Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-01-04
SATURDAY. ..JANUARY i, 1919
DISCHARGED SOLDIER IlYNCUED
by KENTUCKY MOB.
Wyoming Grand, Jury to Probe tho
iIynching at Green River.

The National Association for the
Advancement Of Colorcd People, with
headquarters in New York City,
makes public two kilograms, one adj
dressed to Governor Augustus 0.
Stanley, Of kentucky regarding the
lynching in Hickman, Ky, on Deccm
Der l6, Of colored soldier recently
discharged during tho demobiliza-
tion period. The soldier was charged
with resisting arrest and beating
DcputysShcrif Thomas.
In the opinion Of the Association,
this lynching has Il tremendous sig
niiicancc in that tho victim, Charles
Lewis, had at the request of tho
Government entered the service Of
the United States Army where ho
was prepared. if necessary, to lay
down his life to see that the ideals
OF democracy were pcrpetuated and
that America was free from the dan
gcr OF being subjected to German
domination.
The details in tho dispatches in
the New York papers are very moa-
gre, but they show that the soldier
was lynched in the daytime by q
number OF masked men. Tho Asso-
citation recognizes the stand of Gov
ornor Stanley against lynching by
reason Of tho fact that in January,
1917, he personally prevented n mob
nj Murray, Ky. from lynching a col
orcd man.
The Associations telegram urges
- that tho Governor use every power
nj his command to see that the NOM
bcrs Of the mob which lynched Lewis
are punished to tho full extent Of the
law fNhc tclpprom follows
''Dccember II, 1918.
Hon. Augustus o. Stanley, Governor,
Frankfort. Ky.
"pross dispatches in New York
papers tell Of lynching by masked
mob in daytime of Charles Lewis, Il
discharged Negro soldier, near Hicll
man, Kentucky, on December 16, for
striking Deputy Sheriff Thomas who
was attempting to arrest Lewis. 10y
nj Americans will be Mortified to
learn that ono who offered his life
for preservation of democracy and
of America should thus BIO murdered
for an :offense that If committed by
a white soldier. would have been
punished by light sentence.
"If such atrocities are possible In
future, the ends for which this war
was fought will have been defeated.
National Association for Advance
mcnt of Colored People, with one
hundred and iifty-four branches and
fprty-two thousand members Of both
races urges that you continue your
record for suppression Of mob VIC
lence by using every power at your
command to see that members of
mob are punished to full extent Of
H,,1,, l,,, 4. ~ lS,n n1,
ing and moh violence he stamped
out.
"JOHN II. SHILLADY,
"Secretary National Association for
the Advancement OF Colored
People"
The second telegram made public
is one received by the Association
from John G. Thompson, Secretary tC
Governor Frank l.. IiouX, OF Wyom
ing, III reply 10 the Association.
protest on December 10, against tho
lynching &C Edward WoOdson a
Green River, Wyoming. The As8o
citation is gratilicd ut the contcm
plated action which tho Governor ant
the Prosecutor of Swcctwatcr Count,
will take, and the case is being
watched with interest.
The telegram follows:
"Cheyenne, Wyoming, Dec. / 6, rs
"John r. Shillady,
"70 Fifth Avenue, New York.
"Replying yours 18th. Govcrno,
lToux absent. Yours will be lait
before him on his return. Rcpor
Negroes forced 10 leave Green Rive,
erroneous. No violence there aftc)
hanging Of Woodson prosccuto
OF Swcctwalor County states he vii
call grand jury to investigate lynch
ing.
JOHN c. THOMPSON, Secretary.