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Old News Stories
Mrs. Lee Denies Part in Husband's Death, 1905
From The Atlanta Constitution
Aug. 30, 1905
WOMAN DENIES PART IN CRIME
Mrs. Lee Talks of Husband's Death.
Spring Place, Ga., August 29. (Special). Sheriff Graves arrived late last night from Chattanooga with Mrs. John Lee, charged with complicity in the murder of her husband in this county last spring.
In an interview immediately after arriving she talks freely and denied in toto any connection with or knowledge of the crime.
"My husband was not jealous of me, as has been stated, but we got along together very well.
"That evening he wanted me to make him some cakes and I said there was no wood and it was raining. He went out and brought come old pieces of wood and I made the cakes.
"We had two boarders, and all of us slept in the same room. The children slept with me, and my husband with Mr. Hicks.
Lee Was in Bad Humor.
"My husband was very fractious and he was not in a good humor after supper and walked off. We all went to bed and along in the night my 6-months-old baby got to fretting and woke me. I looked over in the other beds and did not see my husband.
"I then asked Mr. Hicks if John had come. He raised up and said he could not see him if he had. He said he would make a light. He got up and made a light and I got up to get the baby something to eat. We could not find my husband and I told Mr. Hicks he must go hunt him and he went off up to Tom Bundy's and they went to the saw mill and found John hanging there in the shed. He was dead when they got there."
When interrogated about the mud mill framing where Lee was hanging she replied that it was a very muddy place and that Lee got mud all over his feet while getting wood to cook the supper. It was a fact in evidence that there was no mud on Lee's shoes when examined at the inquest.
Quarter of Mile to Mill.
"They said I helped Mr. Hicks carry my husband to the saw mill in a quilt. Why, it is a long quarter of a mile from the house to that mill and I could not have done that to save my life. I was weaning my baby and was so sick and weak I could scarcely do my work about the house.
"They have got my little girl up to swear these things on me. She is just a child and can be persuaded to tell anything they want her to.
"All of my folks are poor, but I have some friends who will help me out of this and make my bond."
Mrs. Lee talks freely and without any apparent emotion. She appeared to be much amused at the statements made by the prosecution. She is a very plain looking woman, seeming about 30 years of age and is very ignorant. In all probability she will be unable to make bond should an application for bail be made and granted.
 Old News Stories
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