Evening journal., 1920-05-07
N. 3. A. Stan Correspondent.

copyright, fy29, Dy Inc newspaper
Enterprise AssociatiOn.)
TANGIER ISLAND, Va, May 6.-This
island has been ablaze with the nre
Of dlscord since Charles Bud" Con
n0rton, the town constable, shot down
Raland ParAs, II, for sitting on the
mont porch OF his brothers store dur
ing church hours on sunday.
/ came here 10 get flrst-hand truth
about the recent shooting over Tan
gier's "gO-to-chruch" law.
Tangier Island is I'm the middle OF
chesapeake Bay, 10 miles southwest
OF Crisgeld, Nd, just inside The Nir-
The people here are all fishermen,
live entirely to themselves and have
no connections with the outside world.
There are many grown-ups who nave
never seen an automobile, tram OF
a movie. -.
church. and presumably by authority
of law. that Constable Bud" Con-
norton sent a bullet crashing through
Roland's left lung, while his white
haired mother stood by Wringing her
hands and pleading for her childs nIe.
M fs nv conclusion that COnnorton's
"6rmness" in trying to make the IN
habitants religious has turned the
tide OF sentiment against fanatacism
and threatens the overthrow OF the
town officials who passed the blue
Laws, as we'll as all the customs Illtt
have kent the islanders IN humlllty
and meekness since the middle OF the
10th century.
Roland will recover. lie spent two
weeks in the General and Marine HOS
pltai at Crisfeld. Md. ! found him at
home, weak, but able TO pose Tor a
plcture. HIS mother, a gentle woman,
continually caresses him, for she went
through a distressing experience.
when the. officer reached for ms
pistol ! knew he intended TO Kill ho-
land" the mother told me, her voice
trembling. Il pleaded win hlm', j
said, don't kill my darling boy.
Then simultaneously with an angry
voice, "I will kill him." a shot rang
out Roland fell.
1 found Connorton in the kitchen OF
his rather ostentatiOus home, seeking
eOlace fro mhis wife, sister and niece
the latter the former wife Of John
Parks, brother Of the wounded boy.
Connorton was sullen, but subdued
Ostracized by his neighbors, he bids
fair 10 become the Robinson Cruso'
OF Tangier. asked him TO pose for
nnOIOAIAln MlAIA AAAA r NJ nNNs
81 will not have my picture pub
llshed by the side Of Roland Parks az
his would-be murderer" ConnortoI
said.
Connorton is trying 10 win back tn
favor Of the islanders by telling Of hi
mast good deeds. But he has succeede,
in getting the ear OF but few Of them
while the victim Of the near-traged'
Is surrounded by admiring friend
who pour out their wrath on the tow
constable.
attracted the islanders as would
circus in an ordinary town.
Connorion Is now at liberty unde
$500 bonds. He makes the plea o
self-defense, claiming that Bill an
JOhn Parks and MahlOn Crockett. rel
atlves Of the boy, attacked him befor
The facts about this strange cas-
are:
Tangler's town council passed al
ordinance ordering All persons eithe
10 go TO church on Sunday or to sta
in their homes during church hours.
John Parks. owner OF a store. sen
his brother Roland TO his store o
Sunday, April fl, with instructions {
wait there until he (John) arrived
Roland was waiting when Connor
ton passed on his round OF the islanC
during afternoon Sunday School,
herd in the "black sheep" He tol
Roland to go home.
Roland talked back 10 ConnOrtOr
but started home, threatening to 81
on his fathers porch.
The offloer seized him at his fror
gate. They fussled, and Roland &c
inside his fathers yard. His fathe
brothers, mother ran from the hous
begging Connorton not TO shoot, thi
they would pay Roland's fine Cor
norton claims they jumped onto han