Welby Lee Never Gave Up – Grover Jones Jailed
“I wanted to do it worse than anything in my life.” said Welby Jones softly. He spoke alter 18 1/2 years of dogged search resulted in the arrest of a man on murder charges in connection with the hit-and-run death of Lee’s father. I kept thinking that someday I would hit the right spot.”
Newt Lee, 61, was killed on New Year’s Eve, 1944, by a car that hit him as he was crossing a road in a driving rain. A witness — Newt Lee’s granddaughter — then 16, told the car stopped, the driver walked back to look at the body, returned to the auto, drove a few feet, returned to the scene, then roared away. The only clue was an automobile bumper guard.
“I was very close to my father. We were in the lumber business together. I was determined to find those men,” said Welby Lee Monday night after the arrest in Indianapolis on second-degree murder charges of Grover Jones, 51, a handyman. Witnesses said two men were in the car, and Lee said “we know who the other man was. He will be taken into custody later.
“I would estimate I spent a total of four years’ time in the search,” said Lee, 50, who is an expert sharpshooter but has no formal police training. “I traveled 70,000 miles, mostly in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee, talking to people – all kinds of people. “I hit lots of dead ends, but never thought of giving up. Then, in January, 1962, we hit the right trail. An in-law of Jones put us on it. For 18 months I gathered evidence. “I walked into the authorities’ office In Clay County. Tenn., and gave them a book with 153 pages of evidence. I realized that after 18 years, a half-job just wouldn’t do.” Indianapolis police said Tennessee authorities traced the sale of the bumper guard to Jones. Lee said a Grand Jury in the Tennessee county – just across the line from this southern Kentucky home – indicted Jones last month.
Lee’s father was killed near his home near Celina, Tenn. He was in the lumber business there and his son was in the same business in Kentucky. “For the last 18 months, my business: just didn’t run,” said the 6-foot, 164 pound Lee. “But I’ve got a stand of timber and now I can go back to work.” Why did I take it upon himself to do it? “I was the middle son. One brother was overseas and the other was in another state. My mother was dead. Somebody had to.”
Clarence Martin, publisher of a weekly newspaper here, put it this way: “Wilby Lee is a remarkable man.” – Boston Record American (Boston, MA) July 10, 1963; p. 10
Grover Jones, Indianapolis handyman, surrendered at the Clay County courthouse yesterday and posted $2,500 bond on a charge of second-degree murder in a 1963 hit-and-run traffic death. Welby Lee, who spent 19 years tracking down the man he is convinced killed his Father, met Jones as he walked into the courthouse. “How are you Grover” Lea asked. “Hi,” said Jones. William S. Mercuri, attorney for Jones, said he will continue to fight attempts to bring his client to trial here. Lawyers for Jones. have only in the last few days given up in their fight against extradition of Jones to Tennessee. Mercuri said he believes the entire proceeding will be void because of the statute of limitations. Jones was indicted in July in the slaying of Newt Lee, who was struck by a car near here Dec. 18, 1944. The indictment was based on evidence gathered by Welby Lee, who traveled 70,000 miles in his free time over the 19 years to run down leads in his father’s death. The son now lives in nearby Tompkinsville, Ky. Officials here indicated the trial could be postponed from February to June because of expected bad weather in the area. Jones refused to comment to newsman, but his attorney said he continues to maintain his innocence. The defendant and his attorneys returned immediately to Indianapolis after posting bond. “Never at any time during this investigation have I had hatred in my heart for him,” Lee said of Jones yesterday. I only wanted to see justice done.” [unknown newspaper, Dec 19, 1963]
A 21-year-old drama which began with the hit-run traffic death of a Clay County lumberman will continue here today with the opening of a second trial for the man accused of driving the car. Grover Jones, 56, an illiterate Indianapolis grocery handyman, was indicted on second-degree murder charges as the result of a 100,000-mile search for evidence by Welby Lee, 52, son of the victim. The father, Newt Lee, was struck down and left to die in a ditch as he crossed the road in front of his home near Moss, Tenn. That was on New Year’s Eve. 1944. The son’s long search resulted in a 153-page book of evidence, which was presented to the Clay County Grand Jury that indicted Jones In 1963. Jones’ first trial last November ended in a mistrial just minutes before a verdict was expected when the prosecution discovered that two members of the all-male jury were related to two defense witnesses. Jones has denied being in Tennessee on the date of the accident or owning a car at that time. However the former sister-in-law testified at the first trial that the Joneses were visiting relatives when the accident happened. She also testified Jones decided unexpectedly to return home the night Lee was killed. Other witnesses placed Jones near the accident scene. – Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH) July 12, 1965, p.31