Evening star., 1933-10-19
|B[AME IN LYNCH|NG
|PLACED ON JUDGE
BY GOV. R|FCH|E
Justice and Prosecutor AS
sured Him Man Was Safe,
Executive Says.
MOB BURNS ASSAILANT
OF AGED WHITE WOMAN
Victim Believed Dragged to Death
Before Being Hanged at
Princess Anne.
BULLETIN,

BALTIMORE, October 10 (P).
Police Commissioner Charles
D. Gather this afternoon or
dered 80 Baltimore policemen
to assemble around the State
executive Offices here to pre-
vent a Communist demonstra-
ton while Gov. Albert c.
Ritchie heard a plea for the
life of Fuel Lee, colored, con-
victed of murder and SEN
fenced to hang.
BY the Associated Press.
PRINCESS ANNE, Md, October 19.-
Responsibility for the lynching of
George Armwood, colored, who was
dragged from the Jail here last night
and hanged from a tree near the town
limits, was placed today by Gov. Albert
c. Ritchi, squarely on the shoulders
of Judge Robert F. Duer and States
Attorney John B. Robins of Princess
Anne
Gov Ritchie directed Judge Duer. a
member of the bench of the first ju-
Robins ito take immediate action to
set in motion the necessary legal ma
| chinery for the apprehension of those
who were responsible for or who par
ticipated in the lynchlng."
ArmWood brought back here from
Baltimore less than II hours earlier to
face accusations of attacking an aged
white woman, was wrenched from the
protection of IS State policemen last
night ard his body finally was left in
a gasoline-soaked pyre on the main
business corner.
Batter Down Doors.
The mob of more than 1000 men,
women and youths, stopped Temporal
rily by tear gas attack from the
State police, stormed the jail, battered
down the heavy steel doors and after
ripping most of the clothes from his
body and fastening rope around his
neck. dragged the man out into the
street.
Eight defenders Of the Jail fell
during the attack, cut by flying stones
and bricks. Among them was Capt.
NICK. Johnson, head Of the State po-
| lice, who was knocked unconscious.
Several members Of the mob were seen
being carried away, but their number
dAiO WClc uOL lcNcdl6u.
Armwood was captured Monday night
near Pocomoke City as the colored man
who, earlier in the day, grabbed Mrs.
Mary Denston, 81-year-old wife of a
Somerset farmer. as she was walking
home after spending the night with
her daughter.
State police rushed the man to Balti-
more for Safekeeping when mobs began
to collect in Eastern Shore communities
Early yesterday. over protests of the
State police, he was returned to Prin-
cess Anne in preparation for the con-
venlng OF the grand jury next week.
Had Signed Confession.
State police said Armwood had
signed confession in Baltimore ad-
mltting the attack on the woman.
Despite assurance of Judge Duer and
States Attorney Robins to the Governor
that there would be no trouble" mob
began collecting early last night out
side the Jail. When it became threat
ening, additional State policemen and
National Guardsmen from Pocomoke
City and Crisfeld were ordered to the
scene
Judge Duer, interrupting his dinner
to drive to the scene, made a personal
plea to the mob to let Armwood remain
In jail-promising speedy trial for the
prisoner
But his plea was answered from the
mob by cries Of How about Fuel Lee?"
and I'VE amt gonna have no Fuel Lee
in Somerset County"
They referred to the colored man now
under sentence to be hanged for the
murder two years ago of Green K.
Davis, a farmer of an adjoining county.
The case has been carried through the
State courts and only last week the
United States Supreme Court refused
to review the evidence.
DR.. George w. Jarman, prominent
physician of Princess Anne, who ac-
companied Judge Duer, also spoke in
formally to the mob, but he also was
received with jeers mingled with friend
ly jibes.
Mob Appears Leaderless.
Shortly after their departure, the
mob, apparently without any leaders,
but with the single purpose Of getting
the man, began pressing the police
lines around the Jail. The officers re-
treated to the jail door and tossed tear
gas bombs at the attackers.
Pausing only few minutes, the mob
got two large pieces of timber from a
nearby lumber yard and rushed toward
the outer steel doors, battering them
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