Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-05-27
JEALOUS.LOVER KILLS
GIRL IN CHURCH AISLE.
Miss Lila Suttles Is Shot by
Millard Lee.
TRAGEDY AT BEN HILL, GA.

Lee Fired Two Shots at the Girl He
Loved, One Bullet Passing Through
Her Heart.
Atlanta, May ga terrible trag.
edy occurred yesterday in Wesley
chapel the little Methodist church at
Ben Hill. Ca, a suburb of Atlanta,
just aftr the morning services had
been concluded-the fruit of the NOR
bid passion of young man for a
young woman who had resisted his
every advance.
Miss Lila Suttles was shot to death
by Millard Lee, the ball from his pis.
tol piercing her heart. Crying, "Oh,
papa, she fell into the arms of her
father, DR.. j. M. Suttles, who had rush.
ed up at the sound of the pistol shots
She died without speaking again.
The church was crowded at the
time and the greatest confusion en-.
sued. 1t was some minutes before the
people realized what had happened
dawned upon them Lee had walked
from the church building At the door
he was caught by Earl Suttles. the
young brother of the girl he had slain
Young Suttles caught hold Of Lee and
attempted to hold him, but Lee placed
his pistol against his breast and told
him he would shoot him If he did not
release him. The boy in desperation
yielded his hold and Lee took to flight
Miss Suttles had returned Friday
from a visit to the Charleston exposi.
tion. She went to church yesterday
morning with Herbert Reynolds. She
had not seen many of her friends since
her return from the exposition and as
soon as the services were over she
was surrounded by a group of her
companions, who wished to know all
about her trip.
While talking to her girl friends She
became separated from Mr.. Reynolds,
Millard Lee walked up to the group
of which she was the center, and
touching her on the arm asked to
She stepped to one side and he ask
ed her if he could drive her home.
mo" she replied Il have company"
Just then her cousin, Miss Beulah
Sutt1es, asked her some question
about the exposition and she turned
from Lee to answer it.
Lee was heard to mutter, "If you
won't let me take you home I shall
shoot you
Before any one was aware of his
intentions, he pulled his pistol and
fired at Miss Suttles The ball struck
just above her left hip, but glanced
on corset steel.
Miss Suttles screamed and ran to.
ward her father, who was up at the
chancel speaking to the preacher, Rev.
Mr.. Diamond.
AS she ran from him, Lee deliberate.
ly fired at her again. The ball en-.
tered her back just between her shouI.
der blades and about an inch and a
half from the spine. 1t passed direct.
ly through her heart and came out
between the uIIn anu SlXLn T1DS ABOUT
an inch to the left of the breast bone.
The ball did not pass entirely through
her body, but protruded from the flesh.
She died in a few moments in her ia.
theirs arms.
The whole cause of the deplorable
tragedy was the insane jealousy Of
Lee.
Miss Suttles was the eldest daughter
of DR.. J. M. Suttles, one of the most
prominent physicians of his section.
He is not only we'll known in the west.
ern part of Fulton county, but has a
practice which extends into Campbell
and Cobb counties.
Although-~I4ee is young man of
good family he is said to be lacking in
education and refinement and has new.
er been considered Miss Suttles' equal
socially.
A posse of officers and citizens are
in pursuit of Lee and if he is caught
the outraged people may wreak sum.
mary vengeance.
Ben Hill is known as one of the most
cultured sections of the county. A
number of Fulton's best citizens make
their homes in and around it. Hereto.
fore the community has been unusual.
ly free from crimes or disturbances OF
any kind.