Detroit tribune. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1933, 1933-11-25
MARYLANDTS ATTORNEY
GENERAL ORDERS
ARREST OF LYNCHERS
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The magistrate might feel that
he should order those men held on
a charge of murder and they would
be put in Jail without bail. ! seri-
ously doubt they would stay there.
II the refusal OF Somerset coun-
ty authorities to make immediate
arrests in the Armwood lynching
! case is based on the probability of
interference by an aroused crowd,
then II is incumbent upon those
officials to obtain such assistance
as may be necessary for them to
perform their duty.
This was made clear by William
Preston Lane Jr., Attorney-Gener-
al In a letter sent to John b.
Robins, States Attorney for the
county and in which Mr.. Lane re-
iterated his request for the arrest
of nine alleged participants in the
crime.
Means What He Says
After the Acknowledgement had
made public the contents of this
communication he was asked II he
referred to martial law when he
mentioned the assistance that
might be necessary. In reply Mr..
Lane said: II mean exactly what
that letter says (reading): such
assistance as may be necessary for
him Luther Daugherty. county
Sheriff. to perform his duty Mr..
Robins fears that arrest might
cause mob violence. He may be
light. / am up here and do not
know the feeling that prevails
here.
Has Right To Deputlze
However, when il comes to the
arrest OF persons for crime the
Sheriff has the right to deputize as
many people as he deems necessary
and, in tn case of necessity TO call
for outside aid"
In comment on the refusal of the
Somerset County officials to act the
Baltimore Sun says: This means
that, so far Somerset County is
concerned the orderly processes OF
the law have broken down and the
States Attorney is ready to yield
to threats of mob violence. What
more is needed to show that the
prosecution of In lynchers Of
A xnyAr1 10 In,
hands and that Mr.. Robins should
be supplanted by counsel who will
uphold the dignity and honor of
the State?
THE office of States Attorney
being a Constitutional and an cleo
tive one, it is not simple matter
to bring the incumbent to book.
But 1t is by no means impossible
to do so. A States Attorney may be
removed for Incompetence, wilful
neglect of duty or misdemeanor in
office on conviction in a court of
law. Or without such conviction. he
may be removed by two-third
vote of the Senate on recommen-
dation of tn Attorney General.
but in dealing with Mr.. Robins
in the present case there is open
another and quicker course. The
judges of the circuit may appoint a
special counsel to act in his stead.
Such procedure was followed in
this when a States Attorney. VIII
liam +. Broening and a member OF
the Supreme Bench differed as TO
the diligence with which prose-
cution was being followed up. Mr..
Broening was replaced by special
counsel. Judges in the First district
having been given further proof
that Mr.. Robins is making n ira
vesty of the administration OF JUS
tice, have remedy for such de-
reelection in office.
"The entire State will watch
with care TO see whether they, too
arc helpless TO set In motion the
process of the law, after the At
torney General has officially pre-
scented the names, addresses and
occupations OF nine persons who
he believes to have taken the lead
in the lynchlng OF Armwood.
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