Newspaper Data for Lee County
Miscellaneous StoriesA YOUNG MURDERER HANGED The First Execution within the Iowa Penitentiary Fort Madison, Iowa. - Oct. 19, The first execution in the history of the penitentiary here occurred this morning the victim being James O. Dooley, the youthful murderer of his aunt and cousin near Prescott, May 10, 1892. The execution was in charge of Sheriff Eldridge of Adams county in which the crime was committed in accordance with an enactment of the last Legislature. Dooley went to the gallows without faltering and the remarkable nerve displayed during all the time since his arrest did not desert him at the supreme moment. The drop was sprung at 12:14, his neck not being broken by the fall and life was not pronounced extinct until 12:33, death being caused by strangulation. (State, October 20, 1894, page 1, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
Alexander Braillowski Alexander Braillowski, noted pianist, will give a concert here Friday evening (15 Feb 1946) and at the Grand Theater for members of the Keokuk Civic Music association. [The Day In Keokuk (Iowa;The Quincy Herald-Whig Thursday February 14, 1946 Pg 3;Transcribed by Christine Walters]
Bill Young Keokuk, Iowa, 25 - The trial of Bill Young for the murder of the Spencer family, which has been progressing at Kahoka, Missouri, the past three weeks, terminated today in a verdict of acquittal. Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Wed verdict of acquittal.., Oct. 29, 1879
Submitted By: Candi Horton
DECLARES HE IS INNOCENT AS HE GOES TO DEATH Eugene Weeks' Convicted Slayer of an Iowa Grocer, is Hanged at State Prison at Ft. Madison Fort Madison, Ia., Sept. 15 - Winfred Robb, sheriff preacher and soldier, pulled the trap at 12 o'clock noon at the Iowa prison here today which hanged Eugene Weeks convicted slayer of George Fosdick, Des Moines grocer. For some unaccountable reason Weeks body dropped too far down into the trap and his feet dragged the ground several minutes before he died. "God bless you," were the last words of Weeks as Sheriff Robb placed the black hood over his head. Weeks mounted the gallows after declaring his innocence of the murder of Fosdick. Weeks was led into the little enclosure where the gallows stands at 15 minutes to 12. Weeks was asked by Warden Hollowell if he had anything to say. Taking his hat off and stepping in front of the Warden, Weeks said to the more than thirty witnesses: "Come up closer boys, if you want to hear what I have to say. Sheriff Robb came down here to hang me. Cross and I was never together. I am innocent of the murder of George Fosdick. I wrote to Governor Kendall and you too, Judge Utterback asking not mercy for myself but for Cross. Cross and I never were buddies. We were not together the night of the murder. They won't hurt my feelings when they hang me. It is nothing to dread. God will have mercy on my soul." To Dr. R. S. Reamer, prison physician in the crowd, Weeks said: "Here you are doc, I'm waiting for you." He had finished his speech, Weeks was pale. He did not weaken, however. "Is that all, Weeks." Warden Hollowell said. "Yes,", Weeks replied. "We're ready then," the warden told him. Weeks handed his hat to Warden Hollowell and then ran up the incline to the gallows. Sheriff Rob and Warden Hollowell followed him. Brigadier General William Andrews, Salvation Army Leader of Des Moines, also accompanied Weeks to the gallows along with Deputy Sheriff Matt Theis. They paused before Weeks took his place on the trap. Weeks knelt on the scaffold and prayed silently while Brigadier General Andrews who stood beside him with head bared, uttered a prayer. They finished and Weeks rose to his feet and Sheriff Robb bound his hands body and legs. They lifted Weeks squarely upon the trap door and Sheriff Robb placed the black cap over his head. A voice came from the hooded figure as Robb was adjusting the noose. "Hollowell, you help him there," and Weeks. Hollowell stepped over and fixed the knot under Week's left ear. "Good bye, god bless you." Weeks said. In fourteen minutes Weeks was pronounced dead. Sheriff Robb was one of the first to leave the enclosure following the hanging. He went away by himself to pray. At 9:30 a.m. Weeks was led from his cell into murderer's row and taken to the little barred room above the turnkey's office to spend his last hours with Mattie Weeks his wife. As he left his cell he turned to Orrie Cross who is sentenced to hang on October 27 for the same crime, and said: "So long, Cross." Cross did not reply. Mrs. Weeks cried and screamed as her husband was led away. She had requested Warden Hollowell to permit her to accompany her husband to the gallows. Her request was refused. (Albuquerque Journal, September 16, 1922, page 2, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
Dr. David Jones & Wife Dr. David Jones and wife of Keokuk Iowa are visiting in this city with T.D. Maupin, Mrs. Maupin and Mrs. Jones are sister. Mrs. and Mrs. Jones are on their return trip from California, where they spent the winter. This office acknowledges a friendly call of Mr. Jones and wife accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Maupin. It is the first time they have met in nineteen years. [Custer County Republican, April 19, 1900, submitted by Melody Beery]
G. Sterne, Wife & Two Children G. Sterne, wife and two children, of Keokuk, were poisoned the other morning by arsenic that had been put in the tea-kettle by some person intent upon the death of the family. Their lives saved by prompt medical attendance. Sioux City Journal, Des Moines Register, June 15, 1873
Transcribed and Submitted by Dawn Minard
IOWA MURDERER HANGED Preacher-Sheriff Officiates at Second Execution in Two Months Fort Madison, Ia. (AP) - Orrie Cross was hanged at 7:30 a.m. Friday, in the walled inclosure at the state prison here, where his partner in murder, Eugene Weeks, died 10 weeks ago. The trap was sprung by Sheriff Robb of Polk County, who during the war was chaplain of the 16th infantry overseas and who until recently was pastor of the Urbandale Federated church in Des Moines. Robb also sprang the trap which caused the death of Weeks on September 15. The execution lacked spectacular features. Cross failed to deliver his promised five minute address from the scaffold but marched from his cell to the gallows in silence, and engaged in a brief and whispered conversation with Father A. J. Zaiser. Thirteen minutes after the trap was sprung at 7:30 a.m. Cross was pronounced dead. (Idaho Statesman, November 25, 1922, page 5, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
JACOB K. CUMBERLAND HANGED Double Murderer Executed in the Jail at Fort Madison, Iowa Fort Madison, Iowa, Feb. 8 - The execution of Jacob K. Cumberland for the murder of James Roberts and son of Shelby County, took place today in the east end of the south corridor of the cellroom. Sheriff Clark of Shelby county was the executioner. Cumberland the victim stepped upon the scaffold at 12:14 and just at 12:16 the drop fell, breaking his neck. He never moved a muscle and in twelve minutes life was pronounced extinct. (Inter Ocean, February 9, 1895, page 1, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
JOKES FROM GALLOWS First Man Hanged in Iowa in Twelve Years Shows Fortitude Fort Madison, Ia., Sept. 9 - Ira Pavey was hanged yesterday for the murder of Claud Letner, the first hanging in Iowa in twelve years and the most remarkable display of fortitude known to Iowa prison officials. Pavey sauntered to the gallows smoking a cigarette and addressing those around him with the banter he has kept up since his imprisonment. He stood on the platform with a smile and as the hanging shroull was being fitted he called: "So long everybody. Warden tell my mother goodby." Pavey's mother and sisters previously had raced 200 miles to the prison. They reached it in time to be with Pavey for two hours. (Plain Dealer, September 10, 1922, page 9, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
MURDER HANGED IOWA NEGRO EXECUTED FOR KILLING MARY CANNADAY Special to the News Fort Madison, Iowa, April 20 - Joseph Smith, a negro, was hanged at noon for the murder of Mary Cannaday at Buxton in 1903. (Aberdeen Daily News, April 20, 1906, page 1, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
NEGRO MURDERER OF OTTUMWA CHOIR SINGER HANGED IN IOWA PRISON Fort Madison, Iowa, July 29 - John Junken, the negro convicted of the murder of Clara Rosen, a white girl, who was killed while returning from choir practice in Ottumwa in February 1908 was hanged at noon today in the penitentiary here. The negro made the following statement just prior to his death: "I, John Junken, now on the point of death, desire most sincerely to obtain mercy and forgiveness from God for all my sins. I like to ask forgiveness from my mother for the sorrow I have caused her, and I earnestly and sincerely ask forgiveness of the parents and relatives and friends of Clara Rosen for the pain I have brought upon them. May God have mercy on my soul." (Duluth News-Tribune, July 31, 1910, page 10, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
Ray Dickey Ray Dickey first vice president of the Streator Lumber company of Keokuk, was named vice president for southern Iowa at the annual convention of the Iowa Retail Lumberman's association, held in Des Moines recently. He was also elected a member of the board of trustees. [The Day In Keokuk (Iowa;The Quincy Herald-Whig Thursday February 14, 1946 Pg 3;Transcribed by Christine Walters]
Women of First Congregational Church The women of First Congregational church are sponsoring the annual linen shower and tea of the Graham Hospital guild to be held in the parlor of the church on Friday afternoon, March 29 (1946). [The Day In Keokuk (Iowa;The Quincy Herald-Whig Thursday February 14, 1946 Pg 3;Transcribed by Christine Walters]
HOME Copyright © Genealogy Trails
All data on this website is Copyright by Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters. | 