Evening star., 1945-12-30
u. 5. Lynchinlg Record
Near Perfect in rs;
Single Case Disputed
b. the Associated Press.

ATLANTA, Dec. "a lynchless
America almost became a reality in
the year just closing. There has
been only one lynching recorded SO
far in 1945 by Tuskegee Institute,
and the Governor of Florida ques-
toned whether it was a lynching.
Uynchings have been steadily de-
clining. In 1892 there were 23l.
That was an all-time high. In 1888
there were % in IL States. y
BY 1899 there were only three
1ynchings in two States. In 1910
the figure rose to five, but dropped
to four in 1941. In 1912 there were
five again, in 1943 three and in 1914
two
The 1ynching recorded this year
involved a Negro taken from an un-
guarded Jail at Madison, Fla, and
shot to death.
He had been indicted on charges
of criminal assault on a 5-year-old
white girl. No witnesses to the
shooting were found. The grand
jury said 1t was unable to flx re-
sponsibility.
Incident Is Disputed.
In Tallahassee today Gov. Millard
Caldwell, replying to query from
the Encyclopedia Britannica, said
he believed the October Staying did
not come within any recognized
definition of lynching"
This drew a quick statement from
DR.. Guy johnson, executive director
of the Southern Regional Council,
F., biracial Southern group of edi-
tors, churchmen and others working
for betterment of racial relations.
II must agree with Tuskegee in
calling the case lynching," he
said, "but I think the Governor OF
Florida deserves praise for what he
did in that case. He and his at
torney general did their best tc
have the killers discovered anc
brought to trial"
DR.. johnson added that the 194s
record is not as good as it looks
because there have been severa
cases of "borderline nature which
are difficult to classify"
when the killing of a person ac-
cused of crime is done quietly BY
f. two or three persons rather than by
a mob, it is indeed hard to draw
the line between lynching and homi.
eide"
DR.. johnson said, however, that
"the old style mob lynching. with
all of its horrors, is definitely on the
way out" He added:
II believe that if we use our com.
man sense here in the South we car
avoid a repetition of the period oi
Ku Klux Klanism and lynchine
which we had after World War l.
Economic Problem Is Greatest.
"The biggest problem facing the
South is the economic problem. Il
we can get a better balance between
agriculture and industry, equaliza.
ton of freight rates, and full EN-.
ployment at fair wages, we car
really have the new South which i.
so long overdue.
when there is economic security
people Of all classes or races will ge
along better together"
DR.. johnson named two othe,
pressing problems in the South IL
the postwar era as fair play TO
veterans, white and colored" and /,
more impartial administration o
the law"
Gov. Caldwell said it was his per
sonal opinion the killing of the Negr
at Madison did not come within tn
definition of lynching, and ampli
fed:
THE ordeal of bringing a youn
/. and innocent victim of rape int
open court and subjecting her t
detailed cross-examination by de
fense counsel could easily be as grea
. an injury as the original crime.
] This fact probably accounts fo
q number of killings or lynchine
. which might otherwise be avoided
Society has not found a solution
+hie rnrpn1oro ~