ATTEMPT AT LYNCHING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 192, 15 August 1931, Page 7

ATTEMPT AT LYNCHING

THE MICHIGAN HORROR Received Aug. 14, 11.10 p.m. VANCOUVER, Aug. 13. An enraged mob of 2000 stormed the City Had which serves as a gaol in the town of Ypsilanti, Michigan, threatening to lynch Thomas Blackstone, a Negro giant, and Fred Smith, a white man, following their confes sion of the massacre of two boys and two girls in a motor-car along Annarbor Road two nights ago. Troops were called out and aided the police to noli! the mob in cheek. Blackstone, Smith and Oliver Torch pleaded guilty at a special evening session of the Court and were sentenced to life imprisonment, as there is no capital punishment in Michigan. Smith is an ex convict and tho finding of his revolver led to the identity of the murderers, who got on'y eight shi lings from th four young victims At Annabor (Michigan) four motor ists all under 20 years of age, were murdered and their bodies placed under the rear seat of the. car, which was burned. A local farmer saw the tracks of another car leading away from the scene. The police were of opinion that the victims, who were returning from a cinema theatre, were waylaid and robbed, the girls probably being outraged. All were shot dead, and their bodies tossed into tho ear. whi’ch was set on fire in order to ro move all traces of tho tragedy