Bardsell, who is now canvassing for the county map.
It was reported last week that young Cannon, who had his arm torn off by a threshing machine, had his arm amputated in two different places. The father of the boy informs us that the arm was not amputated at all -- that the machine took the arm almost square off. The young man is doing as well as could be expected.
A big sensation has been created at the little town of Moren, Crawford County, by some citizens finding a lot of goods concealed in a barn that were supposed to have been burned some time last spring when a store building was consumed by the fiery element. Patrick Seamy is the man! The community sympathized with him and thought Pat had met with a great misfortune, but they congratulated him when reminded that there was considerable insurance on the stock that was supposed to have been burned. To make a long story short Pat had set fire to the building himself, hid the goods in order to have them left and get the insurance, too. Fortunately, however, the insurance company had not yet paid off the policy. Pat has lit out for parts unknown. The Newton Press, Oct. 7, 1875
Geo. W. Ford, of Crawford county, charged with poisoning his wife, was tried in the Richland Circuit Court, and acquitted. The Newton Press, Thursday, Nov. 25, 1875
Crawford County is full of horse thieves. On Thursday night the 11th inst,. two horses were stolen from the barn of Peter Henry, living six miles northwest of Robinson. A reward of $175 is offered for the horses and thieves, but we haven't a description of either. Thursday, Nov. 25, 1875
George Parker, of Robinson, and Mr. Adams, the contractor of the East & West Railroad, were in Newton on last Saturday on business connected with the Road. Mr. Parker is confident that the Road will be built. Jasper County "The Weekly Press" Apr. 20, 1876
