Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-07-02
JOE LEE EXECUTED.
Coniesses to Murders of MIR. Roberts
In Altesia aud Ingram In BrooksviIIs

"'u'ueTS OF Mr.. Roberts
IN Altesia aud Ingram In BrooksvilIe
Columbus Dispatch.
Dead men tell no tales -
1t there was another man with T..
Lee when he assassinatel Mr.. John Ro.
bertS on that December night. eighteen
months ago, the fact will never heooua
known fer death sealed the lips Of tbo
last witness to that m morable tr.ood,.
yesterday mt noon. Lee went 70 moa.
MS God with a clear conscience or 10
remained loyal to the mariner of II.
crimes n went before his Maker with
a lie on his heat, 1t was fine stor,, &c
two dying men; Roberts, with his Tso
blood flowing away and with facu,tios
benumbed with anguish and min so;,
there were two; Lee, with facnlti.s
calm and a full consciousness of bis -,
fnl fate, looked into the face of Coo
and said there was was only n and bo
was the one. Sheriff Donpell odm;ttoa
the minister to the corridor in the cage
and the condemned man was led IN
Inc preacher prayed with him and
connse'ed him to make a confessio, Of
eve vthing before he was bapfizad uo
was just about to kneel to receivo tbo
sacred rite when he said
Hold on it's got to come. Hear
me men, for I'm going to tell the trutr
all the truth and nothing but tha
truth He then went into p recita, of
the Brooksville tragedy. He said no
went there alone. Went To shop. secur
ed a hammer ard broke into the stor,
he lit the lamp and turned it down low
The light Waterman, Mr.. Ingram
came to the door and asked who wa
there. He ordered MIN away and shot
at MN to frlghten him. Mr.. Ingram
hld not e and he shot him down Some
men ran out Of the station and said some
one mad beer killed He ran over there
and walked around the house. Ha said
he pnt his pistol against the window and
me men ran ont. He went inside and
ecnred SO and some cents in cash and
left. He swore there was no one with
him and said people believed there was
because he appeared at both places. He
said the Shorts, Alf O'Neal and two
other men arrested, knew nothing Of
the crime and were innocent.
Touching upon the Artesia affair he
s1i1 he went to Roberts store to rob il
Mr. Roberts was writing in the back
room He heard him on the outside
md Mr.. Roberts shot through the door
or window, He replied tlat he was not
hit and demanded thai the door be
opened. Mr.. Roberts asked what for
and Lee replied he wanted money. Mr..
Roberts said there was no money in the
store, that he had paid NJ, Hardy lice
said he was not positive about his
nance II hundred dollars that day
Mr.. Roberts refused to open the door
and Lee put m1zzle of his pistol thro Ugh
the window, which was slightly raised
Mr. Roberts took the lamp and started
FOR the front door. He IA towards the
T. ut whcl lee orrrt15' HHi nd ,h.
iriuS co nmancel, He said i Ron
erts fired two shots and he fiji one.
ie swore that Brooks was NOT with him
and what he told in the preliminary trial
vas a put up job between NJ ,seWilliam,
md himself,
Concerning the olumbHS robbery
zee said he was alone and that he wa
.Dgaged from nine to one o'clock il
r1bbing the four places.
After this statement he said had moth
ing on his heart, he had confessed al
/ kuelt while the mini.t solemull
d the service and adm IT,, ed tb,
re of bal tiSm,
1t was not long after this tll 4 dele
Gltiou of the leading citizen # Arte.in
r ends of the murde ed man, visit D.,
tie jail. | ley expected Lee to max
81 'ir to them many things t'lat had new
g Deen explained He at fl i refused
dix but driftei int the st0 Y of thu
me ard answered many questions re
ting to it. The friends Q Mr. Robert
1t Ill Mt of him they could and thei
,ifhdrew. The jul WIS closed ald lie.
l- lrf alone With the minister.