Evening star., 1940-07-22
Ten Identified
By Policeman
As Rioters
All Defendants Seen
Before, During or
After Row, He. Says

The 10 Rockville CMd.) men
charged with rioting June 10, when
. mob broke up q meeting Of the
Jehovah's Witnesses were identified
In Montgomery County Circuit
Court today by Policeman l.. B.
Thompson, first witness called by
the State.
Ofncer Thompson told the Jury
he had seen all of the defendants
either before, during or after the
riot when a mob entered the sects
meeting hall and wrecked it after
members had declined to salute the
nag Of the United States on the
ground 1t was against their religious
belief. The policeman said several
OF the defendants had been drink
ing.
Several members of the petit jury
were disqualified by the court after
stating they had either formed or
expressed an opinion in the case.
The jury was sworn in at l0:4O
O'Clock. Judges Charles w. Wood
ward and Stedman Prescott are pre-
siding in the case.
In his opening statement States
Attorney Ben G. Wilkinson, IT,,
said testimony would show the
crowd broke in the Jehovah Wit
nesses' hall and gave about four or
five men and 18 or 20 women and
children. one Of the women an in
valid, two minutes American time"
to salute the nag and that, when
the witnesses refused, the crowd
broke up furniture and halted the
meeting.
Pugh Stopped in Statement.
James H. Pugh, who made the
opening statement for the defense,
was halted by the court when he
attempted to tell about a meeting
which the witnesses held in the
Court House more than a year ago
which was stopped by police Judge
Woodward sustained an objection
by Mr.. Wilkinson, explaining:
I'VE can't allow you to make a
speech"
Mr.. Pugh said the defense would
show that the defendants were
highly respected citizens of the COM
munity who had never been in
trouble or charged with a crime
before and that many of the leading
citizens of the town were present.
He declared that the officers had
"acquiesced" in the mob's action,
but was again halted by the court.
"You are not contending that
acquiescence by the officers, If 1t
should be proved, would be any de-
tense. are you, Mr.. Push7" Judge
Woodward asked.
Mr.. Pugh replied that he was
merely trying to bring out all the
facts and withdrew the statement.
Telephoned for Instructions.
Mr.. Thompson said that he arrived
at the garage across from the meet
ing place of the Witnesses, 222
Montgomery avenue, about 8:45
pm. and found about so or IS men
gathered together with an American
flag. Some of the men told him
they were going to demand the Wit
nesses salute the flag, and he tele-
phoned headquarters for instruc-
tions, he told the court.
In response to orders he went to
the meeting hall and asked if mem
bers of the sect would salute the flag
in order to avoid trouble, he said.
When they refused he went down.
stairs again and told the crowd he
didn't want anybody hurt" and
then went to telephone headquar-
tiers again. While he was telephon-
ing, he said, the mob went across
the street and broke into the hall.
The men charged, all from Rock
vile, are Buck Cornwell, Jack Mad
dox, Goldsboro Burrows, John E..
Barrett, George Mullican, Joseph
Fisher, James Foster, Benjamin A.
Burroughs, Roscoe Cope and Ray
mond Davis.
Among those summoned are
Fowler w. Stevens and Bernard L.
Rowe, two members of the Wit
nesses who were placed in pro
tective custody" by police after the
riot. They will testify for the State.
A few weeks ago two county po-
licemen, L. B. Thompson and Charles
Peters, were fined by the County
Police Trial Board on charges Of
failure to prevent a breach Of the
peace. A third policeman, Sergt.
Guy L. Jones, was acquitted Of a
charge Of neglect Of duty.
The County Commissioners dis
missed Police Chief Charles M.
Arme as q result of the riot.