The Omaha guide., 1935-09-14
North Carolina Off
Gals Given Names
Of Ward Lynchers
Investigator Charges Officials
Cooperated With Lynchers; Ma
tional Guardsman Cuts Off Toe
For Souvenir; Ward Known To
Be Insane

an "Sweat" Ward in broad open day
light at Louisburg, N. c., on July
Both which were made by an N. "A.
A. C. P. investigator were forward
ed today by the N. A. A. c.. P. to
Governor J.. G. b E~hrnghaus of North
Carolina and Solicitor w. Y. Beckett.
The N. A. A. G. P. investigator, a
southern white man, reveals in his
report the names of nine members Of
the mobof twenty-five to thirty, who
lynched Ward at Louisburg at eleven
o'clock in the forenoon Among the
alleged lynchers are several county
and city officials.
A second startling disclosure made
by the N. A. A. G. P. is that a mem
Der Of the National Guard, sent to
Louisburg to prevent the lynching
and restore order, is reported to have
cut a toe from Wards foot as a
grisly souvenir. Members Of the Ma
tional Guard sent to Louisburg from
Henderson, N. Co arrived after the
lynching had taken place.
The Investigators report reveals
that Ward was known to be insane
and had had frequent spells of vio-
Ience. The N. "A. A. G. P. charges
that the State Of North Carolina is
indirectly responsible for the homi-
cidal attacks made by Ward prior to
his death on his female cousin and
two men, one of whom he killed, in
that the State should have long since
placed Ward in an institution for the
insane. Further evidence Of Wards
mental state is given in the N. A.
A. c. P. Investigators report which
tells how Ward after having struck
Charles G. Stokes, a white farmer,
with a brick as Stokes worked in his
tobacco field, returned to his cousins
home, got an axe with which he re-
turned to the field and cut off the
head of Stokes. Ward then took the
severed head to his own home, wrap
PED it in bed clothing and then took
q seat in the yard, placing the head
by him, in which position he was
found when officers arrived to ar
rest him
Negroes Did Not Participate in
The published reports that Negroes
joined in the lynching mob were
Lynching
characterized by the N. A. A. C. P.
iNv stigator as entirely false. The
investigator attributes this report to
the fact that a Negro did aid in the
arrest of Ward. In calling Governor
Ehringhaus's attention to this phase,
Walter White, Secretary Of the N.
4. A. C. P, cited the charge fire.
quently made that if Negroes would
help arrest other Negroes charged
with crime and cease Shielding" Ne
gro criminals there would be fewer
lynch1ngs and better race relations.
"But there is am instance" MI. White
reminded Governor Ehringhaus,
(which is unfortunately neither the
first nor, we fear, the last, where a
Negro did help ~apprehend a Negro
charged with crime only to see him
put to death in broad open daylight"
Convictions Impossible
"It is impossible to convict any
n before a jury from that county
On account of public opinion" the N.
A. A. G. P. investigator states. ''The
officials of Franklin County were Ell
Their a part of the mob or in SYM
pathy with it The localpaperjustifi-
ed the act. Solicitor w. Y. Beckett Of
Raltigh held an investigation using
tho local legal channels but nothing
can be done through that procedure.
He was sincere in ~deploring the deed.
The important papers of the State,
such as the Ralrigh News and OBJ
server, the Raleigh Times, and the
Greensboro Daily News were out
SPOKEN In their criticism of the local
officials" Governor Ehringhaus CEN
sured thr local officials for neglect
of duty.
Senator Bailey Again Scored For
Filibuster
Mr.. White also wrote today to
Senator Josiah w. Bailey, one of the
leaders in the filibuster against the
Costigan-Wagner bill, with whom
there has been an acrimonious ex-
change of correspondence recently.
The Ward lynching and the fact that
participants in it are now known is
cited by Mr.. White to Senator Bailey
as further proof of the fact that
lynching cannot be. stopped without
Federal action. edo you still main
Mr. White asked Senator Bail
ey, ~That Federal aid to honest state,
county and municipal officials is I'M
necessary"
Woman Awarded