Evening star., 1933-11-28
SALISBURY MOB
BATTLES TROOPS
Militia, Sent by Ritchie to
Arrest Lynching Sus-
poets, Retires.
Continued From First Page.)

of the reporters and photographers
locked themselves in rooms in the Wi
comico Hotel. Others, caught alcng
the streets, were ordered out of town.
Names Furnished by Lane.
Names of the nine suspects were
turned over to the guardsmen by Will
Liam Preston Lane, f., Maryland attor-
ney general, who previously had re-
Quested their arrest by Somerset County
authorities
After State police, under Capt Edwin
NICK. johnson, reached Princess Anne,
seat OF Somerset County and scene of
the lynching. all outside telephone serv-
ice there was ordered suspended. The
object Of this, 1t was explained. was to
keep information regarding the plans If
the authorities from spreading among
the townSpeople. This action was not
taken soon enough, for the arrival Of
the guardSmen was expected by citizens
for miles around.
Equipped with enough ammunition to
withstand heavy assault, including
riot guns, tear gas grenades and auto
matte rifles, the guardsmen lined the
sidewalks in front of the armory and
watched over the slowly gathering
crowds from the steps.
Tear Gas Bombs Thrown.
The crowds gathered so slowly that
their increased size was hardly notice.
able. Clusters of men, both white and
colored, gathered on street corners, not
only near the armory, but as much as
several blocks away. Slowly they moved
toward the armory, yelling taunts but
orderly on the whole
Soon the Guardsmen donned their
gas masks and, moving out into the
street In front of the armory, stood
with fixed bayonets For awhile the
citizens obeyed the troopers orders to
get back" but as the throng grew they
became more and more reluctant to
move
Finally. there was a surge toward the
armory and the Guardsmen let loose
with their tear gas grenades. This
scattered the mob temporarily, but. de-
spite wet eyes and. in many instances,
inability to see, they trickled back.
Meanwhile. inside the armory, prepara-
tionS were being made to move the
prisoners as soon as possible. Buses
the same busses that made the trip
from Baltimore-were lined up in side
street.
Fire Engine Disperses Troopers.
1t was about this time that the angry
citizens began using the hose. This ac-
ton was taken after fire engine had
been driven into the crowd of troopers
several times in an effort to disperSe
them. The Guardsmen leaped out of
the way of the fast-moving vehicle,
but each time resumed their lineup as
soon as it had passed.
Somebody set of the towns fire
alarm bell, evidently with the inten-
tion Of attracting residents of outlying
communities At the same time. the
siren Of Fhf flTt engine NlTltkt0 almost
The crowd made several assaults on
me GulTQSIlln with thu hOy4. ANAlly
was a played upon the roof and walls.
much of it seeping through and
drenching those inside. including nu-
merous newspaper reporters and pho
tographers.
Gas Blows Into Armory.
Tear gas from grenades hurled by the
guardsmen was blown back into the
armory before the doors were closed.
Those not equipped with gas masks
tied wet handkerchiefs across their
faces.
While the mob tossed bricks at the
front of the building, troopers escorted
the prisoners out side door and placed
them on the busses Not more than one
was placed in any one vehicle, all of
which were loaded with heavily armed
troopers Although it was announced
the prisoners were being taken to
Princess Anne. it was reliably reported
their destination was Baltimore.
The busses paraded out OF the city.
preceded and followed by authorities in
private automobiles 1t was after their
departure that the citizens staged their
big push" with the hose, driving the
guardsmen before them.
Lynched on October Is.
On the night of October 1s a mob.
estimated at approximately 5000 per-
sons, battled State police at Princess
Anne, commanded by Capt. johnson,
and, after using battering ram to enter
the Jail, went to the cell of George
Armwood, accused of having criminally
assaulted Mrs. Mary Benston, H.
Armwood was dragged out of the Jail
and through the town as hundreds of
persons kicked his body and one man
cut of an ear After hanging him to
tree, the mob took his body back to
the intersection of Princess Anne main
streets and burned it.
The next day Gov. Ritchie placed At
torney General Lane in charge of the
investigation Of the case. Meanwhile,
Deputy Sheriff Norman Dryden, Prin-
cess Anne iailor who met the mob at
the Jail door, said he would be unable
to identify any of the lynchers.
Prosecution Refused.
States Attorney John B. Robins de-
clined to prosecute the case, declaring
there would be mo USE
At the coroner's inquest. held Octo-
Der "a, all witnesses testified they did
not see anybody they knew in the mob.
Recently, Lane, who had completed his
investigation. sent the names of nine
persons alleged to have participated in
the lynching, demanding they be ar
rested. No action was taken, however,
until Gov. Ritchie stepped in last night.