Evening journal., 1919-12-16
.DECLARENEGROES
PLOTTED Fight
Queen Anne's Negroes Al
legged to Have Schemed
For Arrest
SAY ADVOCATED
SOCIAL EQUALITY

CENTREVILLE. Md, Dec. i6-Charges
that Negroes in Queen Annes county
have been holding meetings at which
they have preached the doctrine Of So
clal equality and have endeavored to
foment trouble with the white residents
OF the county were made yesterday by
Justice Robert Coursey, OF this town,
who on Saturday night thrashed a
Negro prisoner in his courtroom, and
thus precipitated a disturbance among
a group Of Negroes which threatened
for a time to develop into a riot.
This old town was considerably
stirred up over the affair. II consti-
luted the first real display OF racial feel
ing in Centrevllle. Justice COursey and
other white residents say that none Of
The better class Of colored people in
this neighborhood had anything to do
with the disturbance. and that they are
not In sympathy with the crowd OF
blacks involved In the affair.
The pummeling which Justice COur-
sey gave the prisoner came Immediately
after the closing Of a case by him in
which he fined Burgess Griffin and
Charles GassOway Si5 and costs on the
charge OF cunning without a license and
sentenced Griffin to 30 days in jail for
contempt Of court
According TO Justice COursey's story
Griffin kept insulting him throughout
the trial, declaring that he. the prisoner.
had the same rights as the magistrate.
and making IL plain. says COursey, that
the Negroes In this vicinity FELT they
were as good as their white nelghbOrs.
The magistrate declared that ne thinks
the whole matter was prearranged. that
the Negroes had invited arrest and that
they had planned 10 start their cam
paign for social equality by staging a
demonstration IN the courtroom
Coursey says that ne kept his temper
and Judicial calm throughout the hear
ing Griffin kept up his TRADE so in
sistently. despite warnings. saws Cour-
sey. that he was obliged 70 give the ac-
cused a Jail sentence for contempt Of
court.
At the end or the case, according 10
Coursey's statement. Griffin lnsulfed
him by using an oppr0brious epithet
whercat the Justice hit the Negro on
the point ~ the law. Knocking him sew
e7al Feet. This morning COursov has IN
ms possession big knife. which he de-
cloros d"onped (onenl from Grifnn's
hand He says the Negro had the knife
ready TO- use.
THROUGHOUT the trial a groun NJ Ne
Rro"s stood in front Of the courthouse.
Co"rSev says. and uttered threats
aeainsi him. Following the hearing. ne
savs, they boasted they would "get"
him.
Coursev asserts that, in order 70
cheek all chance Of rioting at the start.
he loaded his pistol went out into the
midst of the Negroes and told them
that II he found one Of them on the
streets at ii30 o'clock at night he would
arrest all Of them. They dispersed. ne
saws. at this threat. This was shortly
aft"r ~ o'clock.
Shc~ln James w. Yeates and Consta-
hlos John p Williamson and Marion C.
Council went ihrouFh fhe town. dlspel-
LING other groups Of Negroes.
Four Negroes were arrested on the
charge Of disturbing the peace and will
have n hearing Friday. 70 was hinted
that more serious charges will he laid
AGAINST them. Whether or not these
CHARGES will have ANYTHING 10 do with
The meetings which the NEGROES are al
leced 10 have held has not been learned.
The Negroes who are accused Of hav-
lng preached social equality and Of try
ing TO foster disturbances against the
whites are said 10 have held their meet
ings at a Negro church outside the