The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-29
TRIAL OF NILLARD LEE
Has Been One of Very Much
Interest.
KILLED LILA SUTTLES
thought That MiIIard sLee Is
Weak Minded.

Atlanta. Ga. June 2S.-The trial Of
Willard Lee, who shot and killed a beau
tiful young girl at Ben Hill Church just
as the congregation was leaving three
weeks ago, has been one of particular
pathos the last week. Lee appears to
have been Of weak mind. yet fairly good
family. His old mother, bent with age,
has stood by him faithfully during the
trial. He was not like other boys and
for this very. reason seems to have been
loved more than usual by his mother,
He was petted and befriended by every
one. Pretty Lila May Suttles. high
spirited and the belle of her section,
was kind to the weak-minded boy and
when he fell in love with her his mother
encouraged him. To the girl it meant
nothing. She did not dream that in the
stalwart man with a chld's mind was
great danger to her welfare, and she
continued to treat him kindly, but laugh
ed at his attentions
Believing that she was trihing with
him he blew out her brains as she came
away from service at the church.
The trial was before Judge Chanler, OF
the Supreme court, and was on the plea
finsanity and did not touch the issue
of murder. The judy declared Lee to be
sane although he is generally admitted
to be weak-minded. His trial on the
charge Of murded viii be called before
Judge Chanler next Monday.
Lee was represented by attorneys Ar
mold & Arnold with solicitor c. D. Hin
FOR the State Associated Attorneys. Claude
c. Smith and W. z. SuttIes, a cousin Of
the murdered girl.
Both sides having announced ready,
Lee was brought into the court room.
His hair, naturally curly was matted
and unkempt He had forgone shaving.
He was pale and trembling, and his
clothes hung loosely on him. His foot
steps were faltering as he was assisted
by a deputy-sheriff to his chair beside
the table at which sat the counsel
Directly he took his seat one thin hand
was placed to his brow, to be shifted
every now and then as he stared APP
prehensively about the crowded court
room.
A touching preliminary Of the trial
was the bringing in Of John A. Lee, the
prisoners father, seated in an arm
chair. The old man is slight and frail
Of stature and so small that when his
chair was set down by the lawyers
table his scanty gray hair barely show
ed above its top.
Only once did the old man look at his
boy and that was when Lee first
entered.
The court room was crowded to its
fullest capacity. even the gallery. COM
monty reserved for the negroes, being
invaded by q throng of white men who
found IT even impossible to find standing
room on the lower floor.
In calling over the names Of witnesses
for State and the defense it was evi-
dent that a conflict Of expert medical
testimony was TO be forthcoming, as the
State had a number Of physicians sub
poenaed TO testify to Lees soundness Of
mind. while the defense had almost as
many who are expected to testify to
the prisoners insanity. In addition TO
the medical testimony there are be-
tween IS and 100 witnesses for the state
and the defense, all of whom viii have
TO take the witness-stand in this insanity
hearing
The prisoners father was the first Wit
ness. he being placed on the stand by
the defense. The old man had to be car
ried. chair and ALL TO the stand
Mr.. Lee testified that his son was
twenty-five years old. and had lived at
home nearly all his life. lie said the boy
had always been feeble and silly.s
AS Mr.. Lee went on the noise OF pass
ing wagons on Hunter street made so
much noise that the testimony could not
be heard. SO Judge Gambler sent two
bailins to keep the street closed
7 don't know" he said, whether l
have the legal right TO close the street.
but we must hear this testimony and
I'm going TO do it
Mr.. Lee said that Willard had several
times left home unexpectedly. never Civ
ing any excuse or explanation. lie also
told Of his sons fits Of dependency and
fits of crying Willard would take no
interest in anything one time he left
and was next heard from at Spokane,
having left his little store and planta-
ton unattended.
AT ties Willard talks with good sense. /
but at other times he just gets des-
pendent. cries ard doesn't seem 10 tai
any sense. Hes been This way ever since
he was born. y doctor told me that the
trouble was mental
Nj Lee added that his son had pains
IN the head at the time Of these attacks.
and SIS he grew older the pain and the
FITS Of gloom increased: that II seemed
he could not understand what went on
around him.
he used 70 holIer out loud in the
nisbt." he said. lie has been worse
this spring than ever before
The day Of the killing. sir Lee said,
he noticed Willard throwing his hands
about his face ard heard him groaninE.
From what you know of him. asked
Col. Arnold. IS his mind sound or an
sounde'
'U-nsound." replied the old man
On the cross-exsmination Solicitor Hnl
brought out the facts that Lee attended
10 the business Of his store and also
was actively engaged in cotton ginning.
Air Hin also established the fact that
certain land had beer sold from Lee 70
his son as late as this year. the whole
trend Of the questions going 10 show
taat the prisoner was able 10 be in
trusted with business matters
Your son shavas himself don't he2"
asked ar Hil
oh. yes
He shaved and dressed himself that
Sunday morning9 he hitched mp his
horse2"
~Ch. yes"
Lees mothar was the second witness !
She IS feeble-lockins old lady. dressed
al n black. with a black chip hat ard
faded ostrich feather. u her hand she
Carried a palmetto fan.