“CROONER” SINGS IN CELL

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1935, Page 12

“CROONER” SINGS IN CELL

SHOUT FROM GALLOWS. NEW ORLEANS. February 2. Kenneth Neu, a former night club singer, was to-day hanged for the murder of Mr Sheffield Clark, a Nashville (Tennessee) business man, two years ago. Nou was convicted of the murder on December IG, 1933, and during his long incarceration he has often charmed the warders and bis fellowprisoners with his fine voice. An hour before his execution, Neu sang “Love in Bloom” In the deathcell, and he shouted a farewell from the gallows, on which he danced a jig which he called the "Gallows Strut.” He had told his guards that he was in the same situation as a parachute jumper. "It isn’t the falling one fears, it is the sudden stop."—Router.

During his trial Neu caused a sensation by entering the Court singing "I’m as fit as a fiddle and ready to hang.” He described himself as a singer. "Fm a baritone." he declared. "Don't put me down tu a crooner—when I sing, J f-ing.” Neu admitted having killed Mr Clark in a New Orleans hotel.