Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-09-23
ARREST -FOUR IN
LYNCHING PROBE
Police Chief and Three Others
Are Held.
GAINESVILLE ANGRY AT MOVE
Grand Try Report Severely censures
Citizens For Failing to Prevent
Burning Of Negro.

CHIEF OF Police Charles T.. Umsted,
of Gainesville: Stanley Howe. po-
liceman: Richard Tucker, an insur-
ance agent, and Walter hardwood. a
mill hand, we're arrested on charges
preferred ut the instance of the grand
jury in West Chester. Pa, which In
vestigated the lynching of lack Walk
err, at Coatesville. on Aug. 10.
Chief Umsted was released under
$1,000 bail, the amount being fixed by
Judge Butler. J. V. Pennegar. borough
treasurer OF Coatesville. went the bail.
Umsted at once departed for Coates
vile.
Stanley Howe also was admitted to-
bail in the sum Of $1,000 In District
Attorney Gawthrop's Office. where
Burgess Shallcross had already ar
ranged to go his bail.
Tucker and hardwood were allowed
to consult with their attorney before
being taken TO the county jail. Neither
had anything to say. Burgess Shall.
cross was reticent.
Umsted and Howe are accused OF
Involuntary manslaughter. Tucker and
hardwood face charge OF murder.
Chief Umsted came from Gainesville
as soon as he learned that warrant
had been issued for his arrest He
was accompanied by Mr.. Pennegar.
Howe, Tucker and hardwood were
arrested in Gainesville by Sheriff Col
der. They were taken to the Coates
vile police station and later TO West
Chester.
When Chief Umsted stepped from
the trolley car ne remarked: Il am
here to take my medicine, If there Is
any TO take.
All the prisoners willingly submitted
to arrest. They were on the streets
of Coatesville for several hours wait.
Ing the arrival OF the warrants. Feel
ing in Coatesville runs high over the
move of the county authorities. II Is
said that a mass meeting will be call
ed to express the Indignation OF the
townspeople over the arrests.
II was rumored that a warrant also
would be issued for the arrest of Dis.
trict Attorney Gawthrop. His accuser,
II Is said, will be Calvin Il. Umsted.
brother of the chief OF police. Cav
throp. it In said. was present in
Coatesvilie on the night of the out
rage and did nothing toward stopping
the mob
In addition to recommending the
four arrests. the grand jury censured
4. 81. nttr
CESS Shallcross, the Brandywine Fire
company and the citizens of Coates.
vile in general for their lack OF sup.
port of the law in obtaining Justice.
The r. art Is twenty.one pages in
length a. goes into every phase Of
the question. Following its acceptance
BY the court. Judge Butler dismissed
the grand jury.
"Gentlement of the grand jury. your
presentment as submitted has had
your careful consideration and action.
and we now accept this your final re-
port.
you have been great many days
giving your time and energy TO this
difficult task OF investigating the
lynching. You have been aided by the
district attorney and the deputy attor-
ney general and with them have ex-
amined everybody who. in your opin-
ion, could throw any light on the az
fair. II is your conviction. and that of
the two officers have mentioned. that
you have gone into the probe to the
end.
1T follows that you are entitled to
honorable discharge as a jury of in
vestigation. You command the graft
tude of the public. No one on reading
your report can fail to recognize that
your duty has been faithfully done.
You have borne yourselves as respon.
sible men. That more information has
not been secured is no disgrace to
you.
"Your examination must. aside from
the direct results. have a salutary in
nuence. Such conduct as YOU have
probed will neither be tolerated nor
condoned in this county. You have
shown every one that the law must
be supreme and that atonement by law
must result from mob murder. which
only differs from the individual muir
der through the fact that II is more
cowardly"