Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1907-03-29
A Gn|!lO||AIl||;S MYSTERY \

lgotn lees Remarkable Expert.
I. 4:ence on the Scaffoid,. ~. -
FACED DEATH THREE TIMES. |
El Wv. 81 &sa
tand Three; Times the Trap, Which Had
I,PrsJasasb Been Tested; and . Found
gsn Good Working Order, Refused to
+ opsh When tho Bolt Was Drawn. -
One of the most remarkable scenes
esver Witnessed on, the, gallows, took
eplace In England in the last century.
Marly. on the morning Of Feb. %,
IaS05, a considerable, crowd Of people
,gaShered before the grim front of Ex-
{ eter prison. 1t was silent crowd,
zshiyering in the keen wind that blew
around those frowning walls on that
$ dull, misty morning, and Its eyes were
All bent OH flagstaff which stood bare.
They were waiting for a flag to be
shoisted-the terrible black flag which
. should announce that justice had been
dome on murderer.
Inside the prison a warder stood
ready, holding in his hand the cord
which should hoist the hideous black
hrapery lying on the ground at his feet.
but the signal did not come. Instead
Of it there arrived an excited prison
aaicer.
.aThe flag will not be hoistede Lee
will not be hanged today" he said.
John Lee, the prisoner whose death
signal that crowd had awaited, had
bad one of the most remarkable es-
capes from capital punishment record
cd In our prison history. To this day
tst remains somewhat, of a mystery
shsw John Lee lived so many years:
utter the events Of that terrible morn.
Eang.
1T had dream" the wretched man,
wrote to his sister the day after his
fearful experience on the scaffold-'1$
had a dream on Sunday night (the;
afght before the day fixed for the exc.
~sation1 that the scafrold was not ready
and that they had to make another.
I told the officers that were on watch
tbut did not think it was coming true.is
But It did. 1t was the Lords will that
Il should not die yesterday at the time
appointed by man. I believe what oc-
caurred was a miracle. l was on the
Brink Of death three times. 1t Is my
wish to die am tired of this world,
land am waiting for the time to come,
and hope it will not be long. I have
been dead to this world three times"
John Lee did not exaggerate his aw-
scful experience.
At 8 In the morning Of that Febru-
airy day he had been led from his cell
Ito die. In what had been the coach
ihouse, of the prison the gallows had
been erected. Beneath was deep pit
covered by the closed DOORS which,
when the condemned man was placed
In proper position, should, at signal
from the executioner, fly open, bolt
fhefng withdrawn by an, assistant pull
Ing a lever The whole arrangement
had been tested several times and had
worked satisfactorily But now, with
John Lee standing there with the cap
drawn over his face and the hangrnan S
rope around his neck, the flap doors
beneath his feet would not give way
Berry made the fatal signal, the assist
ant pulled the lever, the bolt flew back,
abut the doors kept their place. Then
~Wardars rushed forward and stamped
with their feet upon the DOORS They
sremained firm. Lee was led aside, and
carpenters were called in to saw some
the woodwork away. Again all was
ready, The clergyman once more came
ito the words, In the midst Of life we
salzessin- aeaflsiT~- Again the signal was
given, the bar was pulled, but the doors
refused to part.
:ES5ofn Lee stood there before them
alive! IK"A aasssszzssGssEssEs
+ Three times did HAT happeh. For ne
ffswer than eighteen minutes Lee stood
there tasting the agony of grnomenta
srily expeGtsd death -A,~.sassaaas a
Then the white. cap was taken fron;
aals faee and Che rope from around his
.sck and he was led back to prison
'@aiiie jalB authorities hastil yEscsa q
f;ferred Iassto svhat should BE done. ia
$aelggIam was dispatched to the home
. a ;Hareourt, m
q lea'o'rFtaaing him IT the extraordinary oc.
,.t'lsrez,ce ana reqdsstsng Instructions.
Later the undefsherfH proceeded to
I 7 ! 1,a.eaoilts interviewathe secretary.
.Ss sEit said Sir, WfIiam Harcourt
81 sates. IN 1heS house OF aammons, that it
Ss5asaaa shock the feelings of evefg one
81 sh tAls man were ralied upon fo<a saJn
nnaeEgo TIE El pahgsApf imminent deatR,
ana. .saa' consequently signed a respite
a .a 94s'., her jtstyss pleasure.".
= 49, :: : i : --.-FS' }A'i
I'D Eagea His conseanee.A
ansamusfng story IS related i sc s>Joof,ns
& saugHaals. Honesty was evidenAys one
. wee 9ifha fundamental traits of his char
i acfersa On one one occasion de lwasxsent bEy
sssas 1atther, to borrow a, faatiren of o.