The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-09
MOB GUARDS COURT,
BENT ON LYNCHING
HOHAN'S ASSAILANT
Prince FrederickStown in
State of Excitement
During Trial
Crowd Excluded From
Hearing to Prevent
Demonstration.

IICdI my ~ EICfCll
Demonstration.
With a determined mob outside The
court house ready 70 reverse a possible
adverse decision BY an equally deter
mined jury, and with more 10 fear from
Judge Lynch tHan from the regularly
appointed officers Of the Law. Arthur
Rand, alias John Jones, was placed On
trial az Prince FrederickstoWn. Nd.
tCday charged with feIo1ioUs assault on
Mrs Mary Musgy Ward. al her home
the night OF January e
The widest imaginable excitement
prevails IN the town. and n3 sucn
crowd has been seen ar the court house
IA years. To prevent a violent demon
strariOn IN open court, only a few per
sons were given permission 70 enter the
room. while the covering prisoner was
placed close 10 TIE prosecuting attor-
neys and the jury.
Mob Determined.
Outside the court house. impatientIy
awaiting the termination Of the -riaI. is
mob OF men. many OF them mounted.
and all OF them armed The feeling
against the negro is so intense that II
the jury fails 20 meJe out justice. he
viii be lyCcLed. and present Indications
are that any EFFORT 10 preevnt such q
proceeding VIII avaI nothing. even
should such resistance be offered
Cn the jary are ten Maryland farmers.
Q N0rtherler, end a negro. anl the fore
nan has The omiECUs name OF Henry
Slaughter.
The crime for which Rand stands ac-
cUSed was committed the night OF Jan
uary y. az the home OF Mrs Ward
Wlere Rand was employed He entered
the house with an ak IN one hand and
a loaded gun IL the other and with
threat that he would commit murder
10 accomplish his purpose, provided he
woman made an OurCry. he drove he-
into g bsdrOom and locked the door be-
hind him
The regro stole q check Cor 50. which
he found IN the house. went % the barn
and stole a hcIse. and ESCAPED 10 Bar
SLOW, Prince Frederick county
Gees to Home Of Fnend.
Ms Ward. rendered almost insane by
the horrible experience. wandered from
her home in a dazed condition. and with
no protection for her body but a Jnin
night dress. and with bare feet she
stumbled over the frozen snow 10 the
home Of Ernest Randall. where she told
her story Randall armed himself and.
with Elsey Hardesty and James Har-
desty. went out in search for the negro
Two days later Rand presented the
check a. RObinson's store. and by this
means ne was captured
Rand was taken 10 Baltimore and
locked UP. and was taken 10 Prince
FrederickstOwn. seven days agO 10 await
trial BeCaL Use OF the threats whicl
had been openly made, Judges Brisc0s
and Merrck ordered that guards be
placed around the Jail with Instructions
20 hre on all persons who approached
within twenty feet OF the jail
These orders prevailed until last night
when II looked as though the Jail would
be StOrmed by the mob Of armed men
who. mounted on horses. rode about the
town making no EFFORT TO conceal their
intention 10 lVnCh the negro SheriI
Meade, at S-55 O'Clock. learned that the
mob had assembled az n Harmony.
near Mrs Wards home He held a
consultation with Judge BrlSCOe. after
which the guards around the jaii were
doubled. and Instructions given to lre
at all persons who approached within
10 yards OF the prison
Takes Prisoner TO Woods.
At midnight Sheriff Meade and Depu-
ties IOWler and Smith spirited the negro
into the woods back Of the Jail. where.
had his presence there been known. little
opposition 20 the mob could have been
offered
When Rand was taken into the court
room this morning there was a fear thar
the citizens Of the town would not wait
fcr the jury to return g verdict. and
that violent hands would be laid on
him IN the presence Of the judges To
prevent such an occurrence every effort
was made &C keep out OF the room al
men suspected OF intentions &c take the
law into their own hands.
The prisoner was further protected BY
being placed in such position that he
could not be attacked without eudaI4
gcring the lives Of the jurymen and the
commemorative attorneys
Woman TO Testify
Mrs. Ward is expected 10 go on the
witness stand this afternoon and tell
her story OF the assault. This has added
10 the indignation OF the men. many OF
whom swear that they VIII not permit
/ the woman 20 be subjected ID such
humiliation The prosecution IS repre-
seuted by Commonwealth Attorney
I Frank Parran and William h HELEN
Rand was unable 10 obtain cOulsei and
Judge BriscOe appointed j. B. Gray end
prank GIANT TO defend the prisoner
In order TO demonstrate 70 the waiting
mob that every effort Is being made 20
viii be made 70 finish the case at one
sitting. and the trial viii be continued
into The night After Mrs Ward mas
given her testimony Randall and the
Ea-desty boys VIII be called 10 testify
TO the condition Of Mrs. Ward after the
assault ard tie story she Uold them
II is understood the defense has few
witnesses. After TIE case IS closed and
the jury has returned its verdict an
effort viii be made 10 get the ueErO
back 10 the jail at Baltimore. but there
is grave doubt as to the ability OF the
officers to stand OF the mob which IS
waiting 70 wreak fts vengeance on the