Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-28
Sheriff's Posse at Chester
town, Md, Exchanges Shots
With Attackers.
THRONG SEEKS THE LIFE
OF NEGRO MURDERER
Plea to Besiegers Falls on Deaf Ears
Cries of Vengeance Ring Out
in Answer.

CHESTERTOWN, Md, December 2S.
up to z o'clock there had been NO
renewal of the attack ON the part Of
the mob, and IL was seen that it's num-
bers had dwindled greatly. From fully
1000 men at the outset of the struggle
scarcely 800 remained about the jail
at this hour.
Meanwhile the jaiPs defenders had
barrfcaded the broken doors and were
awaiting further Developments.
CHESTERTOWN, Md. December 81
Just at midnight tonight a mob which
had gathered around the Kent county
Jail here determined to lynch Norman
Mabel colored, the self-confessed muir
derer of John r. Coleman. farmer. last
Tuesday night, forced two of the doors
OF the Jail. Shots were exchanged be-
tween the defenders and attackers, but
no one was hit on either side.
The mob met inside the Jail by
States Attorney III. W. Vickers. Sheriff
W. L. Brown and his corps of fifteen
special deputies with drawn revolvers-
Nickers pleaded with the men to leave
the Jail. This proving Intellectual the
sheriff ordered his deputies to fire over
the heads of the mob. Two volleys
brought the infuriated assailants to
stop.
a suppressed growl ran through their
ranks and cries of vengeance were heard.
Here and there from the crowd came
scattered shots. but none OF the bullets
entered the corridor where the officers
were gathered.
Held at Bay for Time.
The determined front Of the laws
guardians held the mob at bay. for the
time at least, but apparently did not
lessen its determination to wreak ven
geance upon the negro. They refused to
disperse and crowded close to the broken
doors, seemingly waiting for some one to
make the first rush against the little
band of officers.
Presently five men bolted into the cor
ridor the leader bearing sledge ham,
iner, with which the cell door was to be
broken. The others pressed around the
door, waiting to rush to the assistance
Of the leaders
would be oyerpowered- Former Sheriff
William II McKeen. who was acting as
A deputy, faced the would-be lynchers
singie-handed. wrenched the hammer
from the leaders hand and forced MIN
and his four companions from the
corridor.
In suIlen silence the mob withdrew
a short distance outside, but only to
open fire upon the windows on the
second floor, where Mabel and the
other negroes under arrest in connec-
;ion with the crime are confined.
Volley after volley from half hum
dred pistols and shotguns was direct
cd at the second story, and scarcely a
pane of glass in the windows was ie1t
Sheriff Brown ordered the negroes to
lie down close under the windows SO
as to escape the flying shots
Finding its reckless fusillade of no
avail the mob desisted, but only to crowd
again close to the Jail, waiting for an
opportunity to make another rush. Inat
rrorr md q
officers waited determined to defend
Mabel if it were possible
Sheriff Brown and Mr.. Vickers instruct
ed the deputies as last resort to flre
upon the mob and not over their heads
The midnight attack came after hours
Of suspense on the part of the omcers-
Begs Mob to Disperse.
Former Judge James Alfred Pearce.
VINO had spent several hours in the Jail,
went to the door and begged the mob
10 disperse The next men heard in
silence. but did not relax from their
hostile attitude. When Vickers ap-
peared to address them his appearance
was a signal for an outbreak
I'VE will lynch the negro before morn
ing" was cried by hundreds of voices.
You had better give him up now and
save trouble
The Jail here is not constructed to with
stand a determined assault Fearing mob
violence, as the result OF Mabels con-
fession that he killed Coleman and robbed
the body of so. the authorities earlier
in the day made preparations to remove
the negro TO Baltimore for safekeeping
and four other negroes who We're under
arrest for alleged completely in the crime
They were prevented from carrying out
their plans. however, by the mob of be-
tween Ju0 and 1,000 men who surround
the jail.
Since early this morning the crowd in
front of the little Jail steadily increased
and threats of lynching were freely made.
Becoming uneasy over the threatening
situation. Sheriff Brown made secret prep
arations 10 take his prisoners out of town
in an automobile. The crowd was warned.
however. and when the car appeared at
the rear entrance to the Jail il was sur
rounded by infuriated men in such num-
bers that the officers who We're waiting
to rush out with the blacks abandoned
the idea and returned the prisoners TO