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MOBS UN-AMERICA^
MINISTER 'ASSERTS
i
Mencken's Article On Shore
Termed "Unfair," "Unjust"
By Rev. T. A. Caraker
LEE CASE DISCUSSED
Delay In 'Trials, "Foolishness Of
Counsel" Cited As Incentives
To Acts Of Violence
Mob violence was characterized as "un-American and un-Maryland" by the Rev. T. Andrew Caraker in a sermon yesterday at the Universalist Church of Our Father, in which he made special • reference to the recent lynching of Matthew Williams, Negro murderer, on the Eastern Shore.
In his sermon Rev. Caraker said an article "against the people of the Eastern Shore" by H. L. Mencken on the lynching was "very much like Clarence True Wilson's accusation against the American Legion—unfair, unjust and the cause of unwholesome reaction."
"Hot-headed journalism," according to Mr. Caraker, encourages the spirit of mob violence as does long delay in holding trials.
No Cause "Legitimate"
Mr. Caraker said that while he was aware there are "many encouragements to mob violence" he wished to be "very emphatic" in saying that "no encouragement offered for mob violence is a legitimate cause for such violence."
In discussing his general topic, Mob Law or American Law, he said "foolishness of legal counsel" also encourages mob violence. He then referred to Euel Lee, Negro, convicted of the murder of a family of four in Worcester county, whose case, after lengthy legal delays, was transferred to Baltimore county.
"The defense attorney for the accused Negro said just a short time before the case was presented to the courts in Towson that he was going to try to have some Negroes on the jury when Lee was tried," said Mr. Caraker.
Party To Prejudice, Charge
"There's no objection to the presence of Negroes on a Jury when times are normal and such individuals are found to be thoroughly capable and competent, but at a time like this the attorney's proposal smacks of insanity.
"The attorney objects to the case being tried in a prejudiced community and then turns right around and becomes a party to prejudicing the case against the defendant himself by his absurd and untimely declaration that he will try to secure a few Negro jurymen before whom the case
will be tried. Just such foolish moves as this offer mpre encouragement to mob violence." '
Mr. Caraker declared, however, that any mob violence "is an insult to the constitutional integrity of government and direct disregard of the honor of American constitutional principles."
He declared the State should "exert every ounce of its strength to apprehend the leaders and participants in a mob and deal as positively with them as with other individuals who are guilty of ignoring the laws. Mob violence destroys the honor of a State, and therefore should be suppressed with impartial severity."
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