New-York tribune., 1906-12-22
LYNCH NEGRO EASILY.
MOB LAW 1T ANNAPOLIS.
Story That st. Johns Students Took
Part Denied by President.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune. !


Annapolis. Dec. 21.-In spite of the vigorous
stand taken by Governor warfield against lynch
ing, small crowd OF men with blackened faces
had little difficulty in taking from jail early this
morning Henry Davis. the Negro who had con-
fessed that he criminaIIy assaulted Mrs John
Reid. a white woman. and IN hanging him
Several bullets were fired into the hanging body
Governor Warf1eld was asleep IN the executive
mansion a few blocks away from old St. Johns
College. on the campus OF which the little mob
assembled. They even entered Senior Hall, and
there blackened their faces and made other
preparations. Professor WaddeI, awakened by
the noise at 2:30 o'clock this morning, hurried
down into the hall and demanded to know what
IT all meant. but the electric lights were quickly
turned of, and under cover of darkness the
gang left the hall. President Fell OF the college
positively denied tonight that any OF the stud
ents were in the lynching party. Most Of them
had gone home for the holidays, he said The
door Of the hall was always left unlocked he
explained, to permit Of easy exit in case Of fire
AS the mob was composed Of men from in and
around Annapolis. they knew the hall was open
at night.
At the Jail the leaders Of the mob, after break
ing in the door, covered Warden Taylor and the
Sherins deputies with revolvers while the rest
Of the gang dragged out the Negro. There was
a report that some Of the lynchers wore college
colors. but this is denied The impression pre-
walls that they came from near IngIeheart's
station, where the crime committed.
The Governor to-day said the matter would
be investigated. and the Sheriff has begun an
inquiry.
on the way to the place Of execution mem
bers Of the lynchtng party KICKED and cuffed
Davis whenever opportunity was offered. His
body was left lying under the tree which had
served the gallows. and was seen by hun
dreds of persons during the day. Later a cor
Oner's jury was empanelled. and after hearing
the testimony Of witnesses returned a verdict
OF death at the hands of persons unknown to
the jury.
Davis was arrested on Sunday the 10Th. on
suspicion At first he protested his innocence
but the next day. after being confronted by his
victim, who identified him her assailant, he
confessed. RumorS that efforts would be made
TO lynch the negro had been rife ever since his
arrest and several additional guards were
stationed at the jail.
Deputy Sheriff Smallwood said to-day that
at about o'clock a man appeared outside the
Jail and rang. He said that he had prisoner.
SmallwOOd saw that he had no prisoner and re-
fused to admit him, whereupOn ne went away.
Soon afterward a mob appeared before the jail
down the door. Unsuccessful with that means,
they obtained a sledge and pick and broke II
open. The crowd rushed in the door. through
the four officers gathered inside, covering them
with revolvers. SmallwOod pleaded with the
mob to let the law take its course. At the
point of pistol Warden Taylor surrendered the
keys. In a few moments Davis was
secured and carried out bodily. He made no
resistance.
Sheriff Linthicum in explanation OF the lack
OF preparation for attack on the Jail. said he
did not believe the talk OF lynch law TO amount
TO anything. There had been talk Of mob vio-
lence on Sunday and Monday, and on these two
nights, the Sheriff said he had slept at the jail.