Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-06
The Only Hope for Its Solution Lies
in Executive Interference.
THE LYNCHERS ARE OTHERWISE SAFE
The Sentiment That Led to the
Murder of the Victim.
THE TRUE CONDITIONS
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.

throughout montgomery county, and the
general sentiment is one Of denunclation at
the outrage. but despite the emphasis Of
the criticism, it is extremely doubtful If
any one uttering 1T would be willing to
| take the initiative or even follow the lead
| in finding out who was guilty of it. 1t is
admitted on all sides to be unjustifable
ard entirely lawless, but it is evident that
| neighborliness counts for more than a re-
gard for the majesty of the law In such an
| occasion ss the present. 1t is not venture
some to say that there is not white citi-
zen in the county who would give testi-
| mony leading to the apprehension of the
lynchers of Randolph, even had be been at
hand when the crime was committed, and
could positively identify every participant
in It, 1t is doubtful IL a negro could be
found to do so, either, for fear of suisse
Quent consequences. 1t Is apparent there
fore. to all that If any arrests are to follow
and punishment to enSue in Connection with
the deplorable affair. the full power of
the executive strength Of the state of
Maryland will have to be cxerted earnest
ly and vigorously, and with patience Even
then 1t might take months, certainly weeks
to discover the perpetrators. Consequent
ly, 1t is extremely doubtful if anything will
ever be accomplished in bringing the STAY
ers OF Randolph to justice. 1t is believed
TO be question for the governor of the
state and his advisers to consider whethe
tile lar lame OIL the commonwealth Is to
remain smirched with the foulest of all the
ugly blots of a similar character that have
been placed upon it.
May Hold the II. and o. Responsible.
The people of GaithersbuTg were quick
on Saturday to disavow any knowledge of
the intention to take Randolph out and
hang him, and were equally as emphatic
in their denunciation of the crime as the
citizens here. None of the latter was con-
nected with the affair in the most remote
degree. and that is absolutely certain. The
crowbar left at the Jail is evidently the
property Of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. 1t is what is known as a spike
puller." used to remove spikes that hold
the rails to the ties, and is heroic repro
d a OF the familiar claw with which
housewives hurt their fingers and ruin
their carpets when taking up the latter in
the gentle sprirgtime. AS the people Of
Maryland have shown a peculiar tendency
OF late. In the Cooking and Randolph
cases at least, to depend upon circumstan-
tial evidence as a proof of crime, and 1t
may not be regarded as surprising in the
least II the great corporation owning the
teli-tale spike-puller is held responsible for
the strangling Of Randolph. especially as
the pickax head found at the scene of the
tragedy belonged to the B. and o. also.
The Feeling at Gaithersburg.
There was absolutely no excuse for the
strangling of Randolph. The belief in his
II nocence was and still is far greater than
he belief In his guilt among the majority
of Montgomery people. But at Gathers
burg the mere suggestion that Randolph
might be innocent was regarded almost as
an insult by those who were sure of RAN
dolph's guilt, and even the newspapers. or
those which sent intelligent, conscientious
and experienced representatives to the
| scene, were criticised and reviIed in many
instances for their alleged desire to create
R3Ddnlnh'a inn
cence. They were outspoken in their de-
nunciation of the Washington detectives
because the latter did not jump at the con-
clusion that Randolph and Neale who was
at that time believed to be the principal
criminal of the two. were the guilty parties
and were unsparing in their criticism of any
one else who followed the same deliberate
course An instance of this feeling may be
recited. Jailer Charles Peyton was quoted
| In The Star as expressing doubt of Ran
dolph's guilt. The result was that numer-
ously signed petition was sent to Sheriff
Collier, requesting him to cause Peyton 10
stop discussing the case. Private letters of
me same purport were also sent to the
sherin. The Star Saturday recounted the
ing him believe he was in danger of being
lynched, in order to extort confession
| from him, the object being to find out If
Meaie was also connected with the crime.
The truthfulness of this was questioned
vigorously yesterday, but 1t was correct
notwithstanding, and was told to The Star
correspondent by Sheriff Collier himself the
day before the inquest began, as well as TO
other gentlemen, and would have been pub
llshed at the time If Messrs. YewelI and
Miller. the special representatives of the
Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post
respectively, had not agreed with The Star
man that it would be untimely in view of
the inquest. These matters are thus de-
tailed merely to show how intense the feel
| ing among the Gaithersburg people has
been on the subject, and to show the injlls-
tice of their past and present criticism of
the reputable newspapers which have pub
llshed accounts Of the case.
Rumors of "a Horrible Character.
| These same newspapers we're indeed char
| liable to superlative degree in paying nc
| attention to the horrible rumors in cir
| cuiation from the first, and still in circula-
| ton, regarding the mystery and in giving
no place to the talk that has been going
| on steadily. ard as steadily increasing,
whose burden was suspicion of most APP
| pail1ng character. sane man could not
| believe that the theory alluded to in this
| necessarily vague manner was tenable, but
| despite its character it is tenaciously held
by many To make the matter short, the
| Buxton mystery has not been probed with
| any degree of thoroughness, and certainly
with no unprejudiced determination. The
| coroner's jury, which held Randolph for
the CRIME, declared that he had an accom-
| plice to the jury unknown. Still, there
has not been even the slightest attempt
made, so far as any one can discover, to
| find out who that accomplice is. 1t is now
probable that no attempt will be made, and
| consequently but little blame canbe attached
| to those who are numerous in Montgomery
! and who do not hesitate to say in a quiet
| way that the lynching of Randolph was
| not ins pired SO much by desire to avenge
| the crime with which he was charged as
| to bring all Investigation to an end and
| prevent trial which might have led to
| developments of startling nature.
| Chief Causes Of the Tragedy.
The main causes that led to Randolph s
hanging, If the theory last mentioned is
| rejected, may be easily explained. Ran
dolph had declared that he was from
Georgia and had lived in the vicinity OF
Miledgeville among other places Deputy
| Sheriff Thompson wrote a letter to the
clerk Of the court at Nlillelgeville, who
| replied that while he did not know Sidney
| Randolph, Mr.. Thompson's description OF
/ the man agreed with that of one Ben Tenn
pie, who ives wanted in Millejgeville ior
| the murder of an old women with an az
| three years ago. The letter also instructed
| Thompson to look on Randolph's cheeks
| near the eyes and see If there was not q
| scar visible. Randolph was visited by Mr.
! Thompson and scar, circular in form
| was discernible on his right check just be-
| low the eye. The receipt of this letter and
| its contents were generally known soon