The Washington times., 1906-07-26
LEE PAYS PENALTY
ON BARREN ISLAND
IN MARYLAND
Hanged for Criminal As
sault-PrecautiOnS Taken
Against LynChing.

PRINCESS ANNE. Somerset county.
Nd, July 26-Wuliam Lee. a seventeen
year-oId eoIored boy. was hanged on
Solomons S Lump. a barren island in
TangieT Sound within the waters of this
county, al S.25 this morning for criminal
assault.
He was. pronounced dead in seventeen
minutes
With a sheriff and his deputies, min
listers, a scanold and black robe and all
the other requisites, Lee was brought
from Baltimore last night on a State
fishery vessel, which landed him on the
island
These precautions were taken because
OF OminOus threats OF { tynchlng II
brought 70 this place.
Al $50 O'Clock. with a confession on
his lips, the boy met death on the scat
fold that had been used for ,he Winder
execution in Baltimore county. The
hanging was orderly. The dOb that had
threatened burning at the stake was
outwitted completely.
The Husband Present.
Aboard the State steamer NfcLane that
secretly brought the Iangman's party
TO Somerset was Robert Barnes. hus-
band of the assaulted woman Sheriff
Brown swore him in as deputy and he
was told that he could help pull the
trap. When the time TO disembark
came. Barnes remained aboard ship.
stating that ne was sa listed 10 see the
death at a quarter-milt range.
Shortly besore the McLane came to
anchor. Lee requested that Barnes come
20 the cabin where he was confined.
When the husband entered, Lee said:
Il want forgiveness"
Il cannot forgive IL. 90 said Barnes.
I'd for rHHslG nfH u-rrs.a a.
you"
Then Barnes started out Of the room.
The MCLane anchored of Solomon :
Light I'm Hedges Straits. shortly after
a. m. At 4:20 o'clock. two skifs put
out, one carrying thed ismembered scaf-
fold. the other carrying deputies who
were to eret il.
Watched Gruesome Work
With glasses those on the boat
watched the work progress until the
scan0ld was well In air Then il was
in plain view 10 the naked eve. About
three hours later the skif1 put back.
As sno plOWed through the chOppy sea
groups Of men could be seen hurrying
along the beach. Sails sprang up in ali
directions and a dozen boats made full
tilt for the SPOT.
Those aboard the ship thought per-
haps the mob had heard OF the plan,
hut nautical glasses proved the scurry-
ing nEureS To be uSheT FOLK Iufee or
the deputies ~emained 81 the scaffold.
The two boats were quickly hlled with
witnesses.
a strong tile beat them into the
marshes. from which they waikiki 10
the solid ground where the Scafold was
built. The boats carried Sheriff Brown
and the Moose, and preparations We're
Immediately begun 10 test the scahold.
A bag was filled with sand from Ihe
beach and let through the drop.
Prisoner Cried.
While this was going on. the skins
were making a return trip In the lead
ing boat was Commander Howard a,
the wheel with deputies. In the skin in
tow was the prisoner securely hand
cuffed and sUrroUn0ed by officers. lie
cried a little as he viewed the scaffuld.
Landed. he was seated 100 feet from
the gallows and by bis side was his min
ister. The shroud and straps had been
left on the steamer and the execution
had 10 wait until the skiffs made an
other trip There were no steps 10 tie
gailows. a ships iron ladder taking their
place
Lee. with his hands manacled. was
helped 10 the platform. His limbs PIN
iOned, the cap and shroud adjusted. the
preacher began fervent prayer.
Before this. Lee had again confessed
his guilt. At S.35. Sheriff Brown pulled
the drop Eighteen minutes later two
folder their stethascopes and
pronounced him dead.