Frank Elmer Lee 1 2 3
- Born: 1 May 1879, , , CA 1 2 3
- Marriage (1): Mary C. Duckworth on 20 Feb 1915 in , Monterey, CA 1
- Died: 18 Dec 1921, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, CA at age 42 2 4
FamilySearch ID: LKJS-BJJ.
Noted events in his life were:
1. Occupation: merchant on 12 Sep 1918 in Watsonville, Santa Cruz, CA. 3
2. Residence: 182 Main St., Watsonville, CA on 12 Sep 1918 in Watsonville, Santa Cruz, CA. 3
3. Cause of Death: Stabbed by his wife Mary, 18 Dec 1921, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, CA. 4
4. Newspaper: Evening News: Wife Stabs Husband To Death In Fight In Watsonville Store, 19 Dec 1921, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA. 4 WIFE STABS HUSBAND TO DEATH IN FIGHT IN WATSON VILLE STORE
Frank Lee, proprietor of a second hand store in Watsonville, is dead, and his wife, Mary Lee, Is In the county jail awaiting arraignment on charges soon to be announced by District Attorney Smith as the result of a tragic quarrel In the store in Watsonville yesterday afternoon about half-past two, when Mrs. Lee, as the culmination of the fight, stabbed her husband with a beet-topping knife, through the body, causing his death in the hospital about a half-hour later.
According to the story a given out by the officers and by Messrs. George W. Smith of this city and Clay Seevers of Watsonville, Mrs. Lee's attorneys, yesterday's fatal quarrel came about through the accidental act of the wife, who had been at home washing, in throwing a cupful of suds out of the window of the room in which she was working, the water striking the aged mother of Mr. Lee, who was passing the window at the time. Mrs. Lee complained to her son, and the trouble began. Lee, who was in the store, went to the kitchen of the home, which adjoins, and began remonstrating with his wife. The two from there went into the store, still quarreling, and, according to the wife, Lee struck her, and continued to abuse her. She picked up the knife from a sewing machine close by and made a lunge at him, striking him in the shoulder, where at Lee struck her again between the eyes, knocking her partway across a counter. She then lunged at her husband again with the knife and the man ran into the alley next to the store, where he collapsed.
Mrs. Lee then called the police, explaining that she and her husband had had trouble, and at the time did not know of the seriousness of her act.
When officers John Corr and Tony Majore arrived Lee was dying. He was rushed to the hospital, but according to reports had died before the place was reached.
Mrs. Lee was immediately arrested, and brought to Santa Cruz by Constable Devine and lodged in the county jail. District Attorney Smith had been called to Watsonville immediately after the tragic quarrel and obtained a statement from Mrs. Lee in which the woman admitted stabbing her husband, but claimed self-defense, as necessary at the time.
The police records in Watsonville show that the Lees had had difficulties before. Mrs. Lee appeared before the police court within the past three months with blackened eyes and asked for protection from her husband. General evidence from the apple city also indicates that they had had other squabbles in which fighting played a prominent part. They had been married about seven years and in that time had built up quite a business.
The inquest is being held by Coroner Congdon in Watsonville.
Frank married Mary C. Duckworth, daughter of Edgar Duckworth and Unknown, on 20 Feb 1915 in , Monterey, CA.1 (Mary C. Duckworth was born in 1887 in , Monterey, CA 1.)
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