The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-06
CONDEMNED TO DIE I'm FIVE DAYS
LEE CRIB DARES TO HOPE
Tear-Stained Letters From His Wife and Thoughts
Of His Children Upset the Prisoner.

With only five days more before his
execution to pay the penalty for his
crimes unless the PPson Commission
interferes in his case and commutes
his sentence of death to life imprison-
ment, Lee Crib. the Coffee county
murderer, who is being held in the
Chatham county Jail for safe keeping,
is calm and reconciled in the face OF
death and displays a wonderful will
power.
Friday, Dec. II, is the day until
which Gov. Terrell respited Crib to
give the Prison Commission time to
look into his case, and since last Mon
day, when it was taken up the COM
missioners have heard the arguments
of Cribs attorneys, Leon Wilson,
Esq, of Waycross, and Quincy and
Mcdonald of Douglas. No action has
yet been taken by the board.
During the last two days the con-
demned man has appeared trife more
restless than he has since his confine-
ment. The approach of the day of
execution and the nervous strain I'M
der which ne is living are beginning
to tell on him, although he states that
if the Prison Commission does not
commute his sentence that he will
walk to his death without a murmur.
Letters which Crib has received
from his wife at Douglas during the
last few days have probably upset
him, the prisoner declaring yesterday
that as the probable end approaches
the sweet, submissive tone of his
wifes daily letters have changed and
that unable to longer conceal her sor-
row and to bear up bravely she has
broken down and that it is with diff
Guilty that he reads the tear-stained
pages he receives from her.
Crib was more communicative than
he has been since being brought to
Savannah, and freely discussed his case
and the possibility of escape from the
gallows next Friday. The prisoner is
29 years of age, culture and refine
ment in every feature of his face, and
his conversation that of a person who
enjoys an education above the aver
age.
Before this trouble came had new
er given religion much attention" he
said, but was moral in my habits.
My business consumed the greater
portion of my time; in fact, all of my
time, except when 1 was with my wife
and children. 1 have a little girl of
and little boy of 5, and the most
painful thought that comes to me is
that after I've gone they shall bear
the brunt of my wrongdoing and shall
some day realize the meaning of be-
ing told that their father was hang
ed.
"Since my confiement," he continued,
II have done nothing but read and
have spent most of my time reading
my Bible. have made peace with God
and now have the assurance that
have been spiritually pardoned. If
must die, am prepared for it. Every
man has his excuses to make, but my
neighbors will testify that l was not
a drinking man. / was not under the
influence of whisky when l committed
the crime for which 1 have been con-
demned to die: 1 was drugged and
robbed before hand. / had nothing
against the people / killed.
"A man never knows what he can
stand until he has been put to the
test, and | had not thought that /
could endure what 1 have since my
trial. o, can't explain, for no other
than a man who is placed in my posi-
ton can understand. The thoughts
that come to me at night when in the
darkness l see my broken wife
and crying children and my gray-hair-
ed father. and TO know that after
have suffered the death penalty they
shall be without a support, as / have
sold everything I had at sacrifice TO