 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
| was knocked down and trampled by mob leaders v, .ien he attempted to take charge of the Negro's dead body after the hanging and before the burning. Miss Helen V. Wise, superintendent of Peninsula General Hospital, who talked to mob leaders prior to their seizure of the wounded Negro. Turnkey M. L. Hays, of the Salisbury jail, who watched the mob activities from the jail yard. Deputy Don Parks, who aided Chief Holland in trying to protect the Negro. Lane Makes Comment Investigation, arrest of mob leaders and "vigorous prosecution" have been asked by Governor Ritchie, who ordered Attorney General Lane to represent the state in the lynching probe. Asked by The Baltimore Post his plan, Attorney General Lane said: "We are facing a very difficult task, and I fear that any announce- j ment of plans at this time would tend to retard the progress of our I probe. "We are not going off half-cocked in this action. We will go thoroughly into all aspects of the case, but it is necessary that we proceed carefully. "I have every confidence in State's Attorney Levin Bailey and we shall work together in the best interests of the State of Maryland." 'Don't Know Names' Chief of Police Holland was the only one of the five major witnesses for the state who would discuss whether or not he recognized members of the mob. He said. "I don't know the names of any of the members of the mob whom I remonstrated with at the hospital. I don't believe these folks were from Salisbury. If they had been I would have known them. I probably would know some of them if I saw them again, however." Sheriff Phillips said: "I don't want to talk about that angle of the case." 'Can't Talk About It' Miss Wise, Turnkey Hays and Deputy Parks also refused to discuss whether they had recognized any members of the mob. Miss Wise said: "I asked the men to come in quietly if they insisted upon taking the Negro. I can't, of course, talk about whether I knew the men to whom I spoke." Directing Traffic, Charge Investigation also is under way today on reports that three Salisbury policemen stood blandly directing traffic less than 100 feet from the scene of the lynching of Williams. Chief Holland said he would "look into" these reports, but that he did not believe them to be true. "One police officer is stationed at the corner of Main and Division to direct traffic, but he could do nothing with the mob by himself," the chief commented. Judge S. K. White, of Salisbury, will head the coroner's jury which will hold an inquest later in the week on the death of the Negro. Ten Special Officers Added Ten special police officers have been added to the regular Salisbury force of seven officers, according to Chief Holland—"to prevent any possible disturbance between white and colored as a result of the lynching." Everything is quiet in the city of 12,000 now, however, and no further outbreaks are expected. , According to reporters on the scene, the general sentiment of Salisbury residents is against any prosecution of mob leaders. Citizens willingly told all the gruesome details of the lynching. 'I'm Not Talking" "They seemed to enjoy going into all the bloody details," one reporter ."Hid, "But when you ask them who were the mob leaders—who pulled the rope that snuffed out Williams' life—they shut up like clams and say— " 'Well, I'm not talking. I'm just keeping my mouth shut. And I'm mindin' my cwn business'." |