The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-11-27
NON-RETURN or NEGRO
STIRS THE GOVERNOR
West Virginia Executive Peeved BE-
cause Massachusetts Refuses to
Grant Extradition.

Charleston, w. Va, Nov. 26.-l
Characterizing the refusal OF Gov
ernor Mccall of Massachusetts, TO
honor his requisition for the return
] to West Virginia for trial of John
johnson, negro charged with at
tacking a white girl in this city,
as constituting "a reflection upon the
State OF West Virginia and showing
a deplorable lack OF knowledge of
1t and its people," Gov. John ].
I Cornwell made public a letter which
he had written to the Massa chusetts
executive. Previous to receiving
Governor McCall's letter declining to
honor the requisition, Governor
Cornwell had written to the Massa-
chusetts governor a personal letter
guaranteeing that no harm should
come to Johnson and declaring
there is absolutely no danger Of
Johnson being lynched or otherwise
mistreated."
Governor Cornwells letter as sent
Il have your letter declining to
honor my requisition for the return
OF John Johnson, now in your city,
charged with criminal assault in this
county.
with all due respect to the repre-
sentative of your State who visited
this city for the alleged purpose of
making an investigation regarding
the case 1 am compelled to say that
he has evidently misled you as to the
facts in this matter. The sugges-
tion that exaggerated reports OF the
crime have been generally circulat-
ed in the community and that on ac-
count OF the nature Of these reports
and the race OF the defendant, there
} exists a prejudice which would be
, difficult IL not impossible to control
, by the most upright Judge, is not on
ly unwarranted and untrue, but is a
reflection upon this State and its
courts, which 1 very frankly and re-
spectfully resent. 1t is not justi-
fed by any records or incidents con-
, nected with the State since its or
. ganization.
"The prosecuting attorney OF this
county in letter to me advises that
your trained officer who came to
this city for the alleged purpose of
} investigating the case was here sew
, eral days before calling upon any
IntE Dc A
he frequented the red light dis
trict, where Johnson's alleged crime
' was committed in an apparent effort
to obtain information which would
. warrant his making an adverse re-
. port; that, on the very DAY he left
!. Charleston, he called at the office of
the prosecuting attorney for the first
time,
= Lack OF knowledge.
= "Onlv a few days ago l honored a
. requisition for the retdrn OF an al
|. legged fugitive to your State The
!. crime with which he was charged
: was insignificant and unlmportant as
: compared with the one with which
= Johnson is charged and for which
, two people now are serving sen.
. tences in the State penitentiary a.
). accessories.
your refusal to grant this reou,.
; sition for the reasons, as alleged
= constitute reflection upon the
. State Of West Virginia and shows a
. deplorable lack OF knowledge OF Il
= and its people. 1t also, in my opin.
. ion, tends to thwart the ends of jus,
), tice and violates the spirit Of comfy
; between the States to such an extent
: that | shall feel compelled to scruti-
= nize with more than Usual care any
. similar requisition from you"
. The crime with which Johnson is
. charged was an attack on a 14-year-
old white girl alleged to have been
committed in December, 1916. Nine
persons were indicted in the case
6 seven of whom are now serving SEN
tences for the crime.
SOUTH CAROLINA GETS