Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-18
CHURCH-GO|NG At
POINT OF PISTOL
Unstable on Trial at Accomac,
Va, Charged With Shooting
Boy Who Wouldn't Go.

Accomac. Va, June 1S.-ln the county
.o,,rt of Accomac county Yesterday morn
ing Charles Connorton, the town con.
stable of Tangier Island. went on friai
charged with shooting Roland Parks,
l6-vear-old Tangier boy.
Whether the boy was shot because ne
5 wouldn't 60 to church on Sunday, aprii
IL or because he swore on the street,
resisted an officer of the law, or because
az III feeling between the constable ana
The BOYS family, will come out m the
trlal. which is arousng considerable inter-
est on the peninsula because OF the pecu-
llar features of tho case.
Having decided which of these was the
occasion of the shooting, it will next de-
volve upon Judge James H. Fletcher,
Ir who is sitting in the case, to deter
n,nc inst how much justification any
opc of these causes would give Connor-
,on for alI but mortally wounding 10
wear old hoy.
Whether the Tangicr constable shot
pa,Ls bccauSC he failed To attend church
services on that fatcful April Sunday,
,bc fact remains that had there been no
law on the books of the incorporated
town of TanCicr designed 10 compel
church attendance. there would have
been no shooting That law IS the back.
ground. middle ground and foreground
al the present case.
polI<aTtNG RELIGIOUS ELEMENT
For since Parson Thomas convert :
rd Tanglcr Island folks about llu years
30, that community of fishermen has
h9d ! dominating religious element The
fa,t that this religious element has been
confined ~ one religious scot, with one
cburcb and one only. may not have con-
tr,butcd to a tolerant state OF mind. be
that as II may. tho TanEIcr church has
bccn the center of the towns $ interests,
sor,al ae well as religious and since the
inrnrporatIn1, ot tho town some two years
aPo Il - charged political rs well.
Tho first legislation enacted by the
town council All of whom were members
and officials IN the church, was an ordi.
nance prohibiting tho congregation oi
c1ttzcns on porches during the hours for
church service. The next was aimed at
"svcaring on the streets
When Constable Connorton found
vottnc Parks vol latng tho trst OF those
ordinances the trouble. II IS alleged
started Parks was on his brother
store porch. lie was reminded ot Inc
ordinance. hit did not take To Il kindly
HI loft however. and started for his
home. according to Connorton, but used
profanity on route another crime What
followed will he developed hv the present
case. but the climax came with the
drawing of gun by the constable and the
serious woundng of the boy
Tanr1or IS represented At the trial
today by some 80 citizens, some Of the
SAINTS and some sinners, Judged by
Taneler official standards. They flood
ed the one ACcomac hotel early YESTERDAY
afternoon and were compelled TO seek
quarters in nearby communities. They
We're in court today. interested observers
of the formalitios that attend the ollng
up Of legal machinery. Most OF the
morning has been consumed IN selecting
jury.
Connorton pleaded not guilty when
arraIgncd. He has the appearance Of
rossess,ng a narrow-gauge, sInge-track
m,nd. His ovcs arc close set, his cheek
bones high. hls forehead narrow, bushN
black mustache i sufficient badge Of his
constabulary dignity.