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LANE AT SHORE TOWN TO PRESS LYNCHING PROBE
Attorney - General Believed Armed With City Detectives' Report
TAKES ASSISTANTS: TO CALL ON BAILEY
Will Issue Statement On Course When He Returns To Baltimore
Attorney-General William P. Lane, Jr., today went to Salisbury to push the inquiry into the lynching there ten days ago.
He took with him Assistant Attorney-General G. C. A. Anderson and made preparations to remain on the Eastern Shore until tomorrow or Wednesday, but made no statement concerning the activities he contemplates during the trip.
It was learned that Mr. Lane intends to issue a statement soon after his return to his offices here describing the scope and the findings of the investigation thus far and the action he will recommend to Gov. Albert C. Ritchie, who ordered him to take part in the inquiry.
Has Detective's Report Mr. Lane's departure for the scene of the investigation followed by a week the dispatch of detectives from the Baltimore Policcl Department, who were sent to Salisbury last Monday upon the request of the Attorney-General. It was indicated that they have completed their work there - -.d that Mr. Lane was probably armed with their reports, to be laid before State's Attorney Levin Claude Bailey, of Wicomico county.
These reports, it was said, would be the basis of future action of the prosecutors in regard to a special session of the Wicomico county grand jury to indicate those named as leaders and members of the mob which dragged Matthew Williams, colored murderer, from the Peninsula Hospital, hanged him on the Court house green, and burned his body on a hill overlooking the Negro section of Salisbury.
Confers With Bailey The Attorney-General has been active in the investigation of the lynching since December 5, when Governor Ritchie instructed him to use all the facilities of his office to identify and prosecute the lynchers, but he has constantly declined to discuss the progress of the investigation.
It is known, however, that he has been in frequent communication by telephone with State's Attorney Bailey, with the detectives working on the case and with Police Commissioner Charles D. Gaither, to whom he sent the request which resulted in the Baltimore detectives going to Salisbury.
Other members of the State Law Department said that they expected Mr. Lane to return to his office here by tomorrow night.
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