Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-11-26
JOHN A. PILCHARD GIVEN
MANSLAUCHTER VERDICT
Continued from page 1

Baltimore, counsel for the prosecution
keyser said he watched the brawl for
five or six minutes, that he saw Long
attempting to cut Pilchard and that
he made no effort to stop them be-
cause, according to his statement, that
"it wasn't his business and that he
was never introduced to the negroes"
He said he was standing so close to
Pilchard and his negro assailants
that he was forced to step back to
prevent being kicked. Later the pris-
cner came up and pulled Long from
his brother, he said.
"Long struck at Pilchard and they
buckled and were separated by anoth
er negro" he said. Examined by Mr..
ODunne, Keyser said he was conf
dent that Pilchard had no knife.
The attorneys for the defendant
! tried to prove that Pilchard stabbed
Long in the back after Long at
tempted to slash him with knife,
the blade of which cut the finger Of
the prisoners right hand. Sheriff
Lemuel w. Onley, of Wooster coun-
ty who took Pilchard from Pocomok:
City to the Courthouse at Snow Hill,
the first witness called by the de-
tense said he noticed that his pison-
er's hand was wrapped with hand
herchief, but he said he did not ask
him how his finger was cut. At tn
Jail the Sheriff said he saw that the
tandage was cut.
William Pilchard said in his testi-
mony that he cannot remember
whether his brothers hand was cut or
whether it was bandaged.
The prisoner told the court that he
and his brother left their farms,
which are adjacent early in the morn.
ing Of Sept. 13 to take some wheat to
the mill at Pocomoke. He said he de-
| livered the wheat, took his carriage TO
blacksmith shop and had a wheel
fixed, and then watched the parade
of road circus which was appearing
in Pocomoke. After this he said h.
remembered that his son asked him -
buy a tire for his bicycle. The two
men, he said, stated for Noah Gun
by's store in front of which the kill
ing occurred. He said:
81 went into the store to buy the
tire and my brother waited outside in
the buggy. l bought the tire from
Loire Taylor, colored, clerk for Gun
by, and l asked Gunby to give me u
bottle of pop. Just as l was about to
drink the soft drink l saw three ne
groes, one of whom | found to be
Long, on top of my brother, who was
lying in the road. He had knife and
my brother was holding his wrist. |
exclaimed Lordy, have mercyp and
ran from the store to his aid with the
bottle opener in my hand.
"They had my brother down on his
back. Long had knife in his hand,
another held my brothers hand and
the other was holding his knees. When
l got there l seized Long by the
shoulder and pulled him off my broth
err. He struck at me with his knife,
the blade of which glanced my hand.
We both fell" Then Pilchard showed
the wound to the jury.
81 stepped back" he continued,
pulled out my own pocketknife and
told him not to come toward me any
more. He came, and cut him in the
back. When Long and l fell to the
gound he released his hold on my
neck. / got up and went into the
store.
Pilchard said that he returned to
the store, got the tire and got into
his carriage when State Policeman
arrived.
"The negroes who had gathered
first accused my brother and then
they pointed to me-" he said. He
asked me for the knife, and gave it
to him. He then told me to come
slong with him."
Asked what became of the knife
had, Pilchad said he did not know.
The brother testified that Long be
came abusive when he asked him
whether he carried gun. He admit
ted that he jumped from the buggy
and went after the negro.
1.-TWO others came up and the three
jumped me-" he said. Long pulling a
knife and trying to stab me-"
1t is said when the first vote of thu
jury was taken it stood eight for &C
lauittal and four for manslaughter
but finally an agreement was reached
On a verdict for manslaughter which