The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-11-30
Negroes of Massachusetts Are
Backing Defense of Negro
Wanted in w. Virginia.
PREACHER PUTS UP BAIL
Fugitive is Now Held on AnOth-
er Charge and Governors Are
Again Exchanging Letters as
to EXtraditiOn.

Boston, Nov. 29.-John Johnson,
the West Virginia negro whom Gov
ernor Mccall last week declined to
surrender to authorities of that
State on extradition papers, has
given himself up to the federal au-
thorities here and was held for
hearing December 5. on complaint
charging him with being a fugitive
from justice. His counsel, William
ii. Lewis, formerly United States
assistant attorney general, negro
announced that the defense had the
backing Of the negroes of Massa-
chusetts and that the case would be
fought to finish. Bail OF $4,000
was furnished by the pastor and
treasurer of a Cambridge church.
The Indictment against Johnson
returned by a federal grand jury in
West Virginia charges violation of
the Mann white Slave" Act through
the transportation of Edith Cod
bey, white girl, from Charleston.
w. Va, to Cattletsburg. Ky. in No
vember, 1916, for alleged immoral
purposes.
Letter by Mccall.
Governor Mccall gave out a let
ter written by him to Governor
Cornwell, Of West Virginia, in which
he defended Nelson p. Brown. the
assistant attorney general of this
State, who conducted the investisa,
ton that led to the refusal to sur
render the prisoner. After describ-
Ing the steps by which the investiga-
tor arrived at the conviction that the
defendant had not committed the
crime with which he was charged.
Governor McCall's letter continued: ::
Il need hardly say to you that a
failure to honor a requisition is no
new thing, nor does ii constitute any
affront to a State. Precedents exist
in great numbers. Only short time
ago this commonwealth denied a re-
QUESTION in less serious case upon
somewhat similar grounds, but for
reasons less strong than those exist
ing here. In that case the defend
ant happened to be white man.
Defend the Weaker.
Justice should not use two
scales, but If two measures are en-
ployed then the more lenient meas
ure should be meted out to the poor
and weak rather than to the rich
and strong. white man would be
tried by white men. but a black man
in a case like this would rarely If
ever see at his trial member Of his
own race upon the bench. among his
prosecutors or in the jury box.
ut seems proper for me to add
that governor OF Massachusetts
who would refuse to apply to the
meanest black man in the land the
same rules he had just applied to a
white man would be unworthy to
represent the commonwealth and
would dishonor all the traditions of
her glory.
No Spirit of Hostility.
The decision OF your ,Excellency,
was reached in no spirit OF hostility
to West Virginia nor was 1t a general
arraignment of her Jurisprudence
1t related only to the facts as they
appeared in this particular case.
Massachusetts, has nothing but
warm friendship for West Virginia.
The estimable service which your
commonwealth rendered in the
struggle for the Union, the hearts
OF the people OF assachusetts will
hold in imperishable remembrance.
Standing at the gateway be-
tween the North and South. and the
East and West and with her great
history and the sterling character OF
her people. may l suggest the noble
opportunity before West Virginia To
render a still more splendid service
to the country. When we are nobly
contending to make the world safe
for democracy, she can. help us show
our spiritual fitness for the task by
leading the way to make America