The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-04-18

William Thompson, q young white
man. was arrested yesterday as tina
result of the probing ny the grand
jury during the past week into the
lynching of the negro Dave Alexander
two weeks ago. when the prisoner
was taken from the city jail ana
hanged in the Plaza. He is charged
with murder
Thompson was arrested on an in
dictment made against aim by the
grand jury charging him with the
murder of Dave Alexander, colored.
who was lynched in the plaza on
Monday morning. April >.
Thompson. who was arrested at his
home, corner BayIen and Cedar streets
is Familiarity known as Russian Bill"
and Is a bRYman by occupation Fur
Their than saying he was i'm no way
connected with the Iynching, he refus-
ed TO talk with the officers concerning
the matter.
State Attorney ]. Walter KehOa said
last night that Thompson was arrest
ed on an indictment charging him
with The murder OF Alexander. bat
was unable TO say what kind OF evi-
dence had been secured against him.
SheUiff Van Pelt and a number OF
deputies remained at the Jail through
out last night as the result of sew
eral telephone messages from uu-
known parties beinas Received at the
jail stating that unless Thompson was
| released he would be forcibly taken
from the Jail.
No one was allowed TO remain on
she sidewalk HeaFetIIe iail last night
an order to move on being quick.
| ~ obeyed.
REPORT OF GRAND JURY.
The following is the report OF the
grand jury:
In the First Judicial Circuit of Flor
ida. Circuit Court of Escambia
County, Spring Term, 1909.
Hon J. Emmett Wolfe. Judge:
We, the grand jury, for the spring
term of the circuit court OF Escam-
bra county. 1909. having concluded our
labors, beg leave 10 submit our final
report and be discharged
We have investigated in all approx
mately seventy-five witnesses, and
have returned true bills in those cases
where the evidence warranted.
A large part of our time has been
devoted to investigation of the two
recent iyHchiHgs in this county. With
reference TO these matters we report
as follows:
Leander Shaw was taken from the
county jail of this county on the night
OF July y, l9OS, and lynChed in the
public square. From our Investigation
il appears that anywhere from one
TO three thousand people were pres
eHt on Jle streets. and in a sense wit
nesses to this deplorsble affair; some
were there for the purpose and ac-
lively engaged in, attempting 10 sun
press and keep down the lynching,
while a very large majority of those
on the streets and about the square
It that time were there as specta-
tors, though from our examination
there was unquestionably a large num-
Der of determined persons WHO actual
" engaged in the lynching and who
rendered assistance TO those who &C.
tualIy peTpetrated the deed. We have
made d most thorough and complete
investigation into this matter We
have caused numbers of witnesses %
come before us. and We. together with
the assistance of the state attorney
examined them closely with the view
of asceTtaining the names and ideH-
tity of those who engaged in This AZ
fair. but We are unable, nOtwithstand-
ing our diligence and the efforts on
our part to secure evidence Identity
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