Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-06-21
O'LEARY FREED
OF GUILTY BY A
MARSHALL JURY
MAN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH
NOTORIOUS FATHER BLACK"
CASE IS ACQUITTED.
NO EVIDENCE INTRODUCED AND the
COURT INSTRUCTED VERDICT
OTHER TRIALS NOT SET.

iMiltils itNsl~s 1NiAf nv iti~A ~
the so-called Father Black trials was
called IN the district court here today. Ia
was the ease uf Frank O'Lcary. charged
with completely III the killing of William
Black. lecturer against the Roman
Catholic church. who was shot and killed
here shortly before he was 10 deliver one
If hi~ lectures on the evening of February
3. 1918.
The state today moved 10 dismiss the
charges against O'Leary on the ground II
insufficient evidence 10 convict. The de-
Tense contcuded hc had a right to be- ac-
quilted ~ a Jury ~ prevent possible >lur~
III Iii reputation. The trial was ordered
continued. No evidence was introduced
and ON the courts instructions the jury
returned formal verdict ~ not guilty.
ease are not set.
O'Learv waS not present III the SHOOTING.
according IL testimony at the examining
trials last winer. The calling ot hi ease
tir-t appeared a. hc dine "a a desire to ap-
proach cautiously the legal aspect of the
~ilnnlAfiE. AHif+H fAfifh NiNl-iltAll NffifiN q
and which attracted nationwide comment.
accompanied III some dcnomiuationa pub
hcation~ ~ charges If intolerance.
The night before he was killed William
Black had delivered lecture in Marshall
entitled. "Romanism. Menace "a Civiliza
ton" IIe was to lecture again that night.
Marshall had been stirred by the lecture
of the previous night and by hand bill ad-
verti~ing Of William Black'S work against
the Catholic church. Black. ~ years old.
horn in Virginia. and said 10 bear kInship
IA General Robert y. Lees family. was ad-
vertiSed a. zone who knows" The hand
bills referred 10 Roman Catholic institu-
tion~ a. "The old Beast They contained
charges. cartoons and alleged oaths Of the
Knights Of Columbus. Catholic society.
About supper time Black went Ia his
hotel room. where H. was joined by the
other meIuhers ~ hi~ party. Clarence +.
Hall of II. Paul. Mimi. and Miss Sadie
Black. n young woman whom Black had
adopted at her home III Arkansas few
dav~ previously Three Marshall men.
John Rogers. John Copeland and George
RYAN called on the Black party. Accord
ing 10 testimony given al the examining
trial all three callers were members of the
Knights Of Columbus They asked Black
not to deliver hi second lecture. Black
replied he would deliver il. Black and
Rogers Scuflled. Black was shot near the
heart. according Ia testimony. 10y one of
Rogers companions. Hall Of the Black
party. opened fire with pistol. killing
Rogers and shooting Copeland three times.
Several persons rushed through the hotel
towards Blacks room. Frank O'Leary. =
city fireman. claimed that he started from
the fire engine house nearby az the sound
of the shooting and ran to the hotel. not
knowing what was happening.
| Indictment. were returned by the grand
Jury. charging murder against the follow
ing Marshall men John Copeland, Georg,
Ryan. George Tier, Harry Winn and Frank
OLeary.
Public testimony did not develop th'
circumstances of the alleged connection
of Winn and O'Leary with the killing.
Clarence +. Hall Of the Black party, ap-
peared before two grand iuries, but wat
not indicted.