The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-03-02
4 FIEND HANGED
"Coot" Lever, a Black Boy, Ezeeuted
For Attempt to Commit Rape.
CONFESSED The CRIME

!assaiiant OF Dutch Fosk Farmer:
Wife Pays the Death Penalty o:
the Scafrold-.ldmittcd His Guilt
but Claimed he was Influenced Il
DO il by q Negro Doctor.
Declaring that the Judge. jury and
solicitor that tried his case VIII See
their mistake In the day OF judS
! ment Coot Lever. who was convict
&C OF attempted rape upon the per-
son OF the pretty wife OF q prom
inent ,arme. OF the Dutch Fork, on
the first day OF last November. %eui
10 his death on the ga!iows az Lex
inGton Friday.
Friday morning when the cores
pouGent OF the News and Courier
called 70 see Lever be acknowledged
his guilt and repeated the same story
he told on the witness stand At the
trial. He said that negro doctor.
Lem Judge. was responsible for his
crime. and that he. Judge. would
have to share in the punishment. He
said that Il It had not been for
Deputy Sheriff Miller he would never
have been permitted to get right
with God.
On the gallows he made the fol-
lowing statement: "Of course. was
in the fault. but want all to take
notice. The Judge. jury and solicitor
did me wrong. and they will see
their mistake on the day Of juds-
nent. Tell everybody to meet me
in Heaven. Mr.. Miller and his fam
ily and Sheriff Corley have shore
been nice TO me and have treated me
right. ! hope God will bless them
all.
Just after Sheriff Corley had p!ac-
ed the black cap over his forehead
Lever asked for some preacher to
pay for him. and at Sheriff Coriey's
request. the Rev. W. " K'ael. OF the
Baptist church. came upon the scaf-
foIG and offered fe1vent prayer for
the condemned man. Then the knc,
was thrown Being tied Lever e1-
claimed: Its too tight. boss"
Just rs The sheriff was about to
announce that everything was ready
Lever asked to be allowed to say
jus; one word He said: Tell our
race Tor Gods sake to keep out OF
trouble Tell everybody to let this
be 4 warning. Everybody pray for
me. May God bless Sheriff Corley.
MIR. Miller and ali"
Lever was bidden good-by by the
Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Miller and
4 second later his body was dangling
in the air. He died without move.
his neck being broken by the fall.
The body was cut down and turned
over 10 the coroner.
The husband OF the victim OF Le-
vers brutal attack witnessed the
hanging. He said that he was salts
fed, and was glad that the law had
been allowed TO take its course. a
day or two ago Lever made a will In
which he requested that the amount
OF $3.50. which he claimed that ne
would get from the Society OF Sons
and Daughters. OF which he was
member. be equally divided between
his steprother and his wife.
Story of the Crime.
The crime for which Lever paid
the death penalty on the gailows was
one Of the masr revolving in the
annals OF the county. On the first
day OF las. November. while the hus-
band Of the victim was plouShinE il
field near his home. Lever slipped
up 70 the house and entered the
yard. where the woman was hanging
up clothes. with her innocent little
two year old child playing by her
side Lever. without any warning
OF his intentions. grabbed her around
the neck in an effort 10 choke he!
into insensibiiity. at the same time
throwing her TO the ground.
So tightly did h. grasp her throat
the the blood flowed freely from
the wounds inflicted by the finger
nails Of the brute. Nearly every
garment was torn from her body. and
il was only by the most seemingly
superhuman eGor; that Lever was
prevented from accomplishing his
purpose. the cries OF the woman
bringing her husband TO her rescue.
The news OF the attack spread like
wildf-e before sweeping wind, and
within very few hours the usual
quietness Of the neighborhood was
in 4 roar OF excitement. lien who
had not shouldcred q gun in many
| years-some o. them probably no;
since the war-scourcd the country
| in an effort 10 get a Shot al the
iendish culprit.
Deputy Sheriff Miller was rushed
20 the scene II an automobile and
with the aid Of two or three men. kt
succeeded in capturing Lever anc
landing him safely in Jail before th'
mob that had gathered knew wha
had happened The officer arrived
NJ the al! during the carly hour
OF morning but before be could se
his man in Jail several men rode III
on horseback. and the deputy ha'
TO hide his man for several hour
before placing him behind the bars
So wrought up were the peop!
Of the neiShborhood that I secon
flor; was made 10 get Lever. o.
the ID OF November = posse OF fror
tifry RI c;syrD.y-ffya mon drove II