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Lin jury
UNABLETQ NAME ANY DEFENDANT
Grand Inquest At Salisbury Concludes Probe Into Killing Of Negro
SAYS NEEDED DATA WAS NOT SUPPLIED
Finds No Evidence Of
Communist Organization
In Wicomico County
By FKANK B. KENT. JR.,
Staff Correspondent of The Sun Salisbury, Md., March 18—Bringing to a close its four-day investigation of the lynching of Matthew Williams, Negro, the Wicomico county grand jury this afternoon reported "we find that there is absolutely no evidence that can remotely connect any one with the instigation or perpetration of the murder."
Since the jury was convened Monday more than 120 witnesses were summoned to testify in connection with the lynching of the Negro who shot to death Daniel J. Elliott, lumber dealer, on December 4. Williams was hanged in the courthouse square on that date after he had been taken from the Peninsula General Hospital, where he was under treatment for wounds inflicted by himself and Daniel J. Elliott, Jr.
Preliminary Events Investigated
In his instructions to the jury, Judge Joseph L. Bailey urged that inquiry be made not only into the lynching, but into events leading up to the shooting, with reference to activities of "outside organizations." In the report made public late this afternoon by Levin C. Bailey, State's Attorney, the grand jury said:
"After a thorough and complete investigation of all the evidence, direct and indirect, presented to us by Attorney-General William Preston Lane, Jr., and Assistant Attorney-General G. C. A. Anderson in reference to communistic activities, we find that while such organizations do exist in other parts of the State there is no evidence to justify the belief that such an organization exists in Wicomico county.
"After a thoroughly energetic and complete investigation of all the evidence, direct and indirect, rumors and every lead indicated by the evidence given by more than 100 witneses produced to us by the Attorney-General, the Assistant Attorney-General, the State's Attorney for Wicomico county and members of this grand jury) we find that there is absolutely no evidence that can remotely connect anyone with the instigation or perpetration of the murder of Matthew Williams."
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