William Lee, 1906 July 26

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LEE, William of 26-196 G

Lee, a black man, wandered around from place to place sustaining him-
self with odd jobs and petty thefts. On June 10, 1906, he was in
Somerset Co, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland when he encountered two
white women who were out walking with the young son of one of theme
lee drew a sharp knife and threatmned to kill the little boy if the
two women would not accompany him into the woods. There he raped both
of them and escaped into Delaware where he stole a team and fled acrosg¢
the tip of Maryland into Virginia where he was captured at Cape Charles
a few days later. wXecause of the fear of lynching, he was lodged in
the jail at altimore and tried there. Recording to Maryland law, he
had to be hanged in the County in which the crime was committed,. but
the threat of violence was so great that officers did not dare take
him to the county seab, so -he was taken to Smith's Island, in a remote
party of the county and the execution was @arried out there on July
26, 19064 Before he was hanged, Lee admitted that he had raped the
two women though he could give noreason for his actions. One of the

women's husband was on the boat that took Lie to the island and he
witnessed the execution. lee apologized tothe man and begged his

forgiveness, but the man curtly replied that he could not forgive him.

IgE, William De Gf MET yf

Lee, a black man, wandered around from place to place sustaining him-
sélf with odd jobs and petty thefts. On June 10, 1906, he was in
Somerset Co. on the Hastern Shore of Maryland when he encountered two
white women who were out walking with the young son of one of theme
lee drew a sharp knife and threataned to kill the little boy if the
two women would not accompany him into the woods. There he raped both
of them and escaped into Delaware where he stole a team and fled acrosg
the tip of Maryland into Virginia where he was captured at Cape Charled
a few days later. Because of the fear of lynching, he was lodged’ in
the jail at Baltimore and tried there. &ecording to Maryland law, he
had be hanged in the County in which the crime was committed,. but
the threat of violence was so great that officers did not dare take
him to the county seab, so he was taken to Smith's Island, in a remote
party of the county and the execution was farried out there on July
26, 1906. Before he was hanged, Lee admitted that he had raped the
two women though he could give noreason for his actions. One of the

women's husband was on the boat that took L ae, to the island and he
witnessed the execution. 36 apologized to°the man and begged his

forgiveness, but the man curtly replied that he could not forgive him.

I8E, Willian d 26-1906
Lee, a black man, wandered around from place to place sustaining him-
sglf with odd jobs and petty thefts. On June 10, 1906, he was in
g n he encountered two

white women who were out walking with the young so! eee eaten
Iee drew a sharp knife and threatnned to kill the little boy if the
two women would not accompany him into the woods. There he raped bo’
of then and escaped into Delaware where he stole a team and fled acros:
the tip of Maryland into Virginia where he was captured at Cape Charled
a few days later. Zecause of the fear of lynching, he was lodged in
the jail at Zaltimore and tried there. Aecording to Maryland lawy he
had to be hanged in the County in which the crime was committed,. bu
the threat of violence was so great that officers did not dare take
hin to the county seat, so he was taken to Smith's Island, in a remote
party of the county and the execution was Garried out there on

26, 1906. Before he was hanged, Lee admitted that he had raped the

tat 0 women though he could give noreason for his actions.

8 on the boat that took Le to the island a
tion. Ise apologized tothe man and begged hi

forgiveness, isn i curtly replied that he could not forgive hin.

pe T 26-1906
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