The Washington times., 1924-09-09
MOB VIOLENCE
FEARED IN MD.
TARRING
Court Urges Grand Jury to
sift Reports Draw Up
List Of Witnesses

~ FREDERICK, Mo-, Sept. S.--~
States Attorney William M. Storm
today completed his list OF wit.
nesses who will testify before the
grand jury tomorrow in the Myers.
vile tar and feather case.
The principal witnesses are Miss
Dorothy Grandon, the fineteen.year.
old victim; James Whip, a farmer
who sheltered the young woman
after she had been tarred and
feathered: Doctor II. " Hauver, OF
Middletown, who was called TO pre-
scribe for her; Mrs, James Whip
and one or two others. The states
attorney said he expects to indict q
dozen or more persons in addition
to the eight men and one woman
now on $4,000 bail chared with be-
ing implicated in the affair.
At the opening Of the court term
yesterday, Chief Judge Hammond
Urner dropped bomb In his charge
to the jurors. He mentioned that
reports OF mob violence in the
county had been heard and he in
structed the jurors to sift these re-
ports to the bottom.
Miss Grandon has been in jail
under $500 bond as a states wit.
ness since July rs. At preliminary
hearing before Magistrate August T.
Brust, she testified that about fifty
persons were in the party that at
tackled her. She added that Mrs.
Mary Shank first attacked her,
knocked her down, struck her
several times in the face, and then
applied the treatment. She said
one Of the men in the crowd
handed Mrs. Shank a pot of tar
and a bundle Of. feathers, and the
later applied the tar after tearing
off her clothing and then covered
her with feathers.
Miss Grandon will be expected to
tell the names of all the men in
the party. At the preliminary hear
ing she mentioned the names OF Mrs.
Shank, Harry Leatherman, Arthur
Alvin and Irwin Rice. Paul Gross.
nickle, Grayson Doub, and Roma
Shank. These were promptly held
under $4,000 bail for the action of
the grand jury.
Mrs. Shank admitted beating the
young woman and applying the
tar and. feathers. None of these
witnesses, however, could recall the
names OF the others present.
The States attorney has been un.
able to- get any information at
Myersville. Citizens of the town
decline to say word about the
affair that might involve others
than those already under bond.
the seriousness OF the crime has
just oawned upon them and they
refuse to even discuss the affair.
states Attorney Storm stated that
ne felt that he had sufficient in
formation that will indict others.
he has the names of half a dozen
persons other than those under
bond, who were in the crowd
indict.
The witnesses will be examined
by the grand jury behind closed
doors and none of the jurors will
be permitted to divulge any of the
testimony. Indictments returned
VIII be held until the jury session
is over, about two weeks, and
turned over to the court clerk, who
VIII not permit any one to see
them.
Warrants, however, will he issuAd
immediately for those indicted and
they will either be held under
bond or committed to jail until the
cases are called for trial. The
court will take up the criminal
cases September 25. The eight
men under bond have retained an
attorney to defend them.
Citizens Of Frederick county
have given constant proof OF their
loyalty to the law and respect for
orderly administration Of Justice"
the chief justice yesterday told the
grand jury. 1.-THE sentiment OF our
people is strongly opposed to the
use of unlawful methods Of redress
ing public or private grievances.
There Is consequently cause for
great surprise as well as deep re.
greet Of recent reports Of instance
OF mob violence in this county. 1t
will be your duty to investigate
that occurrence. Your investiga.
plete and your action should be
SOhoAoNSAN wan yS&A 90AACA0A OOAAHu"
ton to perform conscientiously and
effectively your important service"
While no reference was made to
the Myersville case, the general feel.
ing was that the remarks OF the
chief judge were based on the tar
and feather affair. States Attorney
Storm said he intends to push the
prosecution Of those in any way
I'm nlirafad In fha attach IN
Miss Grandon, to the limit. It
Is known that the States attorney
has information to the effect that
the tar and feathering was care.
fully planned in advance and car.
ried out as planned. Mrs. Shank,
who felt offended at Miss Grandon,
because her husband had been pay
ing the patter attention, was picked
to apply the treatment and "her
friends" were to be on hand to
GOO that the lob was nTonerlv IONA