Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1956-01-27
Howard
Continued from page four


taon attributed to me By the Baltimore Morning Sun not
entirely
In substance said that occasion that I'VE must
find out Why the FBI solve crime where
Negro is murdered by white in Mississippi" Wheth
er the reason for that failure lies in nadequaey federal
statutes restrictive Interpretation of such by the
Department of Justice the failure FBI inyestigatye
machinery the fact remains that "the FBI
TO solve crime where Negro murdered BY a white man
in Mississippi OF do know extent or char
aeer of the Bureaus investigation in the Emmett Till
do not know whether your investigation
TO Mississippi law enforcement authorities II is plain now in
the light of the j. w Milan confession Till case that
the facts in that case lay close to the surface have
preston that in many instances the FB has conducted
yesgaons and found facts which then given to
authorities for prosecution of the wrong doors.
You say conveniently forgotten the work this
Bureau largely responsible for the virtual enna
ton of ynehng in the South and also was mainly response
BILE for the breaking up of the xxx in the Carolina and
Georgia Frankly there is wide difference of opinion be-
tween us You entitled to your opinion
that the deserves credit both these
to mine that ynchng eliminated and the XXX broken
up by persistent action by the NAAcp and by an aroused
public opinion recall prosecution of lynehng as
SUCH by the Federal Government and suppose that such
prosecution would be undertaken only after investigation by
the Bureau understand that there federal anti
ynehng and that prosecution of nching as SUCH
Is for the States In view Of that fact do not un
the FB able to take effective action TO
virtually eliminate lynehing In light Of your statement
that Department of Justice act only when Federal
statutes have been violated the Federal Government was
able In the OF ynehing, In the absence OF led
antynching statute Is 1t possible to undertake similar
action such the George Lee. Lamar Smith and
Emmett Till In light of similar claimed lack of APP
plicable Federal statutes?
did charge my Chicago Press Conference speech that
there had apparently been leak OF FBi Investigations IN
Mississippi compliments live in Mississippi and believe
that you will agree with that any complainant In that
state risks personal safety when he makes charges at
run counter to public opinion In that state There
fore will not rece the specific In this letter which
will released the press. Under separate cover am
sending you statement Of the facts In that case know
you will the safety Of that Individual One oil
the things which wanted discuss and tried to discuss,
with Department Of Justice that matter Since
was given definite appointment was unable to
present II through those channels
Tn conclusion reject the charge that have made
false and irresponsible charges" have exercised my right
shall continue to exercise that right even when 1t leads
10 difference of opinion between me and the public serv
ants regret this has arisen since 1t tends
70 obscure the the real issue In the South and In
the Nation and world for that matter Is not our df
feences as TO FBI action, inaction but the fact that
American citizens being wantonly murdered In Mssis-
sppi and that their nurdeers going unpublished Since
vor letter TO me the nature Of statement to
the regret very much that did not see fit
70 include In condemnation of these murders Your con-
domination might do much halt this Of violence In
anv event shall continue join with the millions Of other
Americans and cry against nustices and against that
kind of administration Of justice which permits murerers to
90 free to boast their crimes
DR.. T. r. NJ Howard