Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-12-11
Negro Lynched And Burned.

Matthew Williams. negro. who killed
Daniel ]. Elliott. prominent box manufac-
turer. in his Office at Salisbury. Wicomico
County. Md. on Friday last was hanged
from tree in the court house green the
following night at sos O'Clock. and 20
minutes later his body was cut down and
burned on a vacant lot on the edge Of
Salisbury's negro settlement.
demonstrating the crime. the police said
Williams probably walked up behind Mr..
Elliott as he sat at the telephone and
pressed the muzzle Of the pistol to his
head. The bullet passed through Elliott's
head and lodged in filing case near his
desk.
The second shot fired by Williams pierced
his own chest. the police said. There
were three cartridges in the pistol confis-
Gated by the county sheriff. Each had been
discharged. The third cartridge. the police
pointed out. was exploded when the lumber
dealers son shot his fathers assailant
The younger Elliott told the police Will
liams must have been drunk" He said
there had been no quarrel between father
and him. He had been working for US for
seven or eight years. We gave him work
whenever we had it. He has even worked
here this week. but we did not have work
for him today"
There were no witnesses to the shooting
and Mrs. Lena Tingle. secretary t, Mr..
Elliott. who was in room adjoining his
office. told the police she did not hear any
conversation between her employer and
the negro before the shooting.
Daniel j. Elliott. Jr.. 80. son of the ST.
year-old lumber dealer and box manufac-
turer, ran with several other men to his
fathers Office at the sound Of the pistol
shots. He carried his father to the PENN
sula General Hospital.
A few minutes before 8 P. NJ. six men
entered the Peninsula General Hospital.
where Williams was under treatment in
the negro ward for a self-inflicted pistol
wound, lifted him from his bed and ordered
him to walk with them to the street.
There more than 800 waiting men and
women surrounded the negro and walked
with him to the court house green.
The men holding the rope tueeed the
NEGRO about fifteen feet above the ground
as the mob, which had grown to about
1000. applauded.
GovernorRitchie ordered W. Preston Lane
Jr., Attorney General Of Maryland. to
assist Wicomco County authorities In the
apprehension and vigorous prosecution
of members ofthe mob that less than twen-
ty-four hours before lynched and burned q
wounded negro murderer. Matthew vii
liams. at Salisbury.
At the same time the Governor announced
that If Yuel Lee, the negro accused Of the
murder Of a family Of four at Taylorsville
Is tried il Dorchester County. he will SCI
that the negro and his attorney. Bernard
AIDES. Of Baltimore. are protected. He salt
he would provide protection for then
whether or not the county authorities re
! quest it.
| Shortly after the Governor issued thi
order announcement was made 10 Cam
bridge. Md. that the case Of Lee. whicl
vas to have come up in the Circuit Cour
!, Tuesday,. had been sent to the Court @
! Appeals.
The announcement followed a confer
epCe Of the judges Of the First Judici
cNNit, Of which John R. Pattison is chic
jufge. J. Fred Dunn, clerk Of the court {