Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-08-30
Marion Jail Doors
Continued from Page u

road, used, according to Prosecutor
harley hardin, for 'petting parties"
and according to Captain Charles Tru-
ak of the Police Department, for "jazz
parties" This is very mild statement
Of the reputation of the spot. The
load is about three miles out Of Marion
and runs at right angles to the main
road. it is nown as Lovers Lane;" is
but little wider than a foot-path, and
runs parallel TO the MissiSSinewa River.
There are many spots to the left of
the road towards the river where auto
mobiles have parked for purposes which
may easily be imagined, showing the
purpose for which the place is used.
One of the officials of Marion admitted
that by general understanding the
county officers do not interfere with
anything that goes on at this place.
This is significant as bearing upon the
reputation of Mary Ball who alleges
that she was criminally assaulted by
Abe Smith. The parents of Claude
Deeter, the slain white man, indignant
ly denied that their son was engaged
to amrry Mary Ball. Nevertheless the
fact that rumorS were spread that a
girl Of this character had been Grim
lne.lly assaulted was chiefly the cause
for theelynchings.
There is, in my opinion, based upon
conversations with colored and white
people at Marion of all classes, little
hope of aprehending and furnishing the
lyncherS, if prosecution is left to local
officials. Prosecutor Harley Hardin ex-
pressed unwillingneesS to causee the
arrest of lynchers prior to the con-
veneing OF tn September Grand Jury.
He did not impress me as being a
strong or an able character. He was
much alarmed when | talked with him
because of some anonymous threats he
had received some from whites
threatening him if he proceeded with
the prosecution and some from colored
people threatening him if ne did not
roceed. The N. A. A. C. P, has formally
requested Attorney General Ogden and
Governor Harry G. Leslie to take
hargee of the investigation. 1t is the
general consensus of opinion that only
by such step will any of the lynchers
be brought to trial.
"The N. A. A. C. P. has supplied
these two -cials with the names of
certain of thelynchers and evidence
ron.
"Some of the officials, however, have
acted in the lynchings. Mayor Jack
Edwards, the youthful Chief Executive
of Marion, was out of town on the
night of the lynching. but since his re-
turn the following day he has done
everything possible to suppress law
leSsness. Attorney-General Ogden sent
two Investigators, Merle Wall and Earl
b. Stroup, to Marion, who, with local
officials conducted a board of inquiry.
On thee other hand, L. o. Chasey. Sec
rotary to Governor Leslie, a native of
Marion, was most diScourteous when
appealed to over long-distance tele-
phone by Mrs. w. T. Bailey to send
troops to Marion, abruptly hanging up
the receiver on Mrs. Bailey. Mr.. Chas-
ey, who was acting in the absence OF
Governor Leslie from the state, declin-
ed to send troops when appealed to by
Mayor Edwards, doing so only when
Sheriff Campbell had asked for troops.
Il want to express warm admiration
for the nigh courage and Sagacity OF
many of the colored people of Marion
during this terrible eriod. DR.. and
Mrs. w. T.Bailey, the Rev. William
ORseSDy, ire heN. ~. .. oAO"h anu WIN
ers associated with thelocal branch of
the N. A. A. c. P, stood firm, refused
to be intimidated and have worked
most assiduouSly to help restore order
and to bring the lynchers to justice.
TINS was and is especially true OF Mrs.
Bailey. Ct want here TO recommend her
for the Walker medaD. Messrs Robert
L. Bailey and Robert Lee Brokenburr,
of Indianapolis, went to Marion soon
after the lynchings there and rendered
valuable assistance.
The Marion lynchings are a chal
lenge to every decent citizen and es-
pecially TO Negroes in their being an
invasion by lynching mobs of north
ern state Certain officials of Marion
claim that the mob-murders were not
racial in character. This seems some
what difficult to believe in view of the
fact that there were in the Jail at
the time of the lynchings two white
men charged with rape, while two 9TH
ers carged with the same offenSe were
at liberty on BAIL Also in the Jail at
the timeof the lynchings was another
whiteman charged with one of the most
brutal crimes in the history OF Grant
County. He had hacked off the head,
arms and legs of another white man in
dispute over a woman. None OF these
white prisoners, however, was molested
by themob.
"The lynching of Ship and Smith
were, among the most horrible and
brutal in the whole history Of lynching.
Ship was the first brought forth from
te Jail. lie was lynched to the bars
of the Jail itself. When first pulled
up he held on to the rope, preventing
straneulal bn.j AS the mob thowled
its fury at this temporary postpone
ment of death, Ship was lowered to
the ground in order that his hands
might be tied. He fought furiouSly
for his life, burrying his teeth in the
arm of one of the lynchers. In order
10 make him loosen his teeth his skull
was crushed in with crowbar and
knife plunged into his heart. Fortu-
nately for him, death occurred instant
". thus preventing further suffering.
''The N. A. A. C. P. through its Ind
ana branches and it's National O--ce Is
determined to press vigorously for full
prosecution of the lynchers and pun.
;sbment to the full extent Of the law