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| Lynching Shames State, Says Governor Ritchie The text of Governor Ritchie's* statement in connection with the j lynching of Matthew Williams (colored) at Salisbury is as follows- "The crime of this negro was a shocking thing, but he should have paid the penalty for it through the established legal machinery. The action of the mob in lynching him must oring the blush of shame to every law-abiding Marylander, whether on or off the Eastern Shore. "The duty of ascertaining the perpetrators and punishing them rests on the authorities of Wicomico county—the State's Attorney, th» Grand Jury and the Circuit Court. Staters Attorney Bailey is quoted there this afternoon as saying that he plans to prosecute the case with vigor, stopping not at the leaders, but carrying it to every other person who took part, who can be identified." ' "I have confidence in Mr. Bailey, and believe that he will do exactly what he says, but in the face of this outrage, which is of State-wide importance, it is my duty to give him all the assistance within my power. "Under the authority conferred on me by the constitution I have directed the Attorney General to co-operate with the State's Attorney of Wicomico county in the vigorous prosecution of the perpretators of this crime. "The Attorney General will have behind him every agency which the State can supply for his assistance. "There remains the ru-jstion of the effect of this lynching upon the case of Yi/el Lee, alias Orphan Jones. 'It is imperative that Orphan Jones be tried, wherever he is to be tried, at the earliest possible noment Jones' attorney has appealed to the Court of Appeals from the order of the lower court removing the case to Dorchester county. I am advised that the Circuit Court will not try the case until this appeal has been disposed of, and that this wi»l de- Turn to Page 3, Column 5. Full Text of Statement By Ritchie on Lynching Continued from First Page. lay the trial for another week. I hope that every facility of i Court of Appeals and of the Circuit Court will be directed to the trial of Orphan Jones as promptly as possible. "As things stand now, the Circuit has decided that this case will be tried in Dorcnester county. That is their responsibility, and the Governor has no power or authority under the law to interfere with it. I am in receipt today of letters from Chief Judge Pattison and State's Attorney McAllister advising me that in their opinion the State Militia will rot be needed for H*V - —Action of either Jone. or Ades, but that the local authorities, with the possi- ble addition of the State Police, can do all that is needed. "These letters were written be-" fore the lynching of Williams last night and in view of that occurrence and jf the other occurrences and developments, I have decided that whatever may be the opinions which the local authorities now hold, it is my duty as Governor of the State, to take the steps which I consider necessary to assure protection to both Jones and Ades, if the judges adhere to their determination to try the case in Dorchester county. "I need not specify what the protection is which will be afforded. It is enough to say it will be sufficient to safeguard Jones and Ades at the trial." |