The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1907-07-25
A GALLONS MYSTERY
John Lees Remarkable Expert
ence on the ScaffoId.
FACED DEATH THREE TIMES.
And Three Times the Trap, Which Had
Previously Been Tested and Found
In Good Working Order, Refused to
Open When the Bolt Was Drawn.


One of the most remarkable scenes
ever witnessed on the gallowS took
place in England in the last century.
Early on the morning of Feb. %,
1885, considerable crowd of people
gathered before the grim front of Ex-
eter prison. 1t was silent crowd,
shivering in the keen wind that blew
around those frowning walls on that
dull, misty morning, and its eyes We're
all bent on a flagstaff which stood bare.
They We're waiting for a flag to be
hoisted-the terrible black flag which
should announce that justice had been
done on a murderer.
Inside the prison warder stood
ready, holding in his hand the cord
which should hoist the hideous black
Grapery lying on the ground at his feet,
but the signal did not come. Instead
of it there arrived an excited prison
officer.
1.-The flag will not be hoisted. Lee
will not be hanged today" he said.
John Lee, the prisoner whose death
signal that crowd had awaited, had
had one of the most remarkable es-
capes from capital punishment record
ed in our prison history. To this day
it remains somewhat of a mystery
how John Lee lived so many years
after the events of that terrible morn
ing.
AZ had q dream'' the wretched man
wrote to his sister the day after his
fearful experience on the scaffold-'I
had a dream on Sunday night (the
;~tx< tha 1or for tho
cution) that the scaffold was not ready
and that they had to make another.
1 told the officers that were on watch
over me at 6 o'clock in the morning,
but l did not think it was coming true.
But it did 1t was the Lords will that
1 should not die yesterday at the time
appointed by man. 1 believe. what oc-
Cured was miracle. l was on the
brink Of death three times. 1t Is my
wish to die l am tired of this world.
and 1 am waiting for the time to come,
and I hope it will not be long. / have
been dead to this world three times"
John Lee did not exaggerate his aw-
full experience.
At in the morning Of that Febru-
ary day he had been led from his cell
to die In what had been the coach
house 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
being withdrawn by an assistant pull
ing q 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 hangman'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,
but the doors kept their place. Then
warders rushed forward and stamped
with their feet upon the doors. They
remained firm. Lee was led aside, and
were called In to saw some
of the woodwork away. Again all was
ready. The clergyman once more came
to the words, I'm the midst of life we
are in death" Again the signal was
given, the bar was pulled, but the doors
refused to part.
John Lee stood there before them
alive,
Three times did that happen. For no
fewer than eighteen minutes Lee stood
there tasting the agony of momenta- |
rily expected death.
Then the white cap was taken from
his face and the rope from around his
neck, and he was led back to prison,
while the Jail authorities hastily con-
ferred as to what should be done A
telegram was dispatched to the home |
secretary, Sir William Harcourt, in |
forming him of the extraordinary oc- |
and requesting instructions. |
Later the undersherif proceeded to |
London to interview the secretary.
L felt said Sir William Harcourt |
later in the house of commons, that it |
would shock the feelings of every one
IL this man were called upon to again /
the pangs of imminent death,
and 1 consequently signed respite |
during her majesty's pleasure" Lon