Evening journal., 1913-12-31
COURT WOULD
INVESTIGATE The
LYNCH ATTEMPT


LYNCH ATTEMPT
cliESTERrOWN, Md. Dee. sl.-In-
diotod late yesterday afternon. Norman
Mabel and James PARKWAY, the confess
I'D murderers Of James Il. Coleman wcr,
taken into court today and the trial was
transferred 20 Elkton. The wheels OF
lusticc have been moving rapidly. Cole.
man was Killed one wee, ago Yesterday.
he indictments by the grand mfy
followed Several hours after the tW,
men were presented ON the charge ol
murder. With them came prescntment
IN which number of persons were nam
ed on the charge of storminr the iail
early sunday morning Before court ad
iourncd, however. the grand Jury asked
/ permission To withdraw this present.
mcnt until today. u was granted. In
spite 81 tho efforts TO implcate Jarvis
hYnson, alias Tom Blake. the third
negro sufficient evidence ON which TO
base an Indictment could not be
found. Footprints were found at
the scene of the murder by Captain
Pumphrcy which tailed with the shoes
worn by Hynson. Every member of
tho jury knows this negro. and he is re-
gaided as a bad character Captain
Humphrey told .of his Efforts to implicatc
llynson and the jury attempted to probe
even deeper into the circumstances.
Perkins to Defend Them.
After the indictments Chief Albert
Constable named Herbert d. Perkins
counsel for the defense Mr. Perkins was
taken to the Jail to See Il he WAS accept
able TO the negroes, and after their as
SENT he was instructed TO prepare to lc-
icnd them. Mr.. Perkins was tho candi-
date for States attorney against Mr.
Nickcra in the Democratic primaries
here. and is n relative OF Mr. Nicl<crs
Thus relatives and former political OPP
ponfnts will clash over the trial Of the
mud,rers There is much satisfaction
eVor the selection of Nr. Perkins. as he
!, looked upon as one OF the most care
ful lawyers of the county.
II is the intention of al State officials
10 give the negroes fair and impartial
trial. and. with Mr.. Perkins as counsel
ion the defense, IL is assured that he will
do all within his power in the limits of
the law for the accused men in spite of
the fact that they are confessed MUIR
dcrcrs
Preparations for the trial camc with
sNiitnoss and precision after the indiet-
monte. Besides the selection of counsel
Sheriff James Brown was instructed TO
summon the members OF the petit Jury
who served during the October term of
court. and within an hour he had reached
every man.
Mr.. Perkins would not say what
course he will pursue. but 1t is be-
loved he viii throw his clients upon
The mercy of the court, and ask that
they be given life sentences. This.
however. is only speculation Of
those who have watched the rapid
developments OF the case. The sem
timent here is strong. and the resi-
dents. especially the farmers. are
determined that these men shall not
be removed from this county alive.
n is believed however. that with the
many Baltimore policemen and the
state troops here as a heavy guard,
Il would be no great task to remove
the negroes out of the county.
After WOuld-Be Lynchers.
When court reconyened yesterday
!
proceedings came when Judge Con-
stable charged the jury to inyesti-
gate thoroughly the attempted lynch
ing early Sunday morning. II was
entirely unexpected as il was heliey-
ed that no action would be taken
against those who participated In the
stormng OF the Jail. The iurist
warned the jurors again of the thor
oughness with which they should in
Yestigate the murder. and then sud
denly reminded them OF their oath,
and told them IL was also their duty
to Investigate and indict all who par
ticipatcd in the attempted lynching.
"The majesty Of the law must be
upheld" he said. "and II Is a grave
situation when men will break into a
jail and thus try 10 take the law into
their own hands to avenge the death
! OF another. The purpose OF our
courts is to punish persons guilty OF
such crimes. and I warn you to be
deliberate and thorough in your in
Nestigation OF this affair of Sunday
morning
These words came as a bolt from n
clear sky. Those who thronged the court
room were so amazed they merely gazed
al one another There was not the slight.
est sound. as some who were there knew
they had been In the mob, as well a.
their sons. States Attorney Niclers has
declared that the moh was composed ol
bunch of "hoodums." But others VIII,
witnessed toe affair declared that In,
} sons of some of the county's best cti
xens were in the crowd.
Many assaults have been committe,
upon white men here. and the present
grand Jury before its adjournment las
fall scored the lawlcssness OF negroes
The ire Of those who have suffered mos
or who feel that they are in leopard,
has been so thoroughly aroused tha
they think some drastic steps mus
be taken az once Negroes who hav
been committed TO the pcnitentiary fo
crimes have frequently been pardone
alter short terms and have returned Z
: the county to faunt those who had then
committed Of these, the man Hynso
is a striking example. He has been trie,
= for murder and has served a number O
I I fnrr1lz in fhr Hotfet. ol 4 or~o.tt...,