Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-25
MOB ATTEMPT RESCUE
Suspected Leader of Mob That
Burned Negro at Whining
ton, Arrested
NOT QUESTION OF INNOCENCE

lent interference Witt, Any Attempt
to Bring to Justice Those Participant
ing in the Lynching.
Wilmington. Del. June 25.-At $50
last night a mob, ugly III temper and
apparently ripe for violence was in
full possession of Market street in front
CT the police station aud for a square
or more on each side of it. In the sta
ton was confined the Indiana show
man, Arthur Corwell who was arrested
on charge OF murder in having par
ticipated in the lynching of the negro
murderer White on Monday night.
The rumor spread abous town in the
afternoon that Corwell would be taken
before Coroner Mccormick at the in
quest 10 be held over the handful OF
charred bones which is all that is left
OF the negro ravisher and murderer.
This it was which brought the crowG
10 the police station. 1t began TO gather
as early as o'clock and in less than
an hour was a tumultuo e, threatening
mob of thousands. The street in front
of the Station was so densely packed
that street cars were brought 10 n
standstill or made their way along at a
suail's pace The crowd sWarmed into
the station yard and UP he steps of the
building IN dense mass that pressed
against the doors with . weight that
seemed TO threaten TO crush them in. To
have attempted TO remove Corwell
would have been shees madness. He
would have been sna,ahed from his
guard in twinkling and borne Off in
triumph on the shoulders of the MOP.
1t was not that the mob was con-
WINGED of Corwell'S innocence that II
wished to rescue him. 1t was rather
because it is believed o. hoped that he
had participated in the .vnching. The
present temper of tens Ct thousands of
people In Wilmington points straight
to violent interference, wherever such
Interference might be possible, with
any attempt to bring to justice the
leaders or participants n the lynching
Of the negro. The mob last night was
Sufficient demonstration of that fact. 1t
included in its ranks probably one-third
of the voting population OF Wilmington
Ii represents sentiment in the city
and surrounding county that has got
To be counted with.
The authorities seem TO be aroused
to the fact as they never have been be-
fore since the ominous threats of lyneh-
ing began, as early Us Monday morn
isg last. ANhen Corwell was arrested at
first bail was refused. The charge being
murder Last nights demonstration
caused a hasty modification of their at
t3tude.
The mob made no threats. Probably
q large proportion of Il was made up
OF mere curiosity-seekers, but ii was
dogged and showed no signs of dis
persing. On the contrary. its numbers
We're steadily increasing, and as time
moved on its temper became more
demonstrative. Negroes who appeared
on its outskirts were hustled and
showed about. Spasmodic fracases
broke out here and there. 1t took the
urn of giving every street car that
came along roustng cheers, because II
IL generally accepted belief that 1t
was 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 il would be
folly to undertake 1t. Meantime the
coroner's inquest Went on. Thomas
Leech Charles Forward, William Car
ter and Deputy kilmer We're the Wit
nesses. Carter testified to having seen
the negro burned, but was unable 10
identity of anybody cone armed in burn
Ing him. Forward told about seeing
the body the next morning. Leech, who
is the son of the man who found the
dying girl on the highway, could only
testify to visit he had made to the
scene of the burning the next morning,
and Deputy Kilmer's evidence merely
related to getting the few scraps of
charred bones on which the inquest was
held and bringing them into the city
lhe next morning.
On this testimony the ooroner's jury
quickly rendered verdict that the ne
gro had come TO his death at the hands
OF persons unknown. TIE instant this
verdict was rendered City Solicitor
Reinhardt started for the police station,
where the mob was assembled. BY ter
rifle exerton he forced his way up the
station buildings steps and there an
the verdict to The mob. which
greeted the news with Wild cheers.
This verdict gave Attorney General
Ward the opportunity to DO what a
number of people. alarmed at the situa-
ton. were urging him to do, and that
,,-,c tn rnlagse Cornwall M, hail which
was done. Thomas McHngh a liquor
iealer. promptly became the accused's
oondsman in the sum of $4,000 and he
was released To appear in court this
morning. CorweN accordingly, was
brought out Of the police station and
Exhibited in plain view to the crowd,
which broke out into wild yells of tri-
Jmph. and at last slowly disparsed.
rorwell was taken across the street 10
4 hotel, where he remained all night.