Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-18
SLASHED MERCHANT
SUCCUMBS TO WOUNDS
AT PRINCE FREDERICK

Continued From First Page)
have been in an u " mood since Ben
was found dying in his store yesterday
morning. All day yesterday and late
into last night they hung about the
new store Ben completed just last week,
and there we're many muttered threats
of what would happen If Ben's assailants
were caught. All ran along the line of
one spokesman, a farmer, who said:
Threat Of Drastic Action.
"Lynchin' would be too good fer them
as done fer Ben"
The crowd has Gained down some
now, and Sheriff Morris Buckler, close
personal friend of Ben Lyons, doesn't
believe there will be trouble II the mer-
chants assailants are caught.
From casual inspection of the store
in which Ben was killed and a recital
by all parties who knew anything of
the circumstances leading to the attack.
two Baltimore city detectives, Robert Z.
Bradley and William Flynn, the latter
fingerprint expert, today inclined to
the theory that Ben. for some reason
not now known to the police or to the
members of the large Lyons family
killed himself and made up the story
about the bandits
Hendricks Lyons, one of Ben's older
brothers, won't believe Ben killed him
self. He can't find any reason for It,
He says Ben was doing well, had money
in the bank and was facing bright pros
poets with his new store. opposite the
railroad station at Owings. He SAYS
that Ben couldn't have been in trouble
because he hadn't come to any of his
brothers for help, and they all stood
ready, Ben knew, any time he needed
a helping hand.
Hard Times In County.
There have been hard times in CAL
vert County this Summer. The broad
and usually fertile acres about Owings
and Prince Frederick have been baked
as hard as bricks almost by the beat
ing sun, unallayed by rain The corn
Is standing withered and brown. the
ears immature and worthless. The to-
bacco plants those that have matured
haven't been worth a whole lot, and the
garden farms have not been a success
There has been scarcely enough to sup
ply the farmers own tables. So the
farmers and the business men OF the
section have decided to put down the
Summer OF 1880 as bad one and
pocket" their loss.
Ben wasn't the sort to end things
that way. his friends and family insist.
His reputation for fearlessneSs, hon.
esty and industry is a byword in Call
vert County. Everybody knows him
and the stranger in Calvert County was
told yesterday that anything that had
to do with the Lyons boys was all right
that If 1t was credit needle, or help
ing hand, Ben and the rest of the Lyons
boys we're good for it.
Friends of the Lyons boys point out
that there has been a series of petty
robberies in the community during the
past few weeks. Stores have been held
up, money taken and homes have been
broken into. There are q lot of people
not working in the county now and
they put it down TO real necessity. But
until yesterday morning there has been
no violence.
Approached by Three.
! Hendricks sat by Ben's bedside for a
! long time yesterday. Bens terribly
slashed throat seemed to bar any at
1 tempt at speech TO tell the brothers
/ and the police what happened. But
Hendricks got Ben his false teeth and
/ when they we're put in Ben found he
could whisper his story.
He said he had Just made up his
buying list and was going out OF the
| store to wait on his truck for Rufus D.
Dolly" Harrison, nearby farmer, TO
go to Baltimore. He had turned out
the store lights and was at the door
when the three men approached him
Two stood before him, one holding a
gun, and ordered him to throw up his
hands and give up his money
II haven't got any money, It's all
| in the safe" Ben told the bandits,
/ Then, Ben said, the other man, the
one who appeared white, grabbed a
piece of sash cord lying on the floor,
| looped it about Ben's neck, and jerked
him backward. Then, he said, one OF
the men siezed a butcher knife lying
nearby and slashed his throat.
Harrison arrived at the store at about
4 o'clock yesterday morning The
store was open, but dark, and the night
was dark, light rain falling. Harrison
! said he sat on the front steps of the
store a moment and then heard groans
coming from inside the store. Follow
ing the groans, Harrison entered the