Governor Ritchie's Clipping File on Lynching
msa_s1048_1_and_10-0392

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Governor Ritchie's Clipping File on Lynching
msa_s1048_1_and_10-0392

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ised never to return. The Negro, Lee, lis in the Baltimore jail still awaiting trial. The Eastern Shore has fought every legal move to transfer the trial to Baltimore and the plea for change of venue is now awaiting a ruling from the State Court of Appeals. The Davis Negro, held for attempted attack, also is in the Baltimore jail for safekeeping. His trial has been set for January 5 at Elkton, Md., some distance removed from the scene of the crime. "I think the Lee case could be tried here without trouble," said State's Attorney Bailey. "There wouldn't be any uprising against the Negro, but the demonstration would be against Ades, the Communist lawyer. The International Labor Defense is at the bottom of all this trouble. The Negro Williams was a Communist, inflamed by their teachings, and was neither crazy nor drunk when he shot Daniel J. Elliott, a prominent lumberman. The Negro, in a statement before he was taken from the hospital and hanged, said he was glad he killed Elliott and that 'three or four more would get it.' I believe the Communists have been trying to organize the Negroes here." Says Town Stands Together Mr. Bailey said "a coroner's jury viewed the body and adjourned" the day after the "demonstration." He admitted there "might be a few people who recognized some members of the 'crowd,' " but said that the lynching party was a small group and the 2,000 persons reported present were not a part of the mob. The only explanation, however, of why policemen directed traffic instead of attempting to save the Negro was that "the town is 100 per cent, together on this affair." The coroner's jury will not be called, the State's Attorney said, until after the first of the year. Lane Refuses To Discuss Salisbury Lynching Probe Hagerstown, Dec. 26 (Special) — After spending the holidays with his family here, William Preston Lane, Jr., Attorney-General, will return to Baltimore • Monday. He said he was not in a position at this time to discuss the investigation of the lynching at Salisbury on December 4. "A public statement now about the progress and results of the investigation would hinder and delay its completion," he said. "It will be completed just as promptly as possible."