The Omaha guide., 1933-07-29
PUNISH LYNCHERS, N A. A. C. p.
DEMANDS OF MARYLAND
STATES ATTORNEY

LcI LA ~, MQ, flSOIOQS QC-
mand was made on States Attorney
E. ]. Edelin, in a letter received today
from Charles H. Houston, member of
the National Legal Committee of the
N. "A. A. G. P. that he institute pro-
ceedings against the ringleaders of
the mob which attempted unsuccess-
fully to lych Page Jupiter Mr.. Hous-
ton urged speed and prompt action
on behalf of the N. A. A. c. P. and
in the interest Of public justice to
white and black alike"
"Perhaps this may cause you some
temporary embarrassment but it will
establish you as a fearless public Of
f%icer," Mr.. Houston infotm Mr..
Edelin,, "~irrevocably committed to the
full performance of the law which is
in his trust"
Mr.. Houston enclosed with his let
ter copy of the report made to Walter
White, Secretary Of the N A. "A. G..
P Of the findings of the investiga-
ton by himself, Edward P. Lovett of
Washington, associated with Mr..
Houston in the Crawford extradition
case, and J G. LuValle of the Wash
ington Tribune. The two lawyers Nnd
newspaper man spent two days in
and about LaPlata in making a
thorough investigation. Among the
officials interviewed by Messrs. Hou-
ston, Lovett and LuValle were Judge
w. Mitchell Digges Chief Judge Of
the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Mary
land, States Attorney Edeli, Sheriff
Cooksey, and Jailer John Dorsey.
Mr.. Houston's report reveals that:
"a mob Of forty or fifty men as
sembled Monday July 10, at Waldorf,
Maryland, the Home of the murdered
woman and drove to LaPlata eight
miles distant. The Sheriff at LaPlata
had been warned that the mob was
forming but declined to believe that
their intentions were serious. The mob
would have reached LaPlata and
seized the prisoner except for the
fact that a state motor cycle officer
rode from LaPlata to Waldorf recon
noitering. He saw the mob forming,
sped back to LaPlata and informed
the Sheriff. They went from
the c urt House to the
Jail, got Page Jupiter. put him in the
car and hurried him off to Upper
Marlboro Jail where he spent the
night. The Sheriff was in such haste
that he did not even take time to lock
the gate of the Jail yard. The mob
reached the Jail about ten minutes
after the Sheriff had left with his
prisoner.
"The mob got into the jail yard
through the gate which the Sheriff
had left open. 1t clamored for admis-
sion to the Jail but the Jailor refused
to open the door. Then a Deputy
Sheriff, named Howard, had the Jail
er to open the door and admit the
mob so that the mob might satisfy
itself that Jupiter was not on the
premises. At this time the mob was
creating a scee Of wild disorder and
threatened to storm the jail.
HWhor +ha .o.1 Iz--
mob seized the Jailor's gun and push
ed its way to the cell blocks on both
floors of the Jail. Some one in the
mob had a rope.
when the mob found that Jupiter
was not there it left the premises So
far as is known no damage was done
to property and no further violence
offered to any one.
Judge Digges in Upper Marlboro
was seen the next day and asked
whether the States Attorney con
templated any punitive action against
the leaders Of the mob. He stated
that ne was not advised either wav
Mr.. Houston then told the Judge that
IN his opinion the circumstances call
ed for punitive action against the
leaders of the mob, that while II was
true that this mob did not catch m
with its victim, unless the mob spirit
was stamped out by sharp punish
ment OF its ring leaders, the next mob
would arrive ten minutes earlier. and
its victim would be shared, that law
lessness against a Negro today would
be turned against a white man ON the
morrow, and that the only way to
guarantee an orderly enforcement Of
law IN a community was to stamn ont
iawlessness the moment it raised i+s
head.
The members of the mob are
known. The Jailer and two Dep,tv
oherlffs were on the spot and saw
them. Judge Digges indicated that he
mad been advised who some Of the mob
members were, and gave his opinion
q them IN no complimentary terms
therefore lack of identity in this case
not De the excuse for lack of prose
cution.
Inc Judge has indicated that he