The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-09-07
WITNESS
Gainesville lynChing Probe
Takes New Turn.
FIVE WOMEN FACE JURORS
Youth Accused Of Perjury Follow
ing HIS Testimony Before the
Grand Jury IuVes,igat-
ing Outrage.
FIVE WOMEN FACE JURORS

West Chester, Pa. Sept. Parker
Zoos. seventeen years old, one OF the
witnesses summoned before the grand
Jury Investigating the lynchins Oh
Zack Walker in CoateBville, on Aug.
10. was arrested con after he mad
given his testimony. Tho warrant
cha red him with perjury.
Foes is teststamper IL the Worth
mill. lie was arrested by Andrew
Wright. special policeman of the
Philadelphia & Reading railway.
He was admitted to bail before JUS
tice of the Peace Paxson. The sum
was fixed at $500. The specific charge
on the perjury warrant Is swearing
falsely before the grand jury.
Richard ID. Gibboney. a member OF
the Coatesville council. Sas summon
ed before tie p.obers. but was exam
med for d short space Of time only.
Leon Liphin. David Wright and W. l..
w. Jones we're other witnesses called.
Zoos had been called before the
grand Jury. Oliver Crompton. colorcd,
employed in tho same iaill as Foos'
was called into tho jury room. and
while he was there Zoos was again
summoned. The boy was sent outside
and recalled no less than three times.
Finally the district attorney came
out into the corridor and beckoning TO
Foos asked him his full name Parker
Zoos" was the answer. Gaw;hiop then
called Wright and despatched him 10
2 MAGISTRATES Office for warrant.
While Foos sat in the corridor await
ius he officers return he was yislbly
worried.
IL don't know whether they have
gotten warrant for me or not, lie
sa.a. They told me inside that | had
told Crompton how the lynching oc'
culcl. and CrOmpton also said ! had
/ did tell Crompton about 1t, bat II
was simply what somebody else had
told ne. got to the scene OF the
Bnchiac after Walker was dead.
Il didn't tell Crompton that some
body had told me nrst. however, and
the grand jury evidently thought ! WIS
lying when explained the chcum-
stances"
Additional witnesses were called be
fore tie grand jury, among tAem re
ing four wOmen-the supcrln end M
OF the Coatesville hospital. nurse. a
cook at the hospital and 4 telephone
operator.
The summoning of Miss Bessie Ely.
Of Parkesburg. the telephone operator,
carries ont the belief that the inquiry
Is drawing closer around Chief OF Po.
Ice Umsteed. 1t is understood that
Miss Eby was on duty at the Coates
Vile exchange upon the night Of the
lynch.ng. and that she overheard
conversation between somebody al the
hospital and Umstead. asking for po-
Ice protection from the mob. which al
that time surrounded the building.
Tor some time there have been
vague rumors that a telephone oper-
ator had overheard a conversation Of
this sort. but il could not be placed as
more than a rumOr The arrival OF
Miss Ely would tend to establil d the
report as n fact. In no other way could
telephone operator on duty when
Wall or was burned to death be ac-
quain,cd with any facts of value to the
probers.
Miss Ely. with Miss Townsend, the
superintendent of the hospital; Miss
McMcnamin. a nurse, and Mrs. Sheri-
dan. at that time a cook in the hos
pital employ. arrived from Coatesyille
on a trolley car and at once went to
the court house. where they awaited
the board of inquiry.
Whether Miss Townsend, the first
witness. could give the grand jury any
names OF those in the mob IS not
known. but her examination consumed
fully half hour.
Following Miss Townsend came
Miss McMcnamln She is one of the
nurses who had charge of the ward in
which the selfwounded cOlored man
was placed after his arrest.