Thurston Lee, 1887 December 16

- Nad—toid—Theedere—tha-+—S a0 oto : ; S
Hawaiian Islands, When asked why and how he had illed Smith, he

behind the Court House ab Bakersfield on December 16, 1887, After the
hood had been lowered over his head, it was removed at his req vest
"So that he might speak his last words: "My brother is charged with the
same crime that I am. He is innocent and knows nothing about it,
Gentlemen, I bid you all goodbye,"

KERN COUNTY CALIFORNIAY, Bakersfield, California, Dec. 17, 1887

a
Ins

ad~soitd g Ot
asked why and how he had illed Smith, he
declined to tell, saying that it was a matter that he did not wish
to detail, lee maintained his composure ‘at his execution in the yard
behind the Court House ab Bakersfield on December 16, 1887, After the
hood had been lowered over his head, it was removed at his req uest
“so that he might speak his last words: "My brother is charged with the
same crime that I am. He is innocent and knows nothing about it.
Gentlemen, I bid you all goodbye." ‘

KERN COUNTY CALIFORNIAY, Bakersfield, California, Dec, 17, 1887

N

near Caliente on a road that he knew has brother would travel, He
had_told—The 5

imthe~horse—and gone tothe

same crime that I am, He is innocent and knows nothing about it.
Gentlemen, I bid you all goodbye."

KaKN COUNTY CALIFORNIAY, Bakersfield, California, Dec. 17, 1687
COOH CALIFORNIA, Bearatie Geiternay Doce 27,1687

LEZ, Thurston

lee, 4 youngswhite cowboy, and his brother Theodore arrived in Bakers-
field, Calif., with another cowboy, John Smith, from a ranch on Ponso
Creek, early in March, 1887. They stated that they were going to New
Mexico to seek work and when they left, Theodore Lee, who did not have
a horse, heft by train while his brother and S mith left on horseback,
The latter part of that month, Smith's body, minus his hat, boots and

Alamo where they were arrested. Thurston Lee was wearing Smith's pant
at the time of their arrest, but he maintained that he was innocent

of having killed % wis traveling companion who had died from a skull
fracture behind the left ear, He was convicted and accepted the sen-
tence of death cooly, asking only that the judge set the date for exe-
cution as far in the future as possible, During the last week of his

LEE, Thurston

Lee, 4 youngswhite cowboy, and his brother Theodore arrived in Bakers-|
field, Calif., with another cowboy, John Smith, from a ranch on Ponso
Creek, early in March, 1887, They stated that they were going to New
Mexico to seek work and when they left, Theodore Lee » Who did not have
a horse, heft by train while his brother and S mith left on horseback,
The latter part of that month, Smith's body, minus his hat, boots and
pants, was found underneath some loose dirt and rocks a few feet from

It was learned that the two brothers were seen at KE Caliente with
Theodore Lee viding Smith&s horse and they were traced to a ranch near
Alamo where they were arrested. Thurston lee was wearing Smith's pantg
at the time of their arrest, but he maintained that he was innocent
of having killed % wis traveling companion who had died from a skull
fracture behind the left ear, He was convicted and accepted the sen-
tence of death cooly, asking only that the judge set the date for exe-
cution as far in the future as possible, During the eae of his
if i came evident that he would not be respi 8 .con uh
rarerier aia tet his brother Theodore was imovert ot! Any involve
ment. He said that he had met Theodore and given

Ise, Thurston

and his brother Theodore arrived in Bakers
cowboy, John

d_not be res)
fas 4

and said that his brother Theodore was innocei