Smyrna times., 1903-07-01
CORONER'S JURY VERDICT
IN WHITE LYNCHING CASE
CROWD OF OVER 5000 WAIT IN FRONT OF
THE WILMINGTON CITY HALL.
Arthur COrweII, the First One Arrested 10
the Case Released on BaiI--OpiniOn of
Chief Justice Lore and Others.

Arthur COrweII, the First One Arrested In
the Case Released on Bail--OpiniOn of
Chief Justice Lore and Others.
For more than two hours Wednes-
day night crowd of over 5000 stood
in front of the Wilmington City Hall
until the verdict of the Coroner's Jury
in the case of George White, colored,
who was burned at a stake was an
nounced, and Arthur CorwelI, who
has been held on charge of murder,
for leading the mob, was released.
Several times it looked as if there
would be an attack on the City Hall,
and the police were compelled to force
the crowd out of the passageway which
forms a kind of entrance to the police
station. There were many noisy boys
iE the crowd, and they threatened to
make trouble, but it was averted. 1t
was openly stated that at midnight,
when the crowd got larger, it would
make an attack upon the City Hall and
take out the prisoner. No formal de-
mands were made, but it was evident
that the authorities were worried.
The crowd was angry because Attor-
ney-General H. H. Ward and Robert
H. Richards, his deputy, had refused
to tell Sylvester D. Townsend, Jr.,
the counsel for Corwell, as to when
the man would be tried. The police
kept their heads and the crowd re-
mained good natured. 1t was seldom
that any Outcry was made, but each
minute the mood of the crowd became
worse. Finally, after the case had
been settled by the Coroner, City So
licitor Rheinhardt took Corwell to the
front steps of the City Hall, where he
had been confined, and told the crowd
that he had been released on bail and
was going to his hotel.
Verdict of COroner's Jury PIeases Crowd.
The crowd appeared pleased at this
announcement, but it was difficult to
get Corwell to his hotel, because the
crowd insisted upon shaking hands
with him. Thomas McHugh, whole
sale liquor dealer, went bail for Cor
well, aud he was released on account
of the verdict of the Coroner's Jury
that 1t did not know the cause of
Whites death. TIE crowd then dis
persed. Several negroes were rather
roughly handled while the crowd was
about, but none of them was injured.
The arrest of Arthur Corwell is the
only one made thus far. The arrest
was made at the instance of Attorney
General Ward. COrwell will be ar
raigned for a preliminary hearing on
a charge of murder as soon as the State
authorities can make the necessary ar
rangements. 1t is reported that other
arrests will follow, but the Attorney
General said that no additional war
rants had been issued and that he did
know whether any more would be
sworn out.
Peter Smith, the boy who was shot
at the time of the assault by the crowd
on the county workhouse on Monday
night, died last Wednesday night.
Arthur Corwell says he is a resident
of Hartford City, Ind. He says he is
member of the fraternal order of
Eagles in that city and that on the
night of the lynching he was at She'll
! DOk Do.Ir khn r,1ooo
where White was lynched, attending
a carnival being held by the local
lodge.
It transpired that City Solicitor
David J. Rheinhardt witnessed the
lynching of White. He said 81 was
at the scene of the burning at the
stake, but it slckened me and 1 quick
ly separated from the crowd and went
home. 1t is blot and disgrace on the
State. [ am satisfied that Chief of
Police Black and his officers did the
best they could toward protecting
White, for they had started to kill
members of the mob they would have
blown up themselves with dynamite
: What Chief Justice Lore Says.
, Chief Justice Charles B. Lore of the
Delaware State courts, made this
, statement Wednesday on the lynching
3 of George White: ''No blame can bt
| attached to the court for not holding
: special session to try White. Under