CONTROVERSY RAGING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18258, 29 November 1933, Page 13

CONTROVERSY RAGING

CALIFORNIA LYNCHING OPINION MUCH DIVIDED RECENT CASES RECALLED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received Nov. 29, 3 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 28. White a controversy continues to rage over Mr Rolph’s statement: in regard to the. San Jose lynching, with the' clergy, public, and newspaper editorial opinion taking different sides, the Governor of Maryland, Mr Ritchie, ordered troops to Salisbury to arrest the lynchers who last month killed a negro who was charged with attacking an aged white woman. State militia men, with four alleged lynchers as prisoners, broke through an infuriated mob, speeding in lorries to Baltimore after a clash in which soldiers threw over 100 gas bombs. A riotous scene in which the State Attorney-General and officials -were the targets for stones hurled by the mob marked the climax of the day. The accused men were roused from bed and held in an armory until the crowd became so threatening that the officials decided to break through the cordon and speed to Baltimore. Already repercussions of Mr Ritchie's action have come, with throats of impeachment from State legislators and praise and blame from various quarters throughout the nation. Women are sending the Goveinor telegrams of approval, while public bodies excoriate his "lawlessness. ’ ’

The San Jose sheriff, Mr Emig, and the deputy-sheriff, Mr Buffington, who were knocked down as they attempted to stem the advance of the lynching mob, are remaining iu hospital, both seriously injured.. City officials plan to dig up tim trees on which the men were' hanged and remove all reminders of the event.

From Greenville, South Carolina, comes news that |1 fliemhcrg of the white-robed, hooded band which, on the flight of November 16, lynched a negro, George Gr.ee, 73, have be,on rounded up and charged with murder, the officers also promising additional arrests.

The most sombre note of warning, perhaps, is contained in a leading article in the New York WorldTelegram: "This is a time of vast unrest. Otherwise law-abiding citizens are taking the law in their own hands. ■Farmers are flsing violence against officers and judges, and strikers are being shot down. The country is on edge. For many months whole communities and classes have been under nervous tension, almost to the point of breaking, and now we enter another winter of mass suffering. I n such an explosive situation, for Mr Rolph, or any other sworn officer of t(ie law. to feed the mob spirit is worse than criminal. Those who raise up the mob must be prepared for the destruction of the nation.”

Surprise was expressed here when it was learned that a St. Paul Federal Court jury to-day acquitted Roger Touhy and three other Chicagonans on charges growing out of the kidnapping of William Hamm, the millionaire brewer, on June 15. Meanwhile, fugtive warrants charging participation in the Factor kidnapping were served on the samp four.