Evening journal., 1903-09-17
STATE PROBING
WHITE LYNCHING
Many Witnesses Before At
torney-General Testify AS
to What They Know
BUT LITTLE EVIDENCE SECURED

" "
BUT LITTLE EVIDENCE SECURED
Persons Summoned Get a Fee Of One
.Dollar-7aker the Alleged Leader Of
the Mob Left wilmington Some Time
Ago.
Attorney General Ward evidently in
tends TO make every effort towards
bringing to justice the members OF the
mob. who took an active part I'm the
lynching Of George White. the negro
murderer of Miss Helen Bishop. The
first formal move in this respect was
made by the State yesterday
The Attorney General. acting upon
Information gathered quietly during
the past few days by electives Fran
els and Ratledge issued peremptory
summonses upon nearly score OF men
who were present throughout the af-
fair and yesterday afternoon and
evening had them before him, one by
one, and cross-examined them.
He has the names OF $50 others. and
apparently intends 10 bring them be-
fore him. too. His object Is TO learn
the identity and the actions OF those
credited with being the mobs leaders,
The Grand Jury viii meet on Mon
day, and Mr. Ward win then present
his case--if he has made one out-and
ask for indictments on the charge Of
murder or manslaughter
With the Attorney General I'm his
private office when he conducted bis
inquiry We're Deputy Attorney General
Robert II. Richards and Detectives
Francis and Ratledge No stenographic
transcript OF the testimony was made.
Witnesses Examined.
Among the witnesses examined yes
erday We're Elvyn G. Cooley, David
I-eshem. Joseph Leshem, Harry r..
Willis John J. Malloy and Edward
Haiserweire Of Wilmington; Arthur
Turner. railroad man. who recently
returned from Los Angeles, Cal, and
Albert Murray a negro, who - es not
far from the workhouse. Several other
witnesses who declined to give their
names were before the Attorney Gem
eral. and some farmers living in Nil
Greek and Christiana hundreds I'm N,
vicinity OF where the negro was ere.
mated have been questioned by thl
State detectives.
!, Among other witnesses subpoenae'
were six or eight newspaper reporter
who were before the Attorney Genera
last night. When questioned the
stated that they had been too bus
/. getting news on the night of the lynch
1 Ing TO identify the leading spirits q
the mob
From the remarks of witnesses tina
were overheard the state got but littl
!, information yesterday. The line o
! questioning t'ost Of the witnesses wa
about as follows;
you were in the crowd az the lynch
ing?"
YES. sir" would be the reply
you saw White tied TO the stake
and a match applied. and afterwardi
saw him struck with a sledge ham
mer2T
yes sir"
who applied the match?"
. Il don't know"
"Who struck the blow?"
Il donh know"
AfAA NNA AN'NhAAHN NAA0 IA AnAN'
near the staie?"
no. s.r: there was too large q crow,
about and Il was too dark"
Mr. Ward endeevored to leari
whether the witnesses saw the ''mys
terious Baker" who is accredited witt
being the leader OF tho mob. an,
whether they saw a certain young mai
OF Wilmington apply the match to tn
hay with which the fire was kicdled
He also asked some OF the witnesse
If they saw a man on a white hors'
I carry bag OF hay 20 the place and usl
IL as a foundation for the crematinl
fire.
In opening the examination. the At
! torney- General cautioned each witncs
against making any statements tina
ould incrmnate himself as he sail
he did not wish to take an unfair ad
? vantage of any persons examined b.
him.
All the witnesses were sworn by tn
p Attorney General before being ques
toned.
There are to be many more witnesse
summoned but no one seems 10 fea
the result OF the investigation. Eac
man examined yesterday was given
fee Of one dollar for his attendance
and when this became known IL (
thought the Attorney General win b
able 10 get any number OF Witnesses.
: Should the Attorney General elici
enough information TO warrant such
course. he probably will have warrant
] issued for the arrest Of the allege
leaders Of the lynching mob befor
court meets on Monday. Then he wi
submit what Information he has oh
tained. along with the namse Of IN
witnesses. to the Grand Jury, and wi
await their action in the mattel
/, Should the Grand Jury ignore the en-
. tire matter. that win terminate the le
gal proceedings in the case, but shoul
!, indictments be returned by the Gran
Jury trials would follow I'm the Cour
4 of General Sessions or IN oyer an
Terminer. according 10 the gravity 9
, the Indictment. If indictments shou
/, be returned against the mob leader
: they might be charged with murde
in having acted with malice afore
=, thought.
The rysf ferious man Baker. said {
, be theyleader of the mob, has left Wi
: mington AT the solicitation OF friend
Atr. Ward refuses TO make any STAT
men. whatever regarding his invest.g
lions. a number OF witnesses Who test
fed yesterday got their checks for OF
= dollar washed at County Treasurer r.
!. tew's office this morning.
j Several more witnesses were said
: have been examined tais rlora.rg.