Biography
Harry Merrill
Somerset + Wicomico Counties, Maryland
Harry Merrill was nearly lynched in Salisbury in Wicomico County, Maryland in December 1924. He was convicted of murdering a white Somerset County Sheriff's deputy and seriously wounding another policeman, both of whom had tried to arrest him for alleged violence. Merrill was around 21 to 22 years of age at the time of his arrest, and had earned a reputation in the African American and law enforcement communities for violence.
On December 13, 1924, Clarence Hitch, Merrill's stepfather, reported his stepson to the Justice of the Peace in Princess Anne for physically assaulting him and shooting him with a shotgun. Deputy Sheriff Louis (also 'Lewis') Dryden and constable Orrie Carey were sent to arrest Merrill, who was staying at the home of John Ballard. Upon arriving at Ballard's residence, the two policeman saw a shotgun wielding Merrill walking up the road. Dryden, who had gone on the call unarmed, borrowed Carey's pistol and confronted Merrill, and got into a physical altercation with the suspect. During the scuffle, Merrill managed to seize Dryden's gun and kill the deputy. Carey lunged at Merrill, but was also shot, although not fatally. With both policeman down, Merrill ditched the shotgun in Ballard's house and fled with the pistol he had seized.
Officer Carey managed to get into the vehicle he and Dryden had taken to arrest Merrill and returned to Princess Anne. After sharing the story with his colleagues, a massive posse formed to track down the fugitive, including local and state policemen, armed citizens, National Guardsmen, and bloodhounds. Guards were also posted in Snow Hill, Pocomoke City, Salisbury, Crisfield, and towns in Delaware. The search for Merrill lasted for several days until Clarence Hitch reported that the suspect was hiding at the home of his half-brother Gilbert Stephenson ('Stevenson'), as well that he would surrender to the sheriff without the presence of the rest of the posse, which now numbered in the hundreds. The local authorities agreed to this compromise, and Merrill gave himself up.
Harry Merrill was transported to the Wicomico County Jail in Salisbury due to the threat of lynching in Princess Anne. However, Somerset Countians soon heard that Merrill was being held there, and traveled to the neighboring town to see that he was transported to their county's jail. With a mob forming, the decision was made by Wicomico and Somerset County authorities to transport Merrill to jail in Baltimore for his own protection. While a crowd surrounded the car he was being transported in, the suspect made it to Baltimore safely.
Merrill was indicted with the murder of Deputy Dryden as well as the assaults of Officer Carey and his stepfather Clarence Hitch in January of 1925. His trial was moved to Dorchester County for February of the same year. On February 25, Merrill received a sentence of life imprisonment in Maryland Penitentiary for the murder of Dryden, and was also found guilty of the two assaults. Seven years later in 1932, Merrill stabbed a prison guard at the penitentiary. Deemed insane, he was then removed from the prison to be confined to a mental hospital for African Americans in Crownsville, MD.
Newspaper Clippings
"Bloodhounds Trail Slayer in Swamp," Baltimore Sun, December 14, 1924.
"Maryland Guard to Aid in Man Hunt," Baltimore Sun, December 15, 1924.
"Bloodhounds Fail to Trace Slayer," Washington Post, December 15, 1924.
"State Police Bring Negro to Jail in City," Baltimore Sun, December 16, 1924.
"Negro May Get Speedy Trial," Marylander and Herald, December 20, 1924.
"Policeman Carey is Improving Nicely," Marylander and Herald, December 20, 1924.
"Merrill Expects Death Sentence," Marylander and Herald, December 20, 1924.
"Funeral Services Held for Jailer Dryden," Marylander and Herald, December 20, 1924.
"Community Extends Sympathy," Marylander and Herald, December 20, 1924.
"Early Trial is Expected for Negro Desperado Who Killed Somerset Deputy," Crisfield Times, December 20, 1924.
"Negro Murderer Caught ; Escapes Lynching Party," Worcester Democrat, December 20, 1924.
"Accused Man is Rushed Here in Race With Mob," Afro-American, December 20, 1924.
"Blind Justice in Action," Afro-American, December 20, 1924.
"Special Session of Grand Jury Called," Marylander and Herald, December 27, 1924.
"Murder Last Week Was Broadcasted," Marylander and Herald, December 27, 1924.
"Fred A. Culver is Acting Policeman," Marylander and Herald, December 27, 1924.
"Speedy Trial for Negro Murderer," Worcester Democrat, January 3, 1925.
"Let the Law Take its Course," Crisfield Times, January 10, 1925.
"Probe of Somerset Murder Postponed," Worcester Democrat, January 10, 1925.
"Jury Finds Six Indictments," Marylander and Herald, January 17, 1925.
"Negro Murderer is Indicted by Jury," Worcester Democrat, January 17, 1925.
"Place of Merrill Trial Undecided," Marylander and Herald, January 24, 1925.
"Court Selects Cambridge for Trial of Merrill on Charge of Killing Dryden," Crisfield Times, January 31, 1925.
"Given Life Sentence for Killing Officer," Washington Post, February 26, 1925.
"Murder in First Degree, Verdict," Marylander and Herald, February 28, 1925.
"Court Gives Negro Slayer a Life Term," Worcester Democrat, February 28, 1925.
"Somerset County Negro Serving Life Sentence Severely Wounds Guard," Crisfield Times, January 9, 1932.
