Evening star., 1923-07-08
KLANSMEN DEF|ED
IN LYNCH THREATS
Constable Told to Shoot if
WiIIiamsport, Md, Druggist
Is Sought.
Special Dispa tch to The Star.


TIAKERSTOWN. Md, July brand
ing the Justice Of the Ku Kiux Kian
or any other body which seeks to
take the law into its own hands. as
persecution. States Attorney D. Angle
Wolfnger of this city today hurled
defiance at the Williamsport Klan
and warned its members that the law
will step in and prevent their per
secution of William Hurd, a Will
Transport merchant whom mob
threatened TO lynch a few weeks ago.
Wolfinger issued bis warning to the
Klan in the office Of Justice Of the
Peace J. +. Tice of Williamsport.
when he demanded that Tise dismiss
a charge Of criminal assault upon a.
fourteen-year old girl, after the jus
ttce had refused to heed the previous
free Hurd,
Gets New Warrant.
The warrant was sworn out last
night by DR.. Z. P. Adams, a former
Texan, a resident Of Williamspor for
about a year. Adams, who ts said to
have introduced himself upon his ar
rival in Williamsport as a member
OF the Texas Klan, is the same physi-
clan who appeared before both Jus
tice Tice and State Attorney VOL
finger two weeks ago and demanded
that Hurd be refused bail on a COM
mon assault charge.
The latest warrant against Hurd
was issued last night by Justice T1ce
charging criminal assault upon -FOUR =.
teen-year old Grace McCauley OF near
few days. DIR. Adams came TO the
magistrates Office late last night,
asked for a warrant and demanded
the arrest of Hurd. who had arrived
to ntr {r,I Iiar ~ a
before. after attending the funeral
Of his wife, who died several days
ago IN Pennsylvania.
Hurd Gets BaTL
Hurd was arrested and brought to
Hagerstown, where he secured bail
for a hearing this morning.
When Hurd. his attorney and state
Attorney Wolinger arrived in vii
Transport this morning they found
that Justice Tice had postponed the
case because Of his inability 10 secure
all the witnesses.
"I demand that Hurd be dismissed"
States Attorney Wolfinger told Jus
tice Tice after the hearing had been
postponed.
And 1 refuse TO dismiss the case,
said Tice. Tice questions the at
| torney's authority to order the case
dismissed.
Warns Justice.
y
dismiss Hurd. but refused to take
any responsibility in doing so, declar-
ing that "he was afraid Of what his
townspepole would say II he freed
the merchant" 1t was then that
States Attorney Wolfinger warned
cation" was attempting to mete out
| justice to Hurd and that Hurd de-
served the protection of the law and
| would be given it.
Wolfnger instructed Constable A.
D. Hawbaker, when the latter in
| formed the states attorney that trou~
| BILE was inevitable and that the Khan
| intended to get Hurd. to defend the
| merchant with his life. Hawbaker
said that he was positive the Klan
| meant business and that he might
have to shoot In order to protect
Hurd.
Authorizes Shooting.
Use your own judgment" said
Wolfnger. and IL It is necessary to
protect Hurd in this manner. do so.
We don't want any bloodshed If pos
sible. but every American citizen has
his rights. and am going to see that
Hurd is given protection which Is
guaranteed him by the Constitution"
backing the Williamsport klan IN its
| effort to drive Hurd from that town.
| where his father was mayor for
\ number of years, was the intimation
4
clared that a committee of four men.
| which included Hagerstown man
known as one OF the leaders OF the
| Klan. had waited upon him, following
| Hurds first arrest, just two weeks
| ago. and demanded that Tice refuse to
give Hurd bail. When Tice refused TO
| give them any satisfaction, the same
| committee came to Hagerstown and
| appeared before States Attorney
lWolfnger and made the same request
Wolinger told DR.. Adams that the
| charge against Hurd was bailable,
and that he would grant him bona
| If requested, Hurd now is out on
| $4,000 bail on a common assault
charge for trial at the November term
of court.
The next day after Hurd was res
cued by Sheriff Kline from a mob.
| which stormed his drug store when
| latter had refused to obey him, the
Klan is alleged to have sent a warn
! ing to Miss Edith McMullen, q pretty
| young girl, who had been nursing
| Mrs. Hurd, then critically Ill. In
| structing her to leave Williamsport
at once. There had been rumors that
Hurd. who brought her to his home
was intimate with the girl. Miss Nc
| Mullen ignored tho first warning
The following day a prominent manu-
| Hurd's store and told the druggist
! that he had been asked by three men.
| members of the Klan, to teH the nurse
to leave Williamsport by sunset Of
! that day or that she would be dealt
| with harshly.
| The nurse left. and her where
1 abouts are yet unknown, A few days
later Hurd took his wife 10 the home
| of her parents. whore she died IT
Is understood that the Khan leader
| of Williamsport will be. closely
watched, and the first sign Of mob
violence will bring orders for mar
| tial law.