Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-24
STORY OF A SPECTATOR
Denial Also That st. Johns Students
Participated in the Crime.
"PREPS" MAY HAVE TAKEN PART
Statements by President Fell of the
College and Admiral Sands of
Naval Academy.

ANNAPOLIS, Md, December 24.-There
now seems to be a great deal of doubt as
to whether or not any students took part
In the lynching here. 1t was stated posi-
lively today by resident of this place
who accompanied the mob which lynched
Henry Davis, colored early Friday morn
Ing, there Were no ST. j. ans College stu
dents taking an active part in the affair.
The informant is a respected citizen, and
while only a spectator of the lynching he
desired, nevertheless. that his name should
be withheld He said further, that the
ringleaders of the movement which ;.ulni-
mated In the lynching were from out of
town and that they were Joined by num-
Der of residents of Annapolis. 1t was learn
ed from another source that there were
probably In the party a number of cand-
dates for admission to the Naval Academy
who are taking preparatory studies, but
who are in nowise connected either with
| the Naval Academy or st. Johns College.
All Decry the Idea.
Interviews We're had with Admiral Sands
of the Naval Academy. DIR. Thonas Fell.
president of st. Johns College; States Att
torney N. II. Green, Former State Senator
]. Writ Randall and Mr.. James W. Owens.
counsel to the commissioners of Anne Arun-
u.
Johns College students having anything
to do with the lynching.
President Fell said: Il am positive after
having made a thorough investigation, that
none of the St. Johns boys took active part
in the lynching or had anything to do with
1t for that matter"
A rumor to the effect that Naval Acad-
envy midshipmen might have had a part In
! the affair was set at rest by Admiral Sands,
who said: 1T is absolutely impossible for
,he Navai Academy men to have taken part
IN this lynching: Day and night every
man is accounted for and 1t Is Impossible
Tor any one to be absent at any time with
out its being known. Furthermore, it. Is
impossible for me to conceive that any of
act. We look upon it here as an outrage"
A Full Investigation.
There is little excitement over the affair
In the town. Sentiment among the citizens
seems to be in favor of allowing the matter
to drop. States Attorney Greene says,
however: Il shf" use every means In my
power to discover the guilty parties, and
shall insist upon the officers of the law in
vestigating this affair to the fullest extent
Any clue as to the identity of any one con-
nected directly or indirectly will be follow
ed up with the utmost determination to sift
the matter to the bottom. All the testi-
mony that can gather will be laid. before
the grand jury at. our next term of the
court or at any time the court may see fit
to call special session, and L shall do my
fun duty In the prosecution of all persons
against whom the grand jury may ind ia
dictmentS. - ~
Il have not the slightest clue as to the
Identity of any one connected With the af-
fair, but hardly think it possible that the
students of St. Johns College-mostly
young boys-had anything to do with IT,
"A most singular fact in connection with
the lynching is that. some one In the party
evidently knew the location of the cell in
which the negro Davis was confined, as the
testimony of the men at the jail was that
no one asked where Davis was located. but
the invaders. after breaking down the door,
went directly to the negro's CELL. There Is
no possibility whatever of the Naval Aead-
envy midshipmen having had anything to
do with the lynching. To date have no
reason to suspect any one"