Born: Sevierville, Tennessee, Aug. 16, 1900
Died: Provident Hospital, Baltimore, Feb. 15, 1948 CR 48,284 G60299
Buried: Arbutus Memorial Park, Feb. 19, 1948
Parents: Thomas Luther Evans b. ~1874
Mollie L. McMahon
Spouse: Willerma Evans b. ~1901 South Carolina
Children: Elizabeth Evans b. June 7, 1920 Child born to George and Erma Evans D-5906 filed 1926 CR47,552 CM1135-178; Certificate not found (Restricted)
George Witt Evans, Jr. b. June 7, 1922 Child born to George and Irma Evans D-7176 filed 9/28/26 CR47,553 CM1135-179; Certificate not found (Restricted)
Military: World War I draft card found
Admitted to the bar: Nov. 21, 1923

Summary of Census Records
1920 Census
1930 Census
George Witt Evans, Sr., was born in Sevierville, Tenn., August 16, 1900, to Thomas Luther Evans (b. ~1874) and Mollie L. McMahon. His mother was a Sevierville native but his father was born in East Point, Tenn. According to his draft card, by Sept. 6, 1918, his parents had moved to Knoxville, Tenn., and he was working as a waiter for the Thompson Starrett Co. in Vitro, WV. Evans did see military service in World War I. He is listed in the 1920 census as living in Knoxville, Tenn., Ward 9. He and his father are listed as mulattos in 1920. Shortly after this, Evans moved to Baltimore, perhaps to study law. In the 1930 census, he is living in Baltimore and his race is listed as negro. Also listed in the 1930 census are his wife, Willerma Evans, born about 1901 in South Carolina, and his two children, Elizabeth Evans, born about 1921, and George W. Evans, Jr., born about 1923.

Evans was admitted to the Maryland Bar Nov. 21, 1923. Almost immediately, he began practicing in partnership with J. Steward Davis. His first case appears in the Baltimore City and Superior Court dockets Dec. 8, 1923. However, Evans was probably working for Davis prior to his admission to the bar. He is listed in the Baltimore City Criminal Court docket as taking recognizance for some of Davis' clients in September 1923. The two practiced together for several years, usually appearing in court dockets as "Davis & Evans," and had an office on St. Paul St. The practice reached its peak in the mid 1920s and dissolved in January, 1929, just a few months before Davis' disappearance April 15, 1929. Evans moved to a different office on St. Paul Pl. and then to 14 E. Pleasant St. He served as the Secretary of the National Bar Association. Evans died at Provident Hospital in Baltimore Feb. 15, 1948, of cirrhosis of the liver and was buried in Arbutus Memorial Park.

Admission to the Bar: Court of Appeals of Maryland
Court of Appeals, Board of Law Examiners: Bar Applications MSA S112-9 2/51/4/10
Jan. 1923 report relating results of Nov. 1922 exam: Evans applied for registration since the last examination and report, qualified under rules by proper certificate showing completed high school or equivalent. Applicant No. 127.
October Term 1923 report: Evans passed bar examination given June 25-26, 1923, on first try, recommended for admission. Address on application: 1409 Druid Hill Ave., Baltimore. Report ratified Nov. 12, 1923 by Court of Appeals.
Link to page in Court of Appeals Test Book
Board of Law Examiners: Registration and Petition Record MSA T3282 2/61/12/62
George W. Evans listed as registering as a law student Dec 14, 1922.

Admission to the Bar: Supreme Bench of Baltimore City
Attorneys of the Supreme Bench of Bal. City 1867- ; Admissions to the Bar
Evans, George W. November 26, 1923 Died Feb. 15, 1948 p. 16 De-Eu MSA SC 5339-141-2
Minutes of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City
Appears on list of persons admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Bench November 26, 1923 (page 2 of entry) Vol. III: January 11, 1915 to December 23, 1924 MSA SC 5603-5-4 00/47/5/15 (not part of the scan on msaref)
Certificates of motions made for admission to the bar
George W. Evans, Nov. 26, 1923, sponsored by J. Stewart Davis MSA SC 5603-1-56 00/27/14/40

Baltimore City Directories
R.L. Polk & Co. 2/3/14/1 to 2/3/14/19
1922 p. 708 Evans Geo W* (Willie) clk PO 1409 Druid Hill av
1923 p. 674 Evans Geo W clk PO 1409 Druid Hill Ave
1924-25 p. 672 Evans Geo W (Willerina; Davis & Evans) 215-17 St Paul Pl h 1929 McCulloh
1924-25 p. 672 Evans Geo W clk PO 1409 Druid Hill av
1926 p. 685 Evans Geo W (Willerme; Davis & Evans) lawyer 215 St Paul h 1704 Ashland
1926 p. 685 Evans Geo W clk PO r 1704 Ashland av
1927 p. 705 Evans Geo W (Willerme; Davis & Evans) h 1704 Ashland av
1928 p. 651 Evans Geo W (Wilerma; Davis & Evans) lawyer 215-17 St Paul 3d fl h 1704 Ashland av
1929 p. 629 Evans Geo W (Wilerma) lawyer 508 St Paul R32-33 h 1704 Ashland av
1929 p. 629 Evans Geo W jr clk PO r 1704 Ashland av
1940 p. 396 Evans Geo W (Willerma) clk PO h 1704 Ashland av
1940 p. 396 Evans Geo W lawyer 14 E Pleasant r 1704 Ashland av
1942 p. 419 Evans Geo W (Willerma) lawyer 14 E Pleasant h 1704 Ashland av
1956 p. 432 Evans Willerma A Mrs h 1812 Madison av

1st Fidelity Bank Collection of the Savings Bank of Baltimore MSA SC 4313 3/62/7
1958 p. 352 Evans Geo W jr (Olive A) carrier PO 3110 Normount av
1959 nothing
1961 p. 328 Evans Geo W jr (Olive A) carrier PO h 3110 Normount av
1963 nothing
1964 p. 329 Evans Geo W jr h 3110 Normount av
1964 p. 331 Evans Willerma A h 1812 Madison av

A search of mdlandrec.net showed that Willerma A. Evans conveyed 1812 Madison Ave. to her daughter, Elizabeth E. Johnson, and granddaughter, Pamela E. Johnson, Dec. 9, 1964, reserving a life estate for herself, subject to the payment of an annual rent of $120 payable half yearly. 1806, 1964 [MSA CE 168-12124] pp. 629-631. Willerma conveyed the property to Elizabeth and Pamela again, Aug. 28, 1975, as joint tenants, for the sum of $5. 3273, 1975 [MSA CE 168-13593] pp. 0686-0687. Willerma had purchased the property from David S. Brown Feb. 18, 1949. (Incorrect citation in later records.)

A search of MD Department of Assessments and Taxation records showed that Olive A. Evans still owns 3110 Normount Ave.

Cases before the Court of Appeals of Maryland
Evans was involved with six cases that went before the Court of Appeals. Three of these were death penalty cases.

State v. Paul Lawrence Allen
Allen was convicted of assault on a white woman with intent to rape by Judge O'Dunne of the Baltimore City Criminal Court in 1943. He was represented by George W. Evans and Michael F. Freedman. After a motion for a new trial was overruled by the Supreme Bench Feb. 5, 1944, Allen was sentenced to death by hanging Feb. 14, 1944. The defense appealed to the Court of Appeals of Maryland on the grounds that the defendant was compelled to try on a hat in open court, thereby violating the doctrine of compulsory self incrimination. Counsel for the appeal were Michael F. Freedman and Robert P. McGuinn, with George W. Evans on the brief. The Court of Appeals reversed the judgment of the trial court and awarded a new trial Nov. 15, 1944. He was sentenced to be confined in the Maryland Penitentiary during the course of his natural life by Judges Tucker and Sayler Dec. 21, 1944. There are no references from the Afro on the case in the binder on Evans from Larry Gibson. The case papers include a letter from Gov. O'Conor acknowledging receipt of the transcript of testimony Feb. 15, 1944, but the governors' papers were not searched.
Court of Appeals of Maryland: 1944: Oct. Term No. 9; 183 Md. 603
Baltimore City Criminal Court: 1943: pp. 838, 864 Indictment No. 5026; T495-447, HF/3/26/46

State v. Harry E. Shanks
Shanks was convicted of rape by Judge Moser of the Baltimore City Criminal Court in 1945. He was found not guilty on a related indictment for robbery. He was represented by M. F. Freedman, George W. Evans and Robert P. McGuinn. After a motion for a new trail was overruled by the Supreme Bench April 9, 1945, Shanks was sentenced to be hanged April 11, 1945. The case was appealed to the Court of Appeals of Maryland based on the point that, since the defendant did not take the witness stand in his own defense, the testimony by Dr. Henry Freimuth, toxicologist, relative to the blood types of stains found on the defendant's clothing, should not have been admitted. The admission of this evidence, the appellant argued, constituted an abridgment of the defendant's constitutional right to not testify against himself. The Court of Appeals found no error, affirming the conviction and sentence Dec. 18, 1945. While no order to this effect appears in the case papers, a docket entry notes that on Jan. 11, 1946, the sentence was reconsidered and reduced to life imprisonment. On Oct. 21, 1953, the sentence was further commuted by Gov. McKeldin to thirty years in the Maryland Penitentiary, upon the recommendation of A. Earl Shipley, Director of the Division of Parole and Probation. There are no references from the Afro on the case in the binder on Evans from Larry Gibson.
Court of Appeals of Maryland: 1945: Oct. Term, No. 40; 185 Md. 437
Baltimore City Criminal Court: 1945: Indictments 34, 35; T495-461, HF/3/26/61

State v. Lloyd Walker
Walker was convicted of attempted rape by a jury before Judge Moser of the Baltimore City Criminal Court in 1945. He was represented by Linwood Koger, an attorney appointed by the court. A motion for a new trial was overruled by the Supreme Bench Oct. 6, 1945. Walker was sentenced to death by hanging Oct. 16, 1945. The case was appealed to the Court of Appeals of Maryland, with Robert McGuinn joining Koger for the appellant and George W. Evans on the brief for the appellant. The appeal was based on two points: 1) The trial judge was prejudiced to the case based on his recollection of a previous court appearance by Walker and his brother, as evidenced by remarks made by the judge before sentencing; 2) The trial judge ignored the reports of two medical experts, who recommended a lighter sentence than the death penalty. However, the Court of Appeals found no reversible error and dismissed the appeal. Walker was executed at the Maryland Penitentiary Oct. 16, 1945. A transcript of testimony and certified copy of docket entries was transmitted to the office of Governor O'Conor May 24, 1946, but no evidence of this was found in the Governor's files. There are no references from the Afro on the case in the binder on Evans from Larry Gibson.
Court of Appeals of Maryland: 1945: Oct. Term, No. 122; 186 Md. 440
Baltimore City Criminal Court: 1945: Indictments 2048, 2049, 2050, 2051; T495-465 HF/3/26/65

New Central Baptist Church members v. Rev. Ira Guthrie, trustees
At a church meeting April 29, 1947, a majority of the congregation of the Central Baptist Church elected James Ellerbee moderator and discontinued the services of Rev. Ira T. Guthrie, declaring the pulpit vacant and hiring Harry O. Levin as counsel. However, Guthrie persisted in attending and conducting church services and removed locks placed on the building by the congregation. A writ of injuction was signed by Judge Moser in the Circuit Court No. 2 of Baltimore City May 31, 1947. The defendant, through his counsel, Robert P. McGuinn and George W. Evans, demurred to the injuction June 4, 1947. The demurrer states that the plaintiff failed to show cause as to why it should be entitled to relief in equity against the defendant, the plaintiff failed to file certain supporting documents, and that the "New Central Baptist Church" was not a proper party plaintiff. Judge Moser overruled the demurrer June 13, 1947 and allowed the plaintiff to amend its name by interlineation to the Central Baptist Church of Baltimore City. The defense appealed to the Court of Appeals of Maryland June 27, 1947, arguing that a religious corporation must sue by its trustees, not merely the name of the corporation, unless the trustees upon request fail or refuse to bring suit on behalf of the corporation, as stated in the Acts of 1802. The appellee argued that this statute was replaced by the Act of 1868, in which the provision that corporations can sue and be sued by their trustees was dropped. The appellee argued that this meant that any person authorized by majority vote of a congregation could sue on behalf of the church. The Court of Appeals disagreed, stating that Ellerbee did not have the authority to sue on behalf of the church. The order overruling the demurrer was reversed and the bill of complaint dismissed, costs to be paid by James Ellerbee, Feb. 19, 1948. Several letters appear in the case papers regarding the final disposition of the case, mainly relating to salary owed Guthrie, but there is no final order. A reference to the case from the Afro does appear in the binder on Evans provided by Larry Gibson.
Court of Appeals of Maryland: 1947: Oct. Term, No. 83; 189 Md. 692
Baltimore City Circuit Court No. 2: 1947: p. 357; 28889A; T56-2377 box 599 3/25/1/34

William D. Coleman v. Edith Coleman
On Feb. 27, 1946, Evans filed a bill of complaint for divorce on behalf of William D. Coleman against his wife, Edith Coleman, in Baltimore City Circuit Court, Judge Niles presiding. Mrs. Coleman filed a cross-bill March 15, 1946, through her attorney, Anthony S. Federico. Federico was joined by Harry Yaffe Oct. 16, 1946. The husband alleged and the wife admitted that she deserted and abandoned him, taking their nine-year-old child with her. However, she claimed that she was compelled to do so by his conduct, namely refusing to provide heat for her and the child. Mrs. Coleman had previously secured an order from the office of the State's Attorney for Mr. Coleman to provide for her and the child. Judge Niles signed a decree Sept. 25, 1946, divorcing Mr. Coleman A Mensa et Thoro from Mrs. Coleman, giving custody of the child to Mrs. Coleman and ordering Mr. Coleman to pay $8 per week for the support and maintenance of the child. Mrs. Coleman appealed to the Court of Appeals of Maryland the same day. Robert P. McGuinn joined Evans on the appeal. She argued that she did not deliberately separate herself from her husband with the intent that the marriage should no longer exist, she intended the departure to be only temporary and that her husband was unjustified in rejecting her attempts to come back to him. The Court of Appeals ruled March 20, 1947, that the husband's conduct amounted to desertion and that Mrs. Coleman was entitled to a divorce a mensa or to alimony in lieu of such a divorce. The decree was affirmed as to custody of the child and reversed and cause remanded for passage of a decree making allowances for support of the wife and child; appellee to pay costs above and below. Mr. Coleman was ordered to pay $13 per week. This was reduced to $7 per week Nov. 29, 1954, when the child, Cyllimira Cole, became employed and self supporting. There are no references from the Afro in the binder provided by Larry Gibson.
Court of Appeals of Maryland: 1946: Oct. Term, No. 88; 188 Md. 203
Baltimore City Circuit Court: 1946: 86B p. 230; B55953; T54-1828 box 1814 3/14/1/23

Amos Paul v. The Glidden Company
Amos Paul suffered lacerations and a fracture to the ring and little fingers of his left hand when his hand was caught in gears while oiling bearings on an elevator drive Jan. 28, 1943. The index and middle fingers of his left hand had been amputated as a result of an accident 25 years before. Paul filed a claim with the State Industrial Accident Commission March 13, 1943, against his employer, the chemical and pigment division of The Glidden Company. The Commission ordered Glidden Co. to pay Paul $18 per week for 74.7 weeks Oct. 5, 1943. This order was not based on a hearing but on medical reports by Dr. J.G. Benesuns, which stated Aug. 27, 1943, that Paul would have 20% loss of use of his left ring and middle fingers and Oct. 1, 1943, that Paul had 45% loss of use of his left hand. The Glidden Co. asked for the case to be reopened and this request was granted Nov. 2, 1943. The Commission rescinded and annulled the previous order and passed another order with identical terms Dec. 11, 1943. The Glidden Co. appealled to the Baltimore City Court of Common Pleas, Judge McLanahan presiding, and was represented by Roszel C. Thomsen and Robert H. Engle. Paul was represented by George W. Evans and Robert P. McGuinn. The Court ruled May 3, 1944, that, even though the Glidden Co. had not secured a waiver from Paul regarding the earlier accident, it could still be relieved from responsibility for the earlier accident. Judge McLanahan calculated compensation based on a 5% loss of a 60% hand, reducing the Commission's award from 74.7 weeks to 13.8 weeks. Paul appealled to the Court of Appeals of Maryland May 12, 1944. Evans and McGuinn were joined by Linwood G. Koger on the brief for the appellant. The Court reversed the order of the Court of Common Pleas and affirmed the order of the State Industrial Accident Commission Dec. 20, 1944, saying that, no waiver having been obtained, Paul was entitled to be compensated for the loss of use of his hand as it stood after the second accident, which was 45%.
Court of Appeals of Maryland: 1944: Oct. Term, No. 47; 184 Md. 114
Baltimore City Court of Common Pleas: 1944: p. 301; T508-426 box 289 3/1/8/24