The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-25

burned the Negro Whte-COrwel
Then Released on Bail-Acclaimet
by Thousands-Doy Victim OF the jail
shooting dies OF Ills Wounds
WILMrNoToN Del. June 2-At csc
tonight mob, ugly in temper and
apparently ripe for violence. was in full
possession Of Market street in front OF
the police station and for square or
more on each side OF It, In the station
was confined the Indiana Snowman, Arthur
Corwell, who was arrested yesterday after
noon on the charge of murder for having
participated in the lynching of the negro
George White on Monday night
The rumor spread about town this after
noon that Corwell would be taken before
Coroner Mccormick at the inquest to be
held over the handful of charred bones
which is all that is left of the negro MUIR
dercr.
This it was which brought the crowd to
The police station. 1t began to gather as
early as o'clock and in less than an hour
was a tumutuous, threaten ing mob Of thou
sands. The street in front of the station
was so dersely packed that street cars
we're brought to a standstill. or made their
way along at snals pace The crowd
swarmed into the station yard and up the
steps of the building in dense mass that
pressed against the doors with weight
that threatened to force them in.
To have attempted to remove Corwell
would have been sheer madness. He
would have been snatched from his guard
IN a twinkling and borne of in triumph
on the shoulders OF the mob 1t was not
that the mob were convinced OF Corwell's
innocence that it wished to rescue him.
II was rather because it believed or hoped
because he had rticipated in the lynching.
The present temper Of tens of thousands
Of people in Wilmington points straight
TO violent interference wherever such
interference might be possible, with any
attempt to bring to justice tie leaders or
participants in the lynchng of the negro.
The mob o-night was a sufficient demon
stration Of that fact 1t included in its
ranks probably one-third of the voting
population of Wilmington. 1t represents
sentiment in the city and surrounding
country that has got to be- counted with.
The authorities this evening seem to be
aroused to tho fact as they never have
been sfnos ths ominous threats Of lynching
began As early as Monday morning last.
When Corwell was arrested bail Was at
first refused, the charge being murder.
To-night's demonstration caused hasty
modification of attitude. The mob made
no threats. Probably large proportion Of
1t was made up OF mere curiosity seekers.
But it was logged and showed no signs
of dispensing On the contrary. its numbers
were steadily increasing, and as time moved
On its temper became more demonstrative.
Negroes who appeared on its outskirts
were hustled and showed about Spas
modc fracas,s broke out here and there.
Street cars that came along received
rousng cheers. because it is the generally
accepted belief that it was a trolley car
motorman who led the mob that burned
the negro alive.
All thought Of taking Corwell to the
Coroner's inquest was abandoned. Chief
Of Police Black said that it would be folly
to undertake it. There were rumors about
that the mob would not rest content with
that situation. Grave fears were enter
tanned by some that it would attempt to
rush the police station itself, although
no threats to that effect were heard in the
crowd.
CoRoNER's JURY VERDICT
Meantime the Coroner's inquest went
on. Thomas Leech. Charles Forward and
William Carter and Deputy Kilmer were the
Witnesses. Carter testified to having seen
the negro burned, but was unable to identify
anybody concerned in burning him. Fer
ward told about seeing the body the next
morning. Leech. who is the son of the
man who found the dying girl on the high
way, could only testify to visit he had
made TO the scene Of the burning the next
morning, and Deputy Kilmer's testimony
merely related to getting the few scraps
Of charred bones on which the inquest was
held and bringing them into the city the
next morning.
On this to stimony the Coroner's jury quickly
''''t'iCi " N'l'ti'l lIdl tI't negro fldu cOIle
10 his death at the hands of persons UNI
known.
The instant this verdict was rendered
City Solicitor Reinhardt started for the
police station where the mob was assembled
BY great exertion he forced his way up
the steps and there announced the verdict
TO the mob, which greeted the news with !
wild cheers.
This verdict gave Attorney General Ward |
The opportunity to do what many people, !
alarmed at the situation, were urging him |
to do, and that was to release Corwell on !
bail Thomas Ntzhugh, a liquor dealer, |
promptly became the accused's bondsman |
in the sum OF 5000. and he was released
70 appear in court Tomorrow morning.
coRwELL CHEERED YRANTIcALLY.
Tho mob, however, was not to be con-
WINGED by any mere verbal statements.
Nothing but the actual freeing OF Cor
well would satisfy that crowd. Corwell
accordingly was brought out Of the police
station and exhibited in plain view to the
crowd which broke out into wild yells Of
triumph and at last slowly dispersed. By
1920 1t had entirely vanished, and the street
was almost deserted. save for a few groups
scatfered here and there disc,,ssipu the