Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1903-10-31
UILLARO LEE Dies
ON The GALLOWS
Pays Death Penalty For His
SWeethearU's Murder.
HE STOOD THE ORDEAL WELL
Went to Gallow Without a Tremor.
Last Words Were "Have Read My
Bible and Made Peace With My God;
| am Ready to Die"

Bible and Made Peace With My God;
am Ready to Die"
Atlanta, Oct. 30-For the murder
of Miss Lila May Suttles, his playmate
| from childhood and with whom he
was afterwards in love- Millard Lee,
| who has for months and months been
confined in jail awaiting the final de
cision of the courts in his case, was
| this morning hanged in the Fulton
county jail.
Lee went on the gallows without "a
tremor. lie stood the ordeal well.
He did not finch. He walked wit
firm step, and when his friends bade
him goodby he replied in a steady
voice.
Sheriff j. w. Nelms conducted the
hanging. He had known Millard Lee
from boyhood, and it was a difficult
matter for the sheriff to pull the trig-
ger which sent the young murderer
into the great hereafter.
Very few people were in the gal
lows room. Only the officials and
three newspaper men were allowed.
Lee was pronounced dead shortly af
ter the drop fell by Dr. w. G. Fisher
the county physician.
MiIIard Lees Last Words.
Milliard Lees last words were:
Il have read my Bible and have
made peace with my God; l am ready
to die, and know that / will go to
heaven"
After this Lee mumbled in a low
monotone several sentences that were
not audible to those gathered about
the gallows.
Last night Lee slept we'll. At
times he would awake, but the death
watch says he would Immediately go
to sleep again. This morning he ate
sparingly Of the breakfast which was
given him and was rather moody He
had but little to say to those around
him. He knew that he had to die,
and was prepared for it.
When Sheriff Nelms appeared at the
cell door and read the death warrant
to the condemned man he failed slight
ly, but quickly recovered himself and
announced that he was ready to go.
He dressed in a suit of black for the
gallows, and was led to the gallows
room by Deputy Sheriff Shropshire
There his feet, and legs and hands
were tied with ropes, the black cap
put in readiness, and after Lee made
few farewell remarks, the black cap
was adjusted and the trigger which
held the trap door was pulled Lees
body shot down six feet; then it bound
ed back about four and then whirled
around and --arousd for five or six
minutes. After that it was almost
motionless, except for a swaying to
and fro. Shortly afterwards Dr.
Fisher felt his pulse, and listened for
his heart beat Then he was pro,
nounced dead, the body was cut down
and placed in a coffin and turned over
to his relatives.
The funeral will be held out at Ben
Hill this afternoon.
Story of the Crime.
The crime for which MilIard Lee
paid the death penalty today was com
mitted on May 20, 1902, when he shot
and killed Miss Lila May Suttles,
beautiful 17-year-old girl, who lived at
Ben HILL country village, several
miles from Atlanta.
The shooting occurred on Sunday
morning and in church of which Mis-
Suttles and Lee were attendants. The
tragedy took place directly after the
minister had pronounced the benedic
tion and was diminishing the congrega
ton. Lee, who had been very much
in love with Miss Suttles, had pre-
viously asked to go home with her and
she had refused, stating she had an
engagement with another, which seem
cd to anger Lee.
During the service Lee had been
seated three seats behind her and as
she started out of the church, meeting
her face to face in the aisle, fired
three times at her with a pistol. One
of the bullets took effect, killing Miss
Suttles instantly. She fell at the foot
of the altar.
Lee was afterwards captured and
at his first trial found guilty of mur
der and was sentenced to death. Upon
the day Of execution a plea of insan
ity was fled by his attorneys and a
| respite was granted by Governor Ter.
rell. The case was carried to the su.
perior court and upon a technicality
was thrown out An appeal was tax
en- to the supreme court and the judg
ment OF the lower court was reversed
This action occasione da trial on the
| plea of insanity, ana Lee was ad.
| Judged sane. Again the case was
appealed to the court OF last resort
which affirmed the superior courts de.
cision. While the case was pending
in the various courts Lee was granted
six respites.