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TO GIVE WICOMICO
JURY LYNCHING DATA
Lane To Lay Findings Before
Inquest About March 1—Still
Investigating
Evidence obtained by Attorney-General William Preston Lane, Jr., as to who was responsible for the lynching of Matthew Williams at Salisbury on December 4 will be laid before the Wicomico county grand jury next month, it was reported late today.
The March term grand jury will be sworn into office late in February and it is believed that they will get the results of the labors of Mr. Lane.
The Attorney-General refused today to say anything except that he still was conducting his investigation. It is understood that he will seek the cooperation of Levin C. Bailey, State's Attorney for the county.
Mr. Bailey said today that a report that a special grand jury would be called to consider the lynching was untrue; that there were no plans for such action.
Williams was lynched a short time after he had shot and killed Daniel Elliott.
Ministers Condemn Lynching
A resolution condemning the Salisbury lynching of Matthew Williams and urging the punishment of persons responsible has been signed by thirty-one Methodist Episcopal ministers of Baltimore and the vicinity.
Dr. Don S. Colt, pastor of the Go-vans Methodist Episcopal Church, drew up the resolution and circulated it among the clergymen.
The text of the resolution follows, in part:
"We, the undersigned Methodist Episcopal ministers of Baltimore and vicinity, join with the better-thinking people of Salisbury in expressing our horror over the recent hanging and burning of Matthew Williams and look with confidence to the citizens of that city to redeem the good name of their community and our State.
"As deplorable as is the crime of murder, there is in civilized society no provocation which justifies appeal to the lynch law.
"We believe, however, that while the immediate responsibility of this particular crime rests upon Salisbury, all of us are partly involved. We have failed to prevent racial injustice, suspicion and hatreds to exist which have created in all our communities inflammable conditions.1*
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