The National tribune., 1910-12-29

communication from a similar organ
tZation in the interior of Missouri, max
ing some inquiries, concerning Lee and
his wife. and the correspondence that
followed developed the facts that fol-
low:
On leaving our part of the country
Lee, with his wife dressed in a mans
Clothes disguise, as was afterwards
discovered, that she was often in the
habit of assuming-had gone out into
Missouri the pair pretending TO be
farm han6s looking for work.
They had secured work with young
widow, who, with her old mother, was
living on their farm, but had no one to
work the place. The Lees had also
discovered that the young widow had
quite sum of money in the bank in a
neighboring town. In short time, as
a means of getting to handle the wild
ow's money. Lee persuaded her TO mar
ry iIim, his old wife, of course, concur
ring IN the plot.
After marrying the young widow Lee
began persuading her that he could
make a fortune BY taking that money
out of the bank and investing it in
Texas cattle, which he could buy cheap
over in the Indian Nation.
The young woman rather favored
the project at first, but her old mother
bitterly opposed il, and seemed suspi-
cious of Lees real design, which was
probably to get hold Of the money ana
skip"
He soon found that the old lady's
influence over the daughter had caused
her also to become very suspicious of
him, so much so that she had finally
told him that she would not under any
circumstances draw that money from
the bank and place it in his hands for
speculation.
Blaming the old lady for the failure
Of his scheme lee beCar1p very much
exaspeTated at her interference, and
resolved to kill her out of revenge as
soon as good opportunity occurred,
and then skip the country"
His opportunity soon came. The un-
suspecting old lady had expressed oe-
sire to visit and spend a few days with
a neighboring relative, who lived a few
miles away, and Lee cheerfuIIy offered
to hitch up the team and take her
where she wanted to 90 and go after
her vshen she wished to come home.
Deiuded by his apparent kindness,
tho old lady got into the wagon and
they started, but instead of taking her
10 her relatives home Lee turned off
the road after following it a piece and
went TO shallow pond, not far away
drove out into the water which was
only about two feet deep, then dragged
the poor old woman out of the wagon
and held her head under water Till she
In the pond, after remaining away a
reasonable time, he returned to the
house and reported that he had taken
the old lady to see her Einsman, and
had promised her TO come after her IN
couple of days.
This would give him two DAYS in
which he seemed to hope TO be able to
persuade, force or frighten the daugh-
ter, his new wife, into compliance with
his wishes in drawing the money from
the bank-or part of II at least
which he probably hoped to secure be-
fore leaving.
But the best laid plans of mice and
men aft gang aglce" The very man
hinsman OF the old lady and daughtsr-
TO whose house Lee had said lie had
taken the mother safely, came over that
day on ap errand direct from his home
and the daughter was astonished and
alarmed TO hear him say in answer I,
her inquiry that neither Lee nor bcl
mother had been to his house
Lee became alarmed when he saw
the man coming, and he and his old
wire, who was still masqucrading fr
mems clothes, found it necessary tc
leave Immediately. withou- any further
now that the murder would soon bt
discovered. they decided that they
would stand a better chance of escan
by separating, each going in a differen
direction and agreeing to meet agar
at designated place in a distant par,
Of the country
The old lady's daughter and her rel.
auve, in anxious alarm, followed tn,
tracks of the wagon Lee had driven tc
the pond. and there found the body in
the shallow water.
News Of the shocking tragedy was
soon spread thru the neighborhood, a
local Vigilance Committee took up the
trail OF the fleeing Lees-each going In
an opposite direction from the other
sent party to follow each fugitive. and