The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-11-14
THREATS OF LYNCHING
Lingo's Acquittal Excites Mer-
chantviile Residents.
EX-JUDGE WESCoTT CENsUREO

An Indignation Meeting Held at which
Prominent People of the Place Speak
Their Minds-Negroes of Matchtown
Also Aroused-Lingo to Enter n Museum
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 14-The people Of
Merchantyille, N. j., are in arms because
OF the acquittal in Camden Of Franols
Lingo, colored, the alleged murderer OF
Mrs. Annie Miller Their anger knows
no bounds, and is intermingled with fear
that some one else may be murdered in
that vicinity and the perpetrator go un.
punished.
The wives and daughters of the we'll.
to-do residents, and they are numerous,
actually dread to leave their homes alone
for fear that something might happen to
them.
AS soon as it was learned on Saturday
afternoon that Lingo was a free man,
threats of lynching him, should he return
to the community were freely made, and
yesterday the expression grew in earnest.
ness and volume
AS the outcome of this state of affairs,
an indignation meeting was held at
o'clock in the afternoon in the Merchant
vile town hall, which was attended by
two hundred of the most prominent oiti-
zens of the locality.
1t was presided over by Thomas G.
Knight, President of the Philadelphia
Brokers Exchange, and a committee of
three consisting of John Norton, Edward
Nash and Frederick Kleintz, was ap-
pointed to confer with Camden County
Prosecutor jenkins, who conducted the
nd mt ha
done to keep the acquitted negro from
returning to the neighborhood
Resolutions we're presented, and, al.
though referred to a committee of five,
they were practically adopted, censuring
ex-Judge Wescott, senior counsel for
Lingo expressing sympathy with John
Miller, husband of the murdered woman,
and disappearing of the abrupt ending of
the trial
Tho committee, composed of John AL
len, Charles Hollngshead, Edward w.
Morris, William Longstrath, and Morris
Redderow, all of whom are wealthy and
influential, aud to whom the resolutions
were referred, will probably augment
them.
The meeting adjourned to meet at the
same place tonight at 3 o'clock, when a
definite line of action will be decided upon.
The citizens argue that, as the murders
of Mrs. Leconey and Mrs. Miller, both of
which occurred in their town, are un-
avenged, there is no safety for them; that
their lives and the lives OF their families
are in constant peril, and that precau.
tions be taken.
They fear chat the acquittal of Challkley
Leconey and Francis Lingo of the re-
spective murders, the latter also being
arrested for the first crime will set a law
less precedent to many of the 500 ne
groes of Alatchtown, suburb Of Mer-
chantvlle, which might result in an
other mysterious killing,
They also feel that some one should be
hanged tor each murder, but as there is no
probability of either mystery ever being
cleared, the best they can do is to take, in a
measure, the law into their own hands
and protect their homes by aggressive
methods The Matchtown negroes are
aroused and threaten vengeance upon
any one who shall maltreat Lingo.
Lingo says he never will return TO
Merchantville and as his life would be in
( danger were he to do so, it is belle we'd
I he will be an unknown quantity in those
parts. lie will exhibit himself in a dime
/ museum here during the coming week.
Lingo's acquittul was brought about by
3 blG hCblOu Ol JuuBb NhItibblls huO, NuSn
| the evidence was all in, declared to the
jury that the case made out by the prose
! cution was not sufficient to convict the
! prisoner of the murder of Mrs. Annie
Miller, and he thereupon discharged
Lingo.
Judge Garrison held that by the States
own witnesses an alibi had been proved
for Lingo, and that he was not the negro
| that Insurance Agent Wilder and the
Du Hadway children met in the bush lot.
Under his instructions the jury rendered
a verdict Of acquittal and Lingo was dis
charged.
The first thing Lingo did after his re
lease was to send this dispatch to hi
wife; Through God, and Judge Garri
son, l am free man"
He then visited the Office of ex-Judg
Westcott and was soon surrounded b!
friends He declared he was innocent 0
the crime.
"Why," he exclaimed, "Mrs. Mile
was the best friend had on earth."s
"Will you work for meP asked ex
Judge Westcott.
eyes, a whole year for nothing" Lin
90 replied "Bnt will not go TO Mer
chantvlle again"
Ex-Judge Wescott said that although
Lingois acquitted he is not yet throug
with the case. Several of the State
witnesses, he declared, will be arreste
for perjury.