The commonwealth., 1904-10-20
CALLOWS NOT FOR HIM.
Three Times Did It Fail to Work In
John Lees Case.
NOW AT LAST He IS FREE.

NOW AT LAST He IS FREE.
Washington Post.
London, Oct. 1.-Dramatic as any
thing in fiction, not only as a whole,
but In every detail, is the story of John
Lee, whom men condemned to die, but
who is soon to walk the earth in free
dom-Providence itself having appar-
entity intervened IN his behalf.
Lee is a convicted murderer, to hang
whom three attempts were made at
Exeter, all Of them, however, proving
abortive because on each occasion the
drop mysteriously refused to work.
That was In 1885, and soon afterward
the mans sentence was commuted to
imprisonment for life. Now, as the
result OF good conduct, he Is about to
be released, and there is abundant ex-
cuse for recalling and bringing up to
date his almost incredible story.
A dispute over wages was alleged to
have precipitated the crime of which
he was convicted. AS he was but
twenty years old when a woman named
Keyse, at Babbacombe, hired him for
a man servant; he recelyed rather
small pay, and almost from the time
he entered her employ he seemed to
have been dissatisfied. When his en-
ployer was murdered, the prosecution
submitted that he had taken her by
surprise in the night and killed her
with a hatchet, and after mutilating
the body and setting fire to the house,
raised an alarm of burglars to divert
suspicion from himself.
SUPREME FAITH IN THE LORD.
A striking feature of the trial was
the prisoners bearing and expressed
confidence in his Maker.
The Judge remarked on bis calm
! ness, saying that it did not show that
he was innocent. "Piease, my lord, "
replied Lee, "the reason I am so calm
is because 1 trusted to my Lord, and
my Lord knows I am innocent"
The evidence, almost wholly circum-
stantial though it was, brought ver-
dict of murder, first degree, from the
jury, and three weeks later the cay OF
nvorution arrived
In the half light of early February
morning Lee was led out into the yard
of Exeter jail. On the way thither
from his cell he repeated responses to
the burial service read by a chaplain
walking beside him, and from the
scaffold he declared his innocence In
the same calm manner which had
made him so remarkable figure in
his trial. Within a minute the execu-
toner had Lee re- dy, and, stepping
back, pulled the lever. The drop did
not respond. Then while Lee prayed
loudly with no signs OF fear, exc xe;utioh-
er and warden tried again and again to
spring the drop, but to no purpose. 1t
was said afterward that pure white
dove circled about the Jail yard while
this was taking place, settling on the
scaffold for moment just as the men
were giving up.
! UNDERWENT MADDEN1NG ORDEAL.
After nearly ten minutes OF iruitless
effort Lee was removed to a shed in
the yard aud the ecaffold mechanism
tested. II worked perfectly, the hinged
part OF the platform folding into the
pit below at tho slightest pull OF the
lever. After pounding about beneath
the floor and satisfying themselves
that every ything was ready the waldert
nut the condemed man back under the
rope and adjusted the moose, but to-
some mysterious reason they could moi
bulge the trap.
i Once more the wretched man stood
by listening to workmen, hammer ant
} saw, examine and stamp about unit
/, by repeated successful trials they as
sured themselves that nothing coult
interfere with the next attempt. Cry
ing, "Oh, God help me" Lac stoot
over the hinged platform third time
Another failure, after witnessing which
the governor Of the prison ordered Lei
back to bis cell, remarking that th'
. texecution would not take place tina
, day. Back behind the bars once more
Lee fell upon his knees, thanking Gos
tor what be called miracle.
REGARDED IT MIRACLE.
Three days later Lee, writing to
sister, who had belieyed IN his limo
cence from the first, said, 81 have beel
, dead to this world three times. l he
: lieye what has happened was a miracle
, I had a dream on Sunday night tha
, the scaffold was not ready and tha
thev had to make another one"
Another who faithfully stood by lie
from the first day Of his imprisonmen
vas his sweetheart, Who vowed neve
to marry should her lover be put t
o death. At this writing it Is not know
certainly if this girl is still alive.
. Lee, who is now forty. Will com
J. from confinement in good health, ez
D cent for the nervous attacks fror