The evening times., 1896-07-13
LYNcH|NG FEVER SPREADS
Mob Law Threatened in Prince
George County.
PLANNED FOR LAST NIGHT
Richard King, Charged With the
Murder OF James Crooks, Near
Marlboro, Brought to Baltimore
for Safe observation-disclosures Heard
Cries of MOb-StOry of Trouble.

Baltimore,e July 13.-Another Iynching
disgrace was probably averted last night
Dy Tie prompt action OF the authorities OF
Prince George county, who brought Rich
ard King, accused OF the murder OF James
Cfooks, TO this city from Marlbo.o and
lodged him IN the city Jail Iof sare-Keep-
ing.
The accused is brother -in-law of the
dead man, and was arrested last Tuesday
after IL became known that Crooks iniu-
ries were serious. Clocks died on Satur-
day from the effects OF two fractures OF the
skull, which were inflicted, it is charged
by King on the Fourth OF July during a
general drunken brawl, which took place
In front OF Kings house, which is about a
mile from Marlboro
An inquest was held in the case at Ma r.
boro ON Saturday, and King was formally
charged With the murder Since that time
the feeling has been very strong against
him, and it is said that open threats were
made that plans had been formulated,
and that King was TO have been Iynchcd
last night. Sheriff Thomas c. Underwood
became aware ofthe danger and very wisely
moved the prisoner to this city, reaching
here as 7:30 O'Clock last night.
HIS STORY OF THE TROUBLE.
King was seen in his cell at the city ja1
last night, and seemed very glad that lie
was in such a safe place. He is thirty five
years old, is married, and rents a small
farm from Mr.. Richard Ciaggett. King
is man OF only ordinary intelligence and
tells the story of the occurrence in q
jumbied sort OF manner. He declares that
he is innocent of TIE charge, and says that
Crooks, who was fifty eight years old.
was assaulted by young man named
Jack" Robe. who lives at White Plains,
in Charles county. 1t took King an hour
to tell his story, and during that time he
talked of lot of things that We're not per-
tinent to the assault on Crooks.
He said that on tie Fourth of July lie
and his brother Arthur, with George
Crooks, drove to Marlboro, and in a sa-
loon met the elder Crooks aud Jack aud
Herbert Robie They had number of
drinks in tue place, and went 10 other
places and drank SO much tia all OF them
were nearly Intoxicated. During that time
King says he bought Il lot OF PROVISIONS for
his family, and later in tie day all OF the
party started 10 drive to his home.
On the way Crooks was very drunk, and
fell over on his SON whom King says called
him foul name, The Robie boys and
George King got into a discussion about tue
respective speeding abilities OF the horses
they were driving, and one OF the party
started to make wager and have a race.
While the arg guncnt was going on about the
horses, IL suddenly changed to the subject
OF wrestling. and after lot of talk King
said that lie could throw George Crooks
and one OF the Robes with one hand tied
behind Linn.
CHALLENGED HIM TO wREsTLE.
Before the discussion ended Kings house
was reached, and King says he started
to unhitch his team. AS he was doing this
George Crooks pulled off his coal and da red
King 10 wrestie with him. He accepted
the challenge, and in a few minutes Crooks
threw him.
The elder Crooks was SO drunk that he
fell from his carriage, and his head hit the
ground. King then says that he and
Crooks again started to wrestle and just
as he was bearing his opponent to the
ground, Crooks struck him in the eve.
King Us that he asked him if he meant
10 fight by doing such thing and without
any answer, they started to pummel une
another. Old man Crooks, he says,
started to advance toward them. when
Arthur King and jack Robie started to
withhold him. King says the old man
strug gled to get free, and with o;.ths said
thatif they did not let go of him he would
cut himself loose. According TO the pris-
Tnrl- ID IN +,
nothing OF the kind, and as the old man
advanced toward him Robie picked Up a
stone and hit him in the head, the force of
which knocked the old man TO the ground.
King says that Robbie then jumped on his
prostrate foe and beat him in the face sew
erai times before he was pulled away from
the elder Crooks. The injured man was
unconscious, and was removed 20 Kings
house, where lie died on Saturday.
He says there is no evidence to prove
that he had anything to do with the death
of Crooks, and that he got into his present
trouble by combination of stories that did
not have shade OF truth about them.
PRISONER HEARD THREATS.
Immediately after the inquest he says that
from his Cell in the jail at Marlborough he
could hear threats from the outside. about
an attempt to iynch him, and tina his 5rpther
called at the jail and told him of the cOndi-
tions existing on the outside. King says he
was naturally apprehensiye about his posi-
ton. and was very glad when the sheriff
came TO his cell yesterday afternoon and
told him that he intended to take him to
Baltimore.
A different story from that told by King
developed at the inquest that was held On
Saturday. Sheriff Underwood summoned
jury, and Drs. Birch and W. Warning per-
formed the autopsy. Thomas Grimes said
that the men were drinking heavily on July
A, and engag ged in wrestling; that the de-
ceased boasted Of being the best man in
the crowd and staggered toward the ground,
when King took up standard pin from the
cart and dealt him blow. George Crooks,
son Of the deceased. said he waspresent and
was badly treated by King. Arthur King,
brother Of the prisoner. denied that Il
blow was struck with a stick. and said the
injuries received were caused from falling.
Michigan Savings Bank Closed.
Lansing, Mich, July 13.-The Peoples
savings Bank did not open its doors this
The bank has been on the ragged
edge for some time, hut up to Saturday it
was believed its difficulties could te fided