The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1910-03-02
fcQoT" LEVER DIES
ON TIE GALLOWS.
Brave to the Last-Admit!ed His
Guilt, but Claimed Negro Doctor
Was Cause OF it All.

Declaring that the Judge, jury and
solicitor thai tried his case would see
their mistake III the day of Judgment,
s'Coot' Lever. who was convicted of
attempted rape up IN tte pretty wife
of prominent Dutch Fork farmer, on
the first day of last November, went
to his death on the gallows last Fri
day. 1t was exactly 1921 when She1-
if P. H. Coriey commenced the read
ing Of the death warrant. At the col =
clusion of this Lever was permitted to
make a statement. At 1882 the drop
was sprung and II minutes later bis
body was cut down. Drs. E. P. Der
rick and F. Il. Roberts pronounced
life extinct.
Lever, while somewhat nervous.
was composed to the last and walked
to the gallows without a tremor. He
declared:to all callers that he was
ready to die, and had no fears of the
hereafter. He ate hearty breakfast
in the morning, but although most
tempting dinner was offered him, he
refused to eat.
When representative of The Dis
patch called to see Lever he acknowl-
edged his guilt and repeated the same
story he told on the witness stand at
the trial. He said that a negro doc
tor, 'Lem' Judge, was responsible
for his crime. He said also that if it
had not been for Deputy Sheriff Sim
Miller he would never have been per-
mitted to make peace with his God.
On the gallows he made the fellow
ing statement: "Of course, I was in
the fault, but want all to take no.
tice. The Judge, jury and solicitor
did me wrong, and they will see their
mistake on the day of judgment. Tell
everybody to meet me in heaven. Mr..
Miller and his family have shore been
nice to me, and have treated me right.
hope God will bless them ail.'
Just after Sheriff Corley had placed
the black cap over his forehead Lever
asked for some preacher to pray for
him, and at Sheriff Corley's request,
the Rev. w. L. Keel, of the Baptist
Church, came upon the scaffold and
offered fervent prayer for the con-
demned man. While the knot was
being adjusted Lever exclaimed: "It's
too tight, boss.' Just as tie sheriff
was about to announce that every
thing was ready Lever asked to be al
lowed to say just one more word. He
said: Tell all the negroes for Gods
sake to keep out of trouble. Tell ev-
ervbody to let this be warning Ev-
erybody pray for me. May God bless
Sheriff Corley, Mr.. Miller and ALL"
Lever was hidden goodbye by the
officers and second later his body
was dangling in the air. He died
without move, his neck being bro
ken by the fall. The body was cut
down and turned over to the corone:. I.
Early in the morning the crowds be-
gan to pour into town and by II
o'clock four or i've hundred people
had gathered about the Jail.
Everybody was admitted to the
yard, but the actual hanging was
witnessed by only the usual number
allowed by law. House tops, trees
and fences were in demand, but the
utmost quiet prevailed. The husband
of the pretty victim of Levers brutal
attack was an interested spectator.
A few days before Lever Was hung
he made q will in which he requested
that the sum # $3.50, which he claim
ed would be paid by the Sons and
Daughters, of wGich he was a men,
Der, be equally divided between his
wife and his stepmother.