Lynchings on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore: Euel Lee, 1931

Euel Lee, aka Orphan Jones (d. 1933) 
Executed on November 4, 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland

Euel Lee was executed in Baltimore on November 4, 1933 for crimes committed in Worcester County. Lee was convicted of murdering a White farmer and his family. He was around 60 years old at the time of his execution, and was mentally handicapped according to select sources. Before his arrest, Lee had been employed by the man he murdered. He also had previously been indicted in 1925 for a double homicide and robbery in Pennsylvania, but was only convicted of the latter charge. He was paroled from prison in May of 1931, and was wanted in violation of his parole at the time of his murders on the Eastern Shore.

On October 12, 1931, farmer and produce stand owner Green K. Davis was found murdered in his home, along with his wife and two daughters. Euel Lee, an employee of Davis's produce stand, was sought by authorities as the suspected murderer. Lee was apprehended by Worcester County authorities at the home of Martha Miller in Ocean City. Possessions of the Davises were found in his room. Lee was promptly brought to Berlin, and then to the jail in Snow Hill. Lee allegedly confessed to the murders when giving a statement to the authorities, but this allegedly was given after being beaten by his interrogators. As news of the murder spread throughout the county, mobs formed in Berlin, Snow Hill, and Pocomoke. On the streets of Berlin, white mobs allegedly attacked Black pedestrians that were unconnected to Lee or the Davis murders. For his safety, Lee was removed from the Eastern Shore to be kept in Baltimore. Lee soon returned to Worcester County for his arraignment accompanied by Baltimore lawyer Bernard Ades of the International Defense League, as well as his court assigned defense lawyer Leonard Wailes of Salisbury. Lee was indicted for Mr. Davis's murder, but the suspect plead not guilty to the charges, contrary to his previous confession. He was then transferred to the jail in Cambridge, MD for his own safety, and then back to Baltimore. After his removal, a mob of 300 to 500 men gathered by the jail in Snow Hill, departing to Pocomoke once the warden had permitted them to search the premises for the suspect.

Mob activity did not cease after Lee's removal from Worcester County. Several more attempts to seize Lee from the Snow Hill jail were made by white mobs, regardless of him being held there. In early November, Bernard Ades was physically attacked by a mob upon his visit to Snow Hill to submit a petition to the court for a change of trial venue. This was to avoid anticipated racial prejudice coming into play from the jury, which he also desired to diversify racially. Ades also held that the confession Lee made was obtained using unlawful methods. In addition to submitting petitions to the court, Ades appealed to Governor Albert Ritchie. While the trial was originally moved from Worcester County to Dorchester County, Lee's defense continued to lobby for its transfer to a Western shore court. From November of 1931 to early January of 1932, debate took place over whether or not Lee's trial should be moved from the Eastern Shore to the Western region of Maryland. It was during this period of debate that Matthew Williams was lynched by a mob in Salisbury. In early January, Lee's trial was transferred to Baltimore County to take place later in the month.

In his trial in Towson, MD, Euel Lee was found guilty of murdering Green Davis and sentenced to death. However, Lee's defense objected to the verdict and sought a new trial due to the fact that no Black people on the panel to select a jury, as well as objections to the presentation of evidence during the trial. After initial attempts to secure a second trial for Lee proved unsuccessful, Lee was granted a new trial with the Court of Appeals in July of 1932, which would begin on September 26th. Lee had been held on death row until the second trial took place. Once again, Lee was found guilty of first-degree murder, and sentenced to death. However, efforts continued to be made by Lee's defense to prevent his execution, including an attempt by Ades to bring the case to the United States Supreme Court. Lee was still alive when George Armwood was killed by a lynch mob in Princess Anne, MD, with Governor Ritchie signing Lee's death warrant the day after the lynching. On November 4, 1933, over two years after the murder of the Davis Family, Euel Lee was executed in Baltimore, MD. 

 

 

"Move Suspect in Axe Killing," Afro-American, October 17, 1931.

"Negro Pleads Not Guilty in Killing," Crisfield Times, October 24, 1931.

"Berlin Mayor Denies Riot Stories," Afro-American, October 24, 1931.

"He Only Slipped, Police Say," Afro-American, October 24, 1931.

"Tie, Beat Suspect," Afro-American, October 24, 1931.

"Sho' Mob Waits for Accused Orphan Jones," Afro-American, October 31, 1931.

"Expect Change of Venue for Orphan Jones," Afro-American, October 31, 1931.

"Lawless Enforcement of the Law," Afro-American, October 31, 1931.

"Governors Aid Sought in Case of Orphan Jones," Afro-American, November 4, 1931.

"Snow Hill Mob Beats Lawyer Aiding Negro," Baltimore Sun, November 5, 1931.

"Ritchie Turns Down Plea of Lee Defender," Baltimore Sun, November 6, 1931.

"When Justice is Not Blind," Afro-American, November 7, 1931.

William N. Jones, "Day by Day," Afro-American, November 14, 1931.

"Governor Will Wash Hands in Murder Case," Afro-American, November 14, 1931.

" I.L.D. Attorney Continues Fight to Represent Yuel Lee," Afro-American, November 14, 1931.

"To Continue Fight After Beating," Afro-American, November 14, 1931.

"Got Evidence," Afro-American, November 21, 1931.

"State Militia to Curb Eastern Shore Mob at Cambridge," Afro-American, November 21, 1931.

William N. Jones, "Day by Day - Walter White Makes a Point for the NAACP," Afro-American, November 21, 1931.

"A Bow to Bernard Ades," Afro-American, November 28, 1931.

William N. Jones, "Day by Day - Still Worried About the NAACP," Afro-American, November 28, 1931.

"I.L.D. Lawyer Halts Sho Trial of Yuel Lee," Afro-American, November 28, 1931.

"Plans for Lee Trial Tuesday Progressing," Baltimore Sun, December 4, 1931.

"Ades to Take Lee Case to Appeals Court," Afro-American, December 5, 1931.

"Inquiring Reporter," Afro-American, December 5, 1932.

"Its Nobody's Business - Why Lee Should Not Be Tried in Cambridge," Afro-American, December 5, 1932.

"Mr. Childs Word Not Worth a Hill of Beans," Afro-American, December 5, 1932.

"Ritchie Winks at Sho Mobs," Afro-American, December 5, 1932.

"Spooks of Slain Family Haunt Dela Widow," Afro-American, December 5, 1932.

Ralph Matthews, "Watching the Big Parade," Afro-American, December 5, 1932.

"Workers of All Races Must Get Together," Afro-American, December 12, 1931.

M.J. Reed, "Should Churches and Lodges Aid Lee Defense," Afro-American, December 12, 1931.

"Issue Tickets for Trial in Cambridge," Afro-American, December 19, 1932.

P.L., "Lynch Back," and Creston Woingust, " 'Watch Ritchie Smoke,' Says Reader, 'and Pick Yourself a Presidential Candidate to Vote For'," Afro-American, December 19, 1931.

"State Cops Frisking Eastern Shore Motorists," Afro-American, December 26, 1931.

E.B. Taylor, "Suggests Ralph Matthews Give Governor Ritchie a Few More Days to Perfect His Plans for Having Salisbury Lynchers Punished," Afro-American, December 26, 1931.

"Shore Paper Asks Removal of Lee Trial," Baltimore Sun, January 1, 1932.

"The Eastern Shore is on Trial!" Crisfield Times, January 2, 1932.

"To Decide Place for Lee Hearing," Crisfield Times, January 2, 1932.

"Court of Appeals Upholds Shore Court in Yuel Lee Case," Marylander and Herald, January 2, 1932.

"Appeals Court Suggests Lee Case Change," Afro-American, January 2, 1932.

"Town and County," Midland Journal, January 8, 1932.

"Lee Case Moved to Baltimore County," Crisfield Times, January 9, 1932.

"Lee Case is Removed to Towson," Marylander and Herald, January 9, 1932.

"Text of Order Removing Lee Case to Towson," Marylander and Herald, January 9, 1932.

"Euel Lee Trial Set in Towson Next Week," Afro-American, January 9, 1932.

Bill Brent, "Lynch Law in Maryland," Afro-American, January 9, 1932.

"40 Will Testify at Trial of Yuel Lee," Marylander and Herald, January 16, 1932.

"Euel Lee Trial Opens Monday at Towson," Marylander and Herald, January 16, 1932.

"Euel Lee, Found Guilty of Killing Davis, Pleads Next Week for New Trial," Baltimore Sun, January 21, 1932.

"Lee Found Guilty; To Ask New Trial," Crisfield Times, January 23, 1932.

"Chronology of Lee Case," and "Euel Lee Found Guilty of Murder,"  Marylander and Herald, January 23, 1932.

"Continue Case of Ades Woman Guard," Marylander and Herald, January 23, 1932.

"Lee Guilty of First Degree Murder," Midland Journal, January 29, 1932.

"To Appeal Death Penalty for Lee," Baltimore Sun, January 29, 1932.

"Lee Sentence to Hang for Murder," Crisfield Times, January 30, 1932.

"Euel Lee, Murderer of Davis Family, To Hang," Marylander and Herald, January 30, 1932.

"Yuel Lee Case Advanced by Court," Marylander and Herald, May 13, 1932.

"Communist Group Protests Lee Verdict," Marylander and Herald, May 20, 1932.

"Fate of Euel Lee is Still Undecided," Crisfield Times, June 25, 1932.

"Makes No Ruling in Yuel Lee Case," Marylander and Herald, July 1, 1932.

"Appeals Court Grants Euel Lee New Trial," Marylander and Herald, July 8, 1932.

"Court Gives Euel Lee a New Trial," Crisfield Times, July 9, 1932.

"Bernard Ades Released from Florida Jail," Marylander and Herald, July 15, 1932.

"Will Not Move Lee From Death House," Crisfield Times, July 16, 1932.

"Lee Trial Slated for September Term," Marylander and Herald, July 22, 1932.

"Lee Removed from Death Cell to Jail," Marylander and Herald, July 29, 1932.

"New Euel Lee Trial Starts on September 26th," Crisfield Times, September 10, 1932.

"Euel Lee Case To Be Called Sept. 26," Marylander and Herald, September 23, 1932.

"Somerset Court to Convene on Monday," Crisfield Times, September 24, 1932.

"Euel Lee is Again Sentenced to Death," Crisfield Times, October 1, 1932.

"Untitled," Midland Journal, October 7, 1932.

"Case of Euel Lee Will Be Appealed," Crisfield Times, October 29, 1932.

"Town and County," Midland Journal, November 4, 1932.

"Judges Renamed by Governor Ritchie," Crisfield Times, November 19, 1932.

"Ades Given Extension for Bill of Exceptions," Marylander and Herald, December 2, 1932.

"Time Extended in Euel Lee Appeal," Crisfield Times, December 3, 1932.

"Euel Lee Case May Be Reviewed Soon," Crisfield Times, January 2, 1933.

"Euel Lee Hearing Set for March 2, " Marylander and Herald, February 17, 1933.

"Euel Lee Hearing Set for March 2," Crisfield Times, February 25, 1933.

"Denied New Trial," Midland Journal, April 14, 1933.

"Euel Lee Case Argued at Annapolis Thursday," Marylander and Herald, May 3, 1933.

"Governor Signs Lee Death Writ," Marylander and Herald, May 12, 1933.

"Governor Ritchie Signs Death Warrant," Midland Journal, May 19, 1933.

"Euel Lee Files Appeal With Court," Marylander and Herald, June 16, 1933.

"Euel Lee Case Now Before Supreme Court," Marylander and Herald, October 6, 1933.

"Court Refuses to Review Lee Case," Crisfield Times, October 13, 1933.

"Ritchie Sets Lee Execution Date," Midland Journal, October 27, 1933.

Clarence Mitchell, "Crowd Outside Makes Merry As Lee Dies," Afro-American, November 4, 1933