The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-07-31
THE END 1T SIlFiED THE
MEANS

William lee. the negro youth VINO
committed criminal assault upon
two white women la Somerset
county. Maryland. some time ago,
on Smiths Island. iu that county.
ON Thursday. has awakened some
adverse comment. The feeling
in Somerset county against the
negro was intense and grave doubts
were entertained as To whether the
prisoner could be- executed an the
place where it was generally under
stood he would be executed. and
where a Scalluld had been erected,
without clash between the Will-
tarv. which would bee necessary To
guard the prisoner. and the mob
which il was understood waS deter
mined to lynch the negro. and 1t Is
rumored that the Scailoid had been
torn down by the mob. Hence
under direction of Governor War
field. the place Of the hanging walls
kept secret even from those who
were to accompany the sheriff and
prisoner as deputies. Some qu's
ton has been raised as To whether
the execution was legal under the
circumstances, but there is little To
Justify such a position Governor
Warfeld expresses his satisfaction
at the manner of execution and
iustifies the means employed to
evade the mob. but the Richmond
Times-Dispatch characterize~ the
governor conduct OF the matter as
"a Surrender. 1t says.
William Lee. the Maryland negro
who assaulted two women IN Somer-
set county. was sneaked out OF Bal
timore ON a boat 10y the sheriff. tax
ento an island ia the county aud exc
cuted This was done by direction
OF Governor Warfeld. in order. W.
are informed. TO ESCAPE the fury OF
the mob and prevent the negro from
being taken from the officers and
lynched
This. as our neighbor. The News
Leader. has already Indicated. was
"A pitiful-not to say di~eracciu,-
SURRENDER To the mob, and dis
credit to the government ol Mary
land. The governor Is sworn 10 up
hold the law. and he should have
called out. if necessary. the entire
military forces of Maryland To pro
tect the States prisoner from
mob violence and enable the officers
toexecute the sentence of the court
i'm the usual manner and at the Dies
ignated place
Say what You may i'm favor oi
lvnching. when the State has once
taken "a prisoner into custody. NJ
must protect him at all hazard and
at whatever cost. ard there must Ice
no compromise with the mob. 1t Is
a reflection upon the dignity OF gov
eminent: ii is "a traveSty upon our
institutions. when thrgOvernOr oi "a
great State resorts to buShwhack-
inc in order to dodge the mob and
execute the sentence OF the court.
Governor Warfeld had AN oppOr-
tunitv To make "a demonstration and
give the mob Il much-necded lesson.
Instead, he gave it official rccogni-
ton and made Obeisance. Nor can
we refrain from adding that this ac-
ton was taken after the Governor
OF Virginia had saved William Lee
from the Somerset mob by sending
Virginia troops tOthe Rescue.
We fail TO see the reason for this
criticism of Governor Warfeld. II
conditions were such as the reports
received from Somerset county
Indicate, there would undoubtedly
have been a clash between the citi-
Gems and the military, aud probably
the loss OF life. As it is, the law has
been indicated. William Lee has
been executed, and the blood OF no
other man has been shed. Taking
as true the reports rs they have
come to us. the end justified the
means.