Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-12-28

! Laying the blame for such depiOr-
able affairs as the lynching of King
Johnson to laxity of local conditions
which permits the systematic viola
| ions of the Sunday laws and on the
apparent apathy of the more respect
able citizens, including such men as
the Rev. Kenneth NJ. Craig. pastor of
the Presbyterian Church at Brooklyn,
Judge James +. Brashears this morn
| ing said to the reconvened Anne
Arundel county grand jury "let us
take hold with a stern hand and reach
the officers of the law themselves if
they are culpable.
The jury had been recalled Tor the
purpose of taking up the case of AL
bert Tyler, the Eastport murderer,
who, on December 4, killed his wife
and son-in-law, and Immediately after,
being charged by Judge Brashears,
retired and began to hear the list of
witnesses in this case. Before going
into the jury room, States Attorney
N. H. Green expressed the opinion
that the inquest would probably not
get to the Brooklyn lynching affair in
it's deliberations this morning and
probably not today.
Judge Brashears, however, devoted
practically all Of his remarks to the
jury to the Brooklyn affair. Incident
ally he referred in severe terms to
the interview given by the Rev. Mr..
Craig, wherein the Brooklyn pastor
attacked the manner Of drawing juries
in Anne Arundel and charged that SER
kl ~, Sc
controlled by the favor or disfavor of
a corrupt political machine.
Il think it only fair to say" said
Judge Brashears that the sheriff of
the county having nothing to do with
the Brooklyn lookup, was not in any
way responsible for this sad occur
renee. You will consult with the
States Attorney, and l think it more
than likely that a thorough investi-
cation of this affair may bring to
light other violations. Naturally,
such a deplorabe thing stirs all of
the good citizens of the county, and
it is your duty under your oath taken
when you qualified as jurors, to ferret
cut the facts. If you find that those
officers of the law at Brooklyn were
responsible for the lynching, through
their negligence, or in other ways,
you should present them for trial.
."As told you in my charge to you
during the October sittings of Court,
it seems the duty Of the citizens
from all sections of the county to see
to the enforcement Of the law in
this locality of Anne Arundel. 1t is
Al Of
the the county is absolutely lawless,
particularly in its violation of the
Sunday laws. 1t is doubtful if where
this thing occurred those in the sa-
loon business are fit persons to sell
liouor. You have, under the law, the
right to recommend to the Clerk of
the Court that he do not issue licen-
ses to persons whose conduct of their
saloon you find Justify such action.
This section of our law has been up
held in the higher courts a number of
| times"
Judge Brashears then took up the
charges of political bossism in draw
ing Anne Arundel juries, which was
made by the Rev. Mr.. Craig.
so far as am concerned person
ally, | would not care what DIR. Craig
| might saw" said the Judge, but
think it is due to you gentlemen OF the
Jury to say that he certainly does not
| know whereof he speaks. / simply
mention his remarks so that the
| public may know his charges are with
out foundation, and so far as l can
| see, there is no reason for them un-
less it be for the purpose of cheap no.
toriety. At my request, this same
Mr.. Craig was approached during your
October sittings by the Rev. w. w.
Davis, and asked to give informtion
as to the alleged violations of the
law. Notwithstanding this he did
not come before you and he did not
give any information.
Immediately after hearing Judge
Brashears' instruction the jury went
to its own room and began calling
witnesses in the Tyler murder case,
AS there are a dozen or more OF
thee, including Mrs. Vivian Tyler
Robinson, who was shot by her father
at the same time her husband was
killed. 1t is not likely that tht
Brooklyn lynching will be taken VI
today. Judge Brashears urged ths
members of the jury to make it,
return on the Tyler case as soon a:
it was possible and so get this mat
ter out of its way.
Although the Brooklyn Iynchins
has caused great Indignation in thi
city, many persons this morning ex
pressed sentiments in keeping witt
those of Judge Brashears, and de
clared that If the people of Brook
lyn. really desired to better condition
there, the better element could d
so. The action Of Mr.. Craig in con
demning the county and charging po
itical manipulation of iuries, create
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