Introduction
EDWARD T. MELSON was born in Pennsylvania in October of 1867 to George and Sarah Melson. The family had moved to Camden by the time the 1880 Census was taken. At that time he was the second oldest of the six Melson children at home, coming after George and before sisters Sadie, Margaret “Maggie,” Lottie, and Allice. The Melsons then lived at 1125 Locust Street, just north of Kaighn Avenue in South Camden. His father then worked on the river as a waterman, i.e., aboard a boat. Edward Melson followed that trade briefly, but primarily worked throughout his life as a pile driver and wharf builder.
Edward Melson lived with his parents at 1125 Locust Street as late as 1891. He married Emma M. Morris around 1891. The couple lived at 1965 Ivins Street, then, by 1892, at 274 Liberty Street. From 1893 through 1897 their primary residence was 220 Mt. Vernon Street; the 1895 Directory however reports an address of 118 Kaighn Avenue.
A drinking man with a bad temper when drunk, Edward T. Melson got himself into serious trouble in December of 1896, when he shot former policeman Daniel Lee inside a George Dilmore’s saloon on Kaighn Avenue. On trial for his life, he was acquitted in spite of what was thought to be overwhelming evidence.
Edward Melson returned to his wife Emma, and a daughter, Sarah E. Melson, was born in May 23, 1897. The Melsons lived at 1114 Cresson Street in 1898, then moved to 2017 Fillmore Street, where they remained into 1901, then moved to 336 Mechanic Street. The 1902 City Directory reports an address of 266 Sycamore Street; the following year found Edward and Emma Melson at 278 Mt. Vernon Street. Emma Melson does not appear in city directories after 1903 and it appears she had passed away.
Edward Melson got arrested again in 1903 and does not appear in Camden’s 1904 Directory. The 1905 and 1906 editions show him once again at 1114 Cresson Street. In 1907 he was at 645 Van Hook Street, in 1908 at 234 Sycamore Street.
The 1910 Census shows Edward Melson, a widower, living at 215 Chestnut Street with older brother George, sister Sadie, and widowed mother Sarah. Edward Melson is listed at that address in the 1911 City Directory. 1913 found him at 1468 South 3rd Street. He is not listed in the 1914 Directory, but the 1917 Directory shows Edward Melson living at 144 Cox Street. The 1918–1919 Directory has him at 209 Sycamore Street with Marion Richards.
The 1920 Census shows Edward T. Melson living with married woman, Marian C. Richards at 206 Sycamore Street, working as a teamster. A George Melson, aged 14, was also living at that address. Edward T. Melson was living at 206 Sycamore Street as late as 1923. Mrs. Richards moved to 1218 Knight Street the following year, but it is not known if Edward Melson went with her, moved away, or passed on. He is not listed in City Directories after 1923. Mrs. Richards was still living at the Knight Street address when the entire block was destroyed by fire on July 10, 1933.
Roundabout the State
Trenton Evening Times —
Sleighing all over the State, especially in South Jersey, is of the best.
A large number of counterfeit dollars and halves are being circulated in Paulsboro and Pennsgrove.
A cargo of Burlington county turkeys, some of them weighing as much as thirty-five pounds, have been shipped to England.
The Camden Grand Jury yesterday found a true bill against Edward T. Melson for the murder of ex-Policeman Daniel Lee, last Friday morning.
Murder Ended a Barroom Brawl
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Ex-Policeman Daniel Lee, of Camden, Shot by Edward T. Melson.
Drink and “Fight” Talk
The Men Were Boon Companions, But They Quarreled, and One Shot the Other—The Hearing.
Ex-Policeman Daniel Lee, of 201 Sycamore street, Camden, was shot while standing at the bar in George Dillmore’s saloon, at Fourth street and Kaighn avenue, about 3 o’clock yesterday morning. The fatal shot was fired by Edward T. Melson, an oysterman, of 220 Mount Vernon street, who was placed under arrest and now occupies cell No. 35 in the county jail. The murder is said to be the result of an old grudge dating back to the time Lee and Melson were oystering together.
Several men were in the saloon drinking when Melson entered. He sang several songs. George Dillmore, Jr., who was tending bar, and George Emely, a motorman, testified at the hearing before Mayor Westcott yesterday that Melson made some remark to Lee which they did not hear, but which caused Lee to reply: “I am better than any one in the Melson family.” “I don’t know that you are,” answered Melson. “We won’t talk about that now, let’s drop it and have another drink,” said Lee, in a pacifying tone, when he saw that Melson was getting angry.
The Fatal Quarrel.
“I ain’t going to leave you, Danny,” was the next remark made by Melson and then pulling out a 38-calibre revolver from his pocket he fired point blank at Lee before anyone realized his intentions. Lee staggered toward the door and fell. Melson turned the revolver toward George Emely and snapped the trigger. Then he placed the weapon under the ear of James Burrows and again pulled the trigger, but the cartridge did not explode. By this time young Dillmore had got out in front of the bar and knocked the revolver from Melson’s hand.
A police whistle was blown and Officers Dall and Painter answered the summons none too soon. Lee and Melson were put into a patrol wagon and taken to the Cooper Hospital. Lee died as he was being carried into the Hospital. Melson’s injuries were not of a serious nature and he was locked up in the City Hall. He made a statement to Assistant Prosecutor Carson that he had been assaulted by the men in the bar room and shot Lee in self-defense.
Witnesses Held.
The following were held in their own recognizance as witnesses: George Emely, George Dillmore, Jr., Eli Morgan, Charles Morgan, George Martin and James Burrows. They were examined privately by Mayor Westcott, and all told substantially the same story.
An autopsy, held by County Physician Jones, Coroner Lippincott and Dr. Hires, of the Cooper Hospital, showed that the bullet that killed Lee entered his left breast penetrating the lung and came out in the back. An inquest will be held Monday afternoon next.
On Trial for His Life
The North American —
Edward Melson Charged With the Murder of Ex-Policeman Lee.
Fired Before a Blow Was Struck
Testimony Tending to Show That the Shooting Was Not Done in Self Defence.
Edward Melson was placed on trial in the Camden County Court yesterday on a charge of killing Daniel Lee, an ex-policeman, in George Dillmore’s saloon, at Fourth street and Kaighn avenue. The court-room was crowded. The jury was drawn with but little trouble.
In opening the case the States attorney said they would show that about 3 o’clock in the morning of December 12, while several persons were drinking and having a pleasant social time in Delmore’s saloon, the defendant, without provocation, drew a revolver and fired a bullet through ex-Policeman Lee’s heart.
One of the State’s chief witnesses, a man who was present when the fatal shot was fired, was George Emley, of 565 Walnut street. He knew both the deceased and the defendant. He said that he was in Delmore’s saloon nearly one hour when Melson came in. There were present Lee, Burrows, Martin, Charles Morgan and witness. Lee was in the saloon when the witness entered to the barroom. He said that Melson was requested to sing, which he did. There were some remarks made which the witness could not hear. Lee said, “Well, we will let that drop.” Melson replied, “Well, I will never leave you.”
Melson then backed off, pulled out a revolver, and shot Lee. Witness saw the shot fired, and saw Melson draw the revolver from his hip pocket. After Lee was shot he backed to the Kaighn Avenue door, opened it, and fell to the floor. George Delmore, Jr., then knocked the revolver out of Melson’s hand. Burrows and the witness threw Melson down. Witness said that they had to wrestle with the defendant in order to get the pistol. Up to the time of the shooting there had not been a blow struck.
On cross-examination the witness said that Melson said, “Danny, it will do you no good to hit me.” Beyond this counsel for the defendant failed to shake his direct testimony.
Policemen Painter and Dall, who ran to the saloon and arrested Melson, testified that Lee made no resistance. The prisoner and his victim, who died a few minutes after the shooting, were taken to the City Hall together in a patrol wagon.
Lawyer Rex, in opening for the defence, said he would show that the killing of Daniel Lee was the result of a drunken brawl and not murder in the first or second degree. He would ask for a verdict of manslaughter, as the defendant thought he had a perfect right to defend his life, knowing as he did the character of Lee.
Melson Acquitted of Lee’s Murder
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Verdict a Surprise to Court Attendants and the Community.
Jury Out Two Hours
“I’ll Never Touch a Drop of Liquor Again as Long as I Live,” Said the Prisoner When He Heard the Verdict.
One of the most surprising verdicts ever rendered in a capital case in Camden county was the verdict of acquittal returned by the jury yesterday in the trial of Edward Melson, charged with the murder of ex-Policeman Daniel Lee. It was surprising because there was no denial of the killing on the part of the defendant and the utmost hope of his counsel was for a verdict of manslaughter. The prisoner admitted on the witness stand that he killed Lee—shot him down in a saloon, before a blow had been struck. There was direct and positive evidence of the killing in the testimony of several eye witnesses.
A plea of self defense was set up, for there was no evidence that Melson used his weapon to protect his life, and yet, in the face of this testimony, the jury acquitted the prisoner after deliberating for less than two hours. It was a big victory for Lawyer Frederick A. Rex, counsel for Melson, for he would have considered his client lucky in getting off with a conviction for manslaughter. Prosecutor Jenkins looked upon the verdict as a miscarriage of justice.
Close of the Case.
Yesterday was the second day of the trial. As both prosecution and defense had developed their strength on the opening day, there was very little testimony of importance.
Lawyer Rex for the defense called witnesses to show that Melson had been beaten and kicked in the scrimmage in Dilmore’s saloon immediately after he shot Lee. An effort to weaken the testimony of George Martin, a well-known politician and business man and an eye witness of the shooting, was made by calling William Hind, of 263 Mechanic street. He testified that he met Martin in Maurice Hertz’s liquor store, on Kaighn avenue, and that Martin told him that Melson had shot Lee and that as Lee was his best friend, he would swear to anything to hang Melson.
Joseph Taylor, John J. Welsh, A. K. Snyder, W. Kaminski, John Lee and Constable Frederick Voigt testified to Lee’s good character.
Policeman Fitzsimmons testified that he knew Lee for over twenty years, and that his reputation for peace and quietness was good when he was sober. He volunteered the information that both Lee and Melson were bad men when drunk, and for this Judge Garrison censured him severely.
Surprising Verdict.
The jury returned at quarter after 5 o’clock, after being out less than two hours. To the surprise of everybody they returned a verdict of acquittal. Even Melson himself was surprised and said that he did not expect such a verdict. He remarked: “That settles it. I will never touch another drop of liquor as long as I live.”
Melson received the congratulations of his father and brother and a number of his friends. He then proceeded to the county jail to get his effects and was greeted with cheers by the prisoners who had heard the verdict.
This is the second murder case tried this month in the Camden Criminal Court that has resulted in a verdict of acquittal. The jury that acquitted Melson was composed of Monroe C. Bennett, James A. Rowland, W. H. Hogan, Frank H. Powell, Thomas Willis, Moses M. Mulford, James McNeill, Harry F. Renner, Samuel Thompson, John M. Masters, Frederick Halloway, James Farraday.
Roundabout the State
Trenton Evening Times —
Dr. A. P. Raser, of Bordentown, started yesterday morning to walk to Farmingdale, Monmouth county, a distance of forty miles. The doctor says he enjoys walking.
William F. Shields, the Hackettstown druggist, who was recently convicted of malpractice on Lizzie Sliker, of Newark, was yesterday sentenced to eighteen months in State Prison.
To the bewilderment of many who had watched the case, the Camden jury last evening acquitted Edward T. Melson of the murder of ex-Policeman Daniel Lee. Justice Garrison looked at the twelve men sharply for an instant, bit his lip, turned to Law Judge Vroom and made some remark and then declared Melson free. Judge Vroom’s brows were knitted, while Prosecutor of the Pleas Jenkins started in blank amazement.
Sentenced for Assault and Battery
Philadelphia Inquirer —
His application for a new trial denied. Edward Melson was yesterday sentenced by Judge Joline, in Camden Criminal Court, to nine months in the State Prison at hard labor for assault and battery on Charles Smith. Several years ago Melson was acquitted of a charge of murdering Policeman Danny Lee.