The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-11-04
M|LLARU Ice DIES
ON TN: GALL0WS
Pays Death Penalty For His
SWoethearJ's Murder.
HE STOOD TIE ORDEAL WELL

|
Wont to -Galow Without a Tremor.
! Laet Words Were "Have Road MY
Bible and Made Peace With MY God;
| am Ready to Die"
Atlanta, Oct. 30.--For tho murder
OF Miss Lila May Suttles, his playmate
from childhood and with whom he
was afterwards in love, Millard I,ee,
who has for months and months been
confined in Jail awaiting tho final do
cision OF the courts in his case, was
thla morning hanged In the Fulton
county Jail.
Lee wont on the galows without "a
trcmor. He stood tho ordeal well.
lie did not finch. He walked wit
a firm step, and when his friends bado
him goo;lby ho replied in steady
voice.
Sheriff j. w. Nclms conducted the
hanging. He had known Millard Lee
from bcyhcod. and 1t was a difficult
matter for the sheriff to pull the trig-
gHr which sent the young murderer
into the great hereafter
Very fcw people were in the gal
lows room. Only the officials ana
| three newspaper mon were allowed.
Lee was pronounced dead shortly af-
tor the drop fell by DR.. w. c. Fisher,
the county physician.
MIIIard Lees Last Words.
! Milliard Lees last words were:
Il have read my Bible and have
made peace with NJ: Cod; | am ready
to die, and know that will 20 to
| heaven"
Alter this Lee mumbled in q low
monotone several sentences that were
not audible to those gathered about
the gallows.
Last night Loe slept well. At
times he would awake but the death
watch says he would Immediately 60
to sleep again. This morning he ate
sparingly OF tho breakfast which was
given him and wRs rather moody. He
had but little to say to those around
| him. He knew that he had to die,
ana was prepared for It,
When Sheriff Nelms appeared at the
! cell door and read the death warrant
to the condemned man lie failed slight
| ly, but quickly recovered himself and
| announced that he was ready to go.
lie dressed In suit Of black for the
gaEows, and was led to the gallows
room by Deputy Sheriff Shropshire
There his feet and legs and hands
were tied with ropes, tho black cap
put in readiness, and after Lee made
fcw farewell remarks, the black can
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
| mchcnless, 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 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 Millard Lee
paid the death penalty Today was com
mittoA On May 20, 1902, when he shot
and killed Miss Lila May Suttles, n
beautiful 17-year-old girl. who lived at
Ben lill. country village. several
miles from Atlanta.
The shooting occurred On Sunday
morning and in a church OF which NJ:
Suttlcs and Lee wore attendants The
tragedy took place directly after the
minister had pronounced the benedic.
tlon and was diminishing the congrega-
tlon. Lee. who had becn very much
In love with Miss Suttles, had pre-.
Viou&ly asked to go home with her and
she had refused. stating she had an
engagement with another, which seem
ed 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 pistol. One
Of the bullets took effect killing Miss
Suttlcs instantly. She fell at the foot
Of tho altar.
Leo was afterwards captured and
at hds first trial found guilty of mur.
der and was sentepced to doath. Upon
tho day Of execution plea of insan-
ity was flied by his attorneys and a
respite was granted by Governor Ter.
roll. The case was carried to the su.
perior court and upon q tcchnicality
wns thrown out. An appeal was talk.
on to tho supreme court and the judg.
ment Of tho lower court was reversed
| This action Occa stone da trial on tho
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 tho various courts Lee was granted
| six respites.
i n ILL IL L