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LYNGH RtPORT DOE LATE TODAY
Salisbury Grand Jury Grills 98; Hearing Speeded
#pecial to The Post
SALISBURY, Md.—Attorney Gen-oral William Preston Lane Jr. today announced the report of the Wicomico County grand jury regarding its investigation of the Matthew Williams lynching will be made late today.
The jury, which began its investigation of the lynching several days ago, had examined 98 of the 125 witnesses up to noon today. The remaining 27 witnesses, it is believed, will make only brief appearances before the jury and the testimony is expected to be completed about 4:30 p. m.
Indictments in Doubt
No indication of whether indictments will be returned in the case or the probe dropped were seen at the courthouse here today.
"We are certain that the grand Jury will finish its probe late today," the Attorney General said, "and a report will be immediately forthcoming."
With the report Salisbury will know whether the action of its mob, which lynched Matthews on the courthouse green last Dec. 4, is justified by the grand jury, or whether its leaders and members are to face trial.
Officials Questioned
Witnesses who have appeared before the inquisitorial body include residents of Somerset, Worcester and Wicomico Counties. Some of the leading officials of Salisbury and Wicomico County have been questioned, among them chiefs of the Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department and Salisbury Police Department, the superintendent of the town hospital, newspaper publishers, ex-mayors of Salisbury, business men and county officials.
Most of the witnesses have been questioned for only brief periods, but some have been before the grand jury for as long as an hour.
Among these are Chief of Police N. H. Holland and Sheriff Murray Phillips, officials who were on the scene when the Negro was lynched on the town square.
Lane Is Present
Assisting State's Attorney Levin C. Bailey in the jury room were Attorney General W. Preston Lane Jr. and Assistant Attorney General G. C. A. Anderson.
The grand jury's investigation of the lynching is by far the principal topics of conversation in Salisbury. Groups of witnesses, waiting at the courthouse to be questioned, or gathered on the principal street corner, opposite the courthouse, after being questioned, provide focal points for gatherings of citizens to discuss the situation.
Current feeling here is that the grand jury is making a serious and valiant effort to get to the bottom of the lynching and will indict the leaders and members of the mob if their identity can be proved.
However, there is much doubt that any testimony will be forthcoming by witnesses to accuse any particular persons of leading the mob or of being members of it. Thus, if anyone is indicted by the grand jury, there will be much surprise manifested in Salisbury.
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