The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-25
Was Charged with Completely I'm the
Burning of the Negro Who As
saulted Miss Bishop.
RELEASED ON $4,000 BAIL
EFFORT MADE BY FRIENDS TO TAKE
HIM OUT OF JAIL.
COrOner's Jury Unable to Find Who
Lynched the NegrO-Fighfs Be-
tween Blacks and Whites.

WILMINGTON, DEL, June 24.-Arthur
Corwell of Hartford City, Ind, who was
arrested last night on charge of COM
plicity in the burning to death of George
White, a negro, charged with assault on
Helen Bishop. was released on 5000 bail to-
night. He will be given further hearing
tomorrow.
About 1900 persons gathered tonight in
front of City Hall, where Corwell was con-
fined, and made a demonstration. The po-
lice authorities took every precaution to
prevent an attempt at rescuing the prisoner
by the crowd. There were loud cries for the
release of Corwell, to which the police paid
no attention.
A coroners inquest over the burned negro
was concluded tonight, and when word
reached the police station that the verdict
did not implicate Corwell the police decided
to release him on 5000 bail. This was
promptly furnished by Thomas McHugh,
wholesale liquor dealer. Word of this action
soon reached the crowd and a great cheer
went up, after which the people dispersed.
Coroner Mccormick held two sessions in
the inquest on the remains of White to-day,
the first session bringing to light a differ
ence of opinion between the coroner and his
deputy. John r. Kilmer, which resulted in
open clash. Kilmer thought that Attor-
ney General H. II. Ward should have Sc
lected the jury, while the coroner MAIN
tanned that the attorney general had no
authority in the matter. The coroner car
ried out his plan and impaneled jury.
When the inquest began the remains of
White could not be found, and after a long
search they were discovered wrapped in
paper in an ice box. White weighed about
200 pounds. but only five pounds of flesh and
bones were left of him after the lynchers
had finished their work.
With the finding of the remains the cor
Oner discovered that no witnesses were
told him he did not approve of the haste
and of the manner In selecting the jury,
and, therefore, could give him no assist
where can 1 get witnesses?" asked the
coroner
Hunt around was his deputy's reply.
The coroner replied that he was not GO
ing TO let tie attorney general run his
business and Mr.. Kilmer retorted that the
attorney general was not trying TO run the
inquest. At this point the inquest was ad-
journed to convene at the call of the coro-
ner.
Later on the coroner again summoned
the jury ard the inquest was held tonight
Thomas Leach. a farmer, and William Car
ter, newspaper reporter, were the wit
nesses and both testified to the finding of
the small portion of the remains of the
victim OF the mob. Some further testimony
was offered, after which the jury brought
in the following verdict:
Resolved. That George White came to
mis- death between the hours of 10 ID. m. of
June % 1903 and a. m. of June g. 1903
by being burned in a field adjoining the
road leading from Prices Corner to the
Ferris Industrial School by party or par
ties unknown to this jury
What the next step of the authorities
will be is not known. The coroner's inquest
having failed to reveal the identity of the
leaders in the Iynching, it is thought that
the authorities are unable to proceed 1t
was declared that a State detective had
the names of some of the leaders. but this
is evidently not true. because two days
have elapsed since the burning took place
and further arrests have been made.
Corwell declares that he is innocent and
says that he can prove that he was not al
the lynching.
The belief is growing here that no one
will ever be punished for the work of the
mob. Certain prominent citizens. although
they deplore the occurrence. stand ready
to raise fund for the defense OF anyone
who should be prosecuted for the offense.