Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-08-19

To-5eaten With Clubs When He
Leaped From Flames.
Two men and youth were placed
under arrest in Coatesville. Pa. charg-
ed with murder in connection with the
lynching of lack Walker. the colored
slayer OF Policeman Rice.
The men are: Joseph Schofeld,
forty years old, of Parkesburg. master
mechanic for the Conestiga Traction
company. formerly special officer;
Norman Price, twenty years old. OF
Thorndale. employed at Worth Broth
ers' steel mills. and George Stahl. six
teen years old. of Coatesville. q mill
worker and chum of Price.
Immediately after the arrests the
three we're handcuffed together and
taken TO the Chester county prison in
an automobile.
There was no demonstration what
ever when 1t was made known that
the men had been placed under arrest.
The town is just as quiet since the
news has been circulated as II was
before the arrests. and no trouble Is
anticipated by the state constabulary.
According to a statement made by
District Attorney Gawthrop imme.
diately after the arrests. the evidence
that has been secured against the
three men is of a dangerous charac-
ter. Schofeld. 1t is alleged, was in the
forefront of the mob when IL assembled
the hospital steps at the time of the
lynching and was up on the porch OF
the hospital. Whether he had any
evidence that Schofield was further
implicated the district attorney de.
clined to say The evidence against
Price is to the effect that he ran up
the steps of the hospital. entered the
door in the forefront of the crowd and
was in the room when Walker was
torn from the cot.
To this, II is alleged by the county
officials. he has given a full confes-
sion. In this confession. however. he
declares that he did not lay hands on
the colored man.
The evidence against Stahl. the
younger OF the trio, is said to be more
two. Il Is alleged by the prosecuting
officers that Stahl said before the
lynching that II would he an easy mat
ter TO get the man--Walker--ou of
the hospital, and that burning him at
the stake would be "cinch. as there
,.fFtn cd ut la
hospital. Further than this. II was
announced by the district attorney
that he has evidence To show that
Stahl was one of the first to enter the
hospital that he came into the room
in which Walker was found lying on
the cot. and that he had his hands on
the cot and helped TO take part of II
out OF the room.
The lynching was accomplished only
after the negro. mad with pain. had
leaped from the blazing pyre built
over him and tried to escape, dragging
the bed to which he was bound by
his handouts. A crowd of 1000 watch.
ed the mob leaders beat the creature
with fence rails, and forced him.
shrieking, back into the flames. Three
times he bounded up and three times
was thrust back until. finally. the
auivering body fell into the fire.
Only then was the mob satisfied
The masked men walked back TO the
town. and half hour later they had
dispersed as rapidly as they had gath.
cred.
Walker, the negro victim OF the
lynching. had shot himself in an effort
to cheat the crowd of armed men who
mad searched for him with guns a day
and a night.
4 band of 400 men. with handker-
chiefs over their eyes, gathered in
front nj the hospital.
There was no revealing of Identities.
The men called their leaders mar
shal" and themselves they addressed
as brother"
Walker was in siackles and bound
to cot in the mems department on
the first floor. Policeman Howe had
been stationed TO guard him.
Attendants at the hospital saw the
mob gathering. and ran TO the tele-
phone. There was no response over
the wire The men outside had cut
all wires leading into the building.
Some of the leaders stopped midway
up the lawn and few went on alone.
A man with a white mask, whom
the other men had been addressing
as marshal" walked up the steps
leading to the hospital. On the top
step he turned and faced the crowd
on the lawn.
Men," he shouted. ARE YOU going
10 allow a white man to be downed by
a niger"
He looked about him for an in.
slant. and then those In the rear OF
the mob surged forward, He was
pushed up toward the hospital steps,
and with wild yell the man ran up
the steps to the hospital doors.
They battered down and hammered
the glass out OF the windows on one
side OF the hospital with their fists.
In the corridor OF the hospital 20