Merrick, Washington (DC) Times, June 1, 1932

Merrick, Washington (DC) Times, June 1, 1932

Merrick, Walter

Charge, dynamiting a general store

Mob, hanging

Mob Lynches Man Jailed In Blast

Masked Crowd Raids Bastille in Princeton, KY,; Victim Found on Gibbet

PRINCETON, Ky., June 1 (I.N.S.).--Walter Merrick, 45, white farmer, was taken from his cell in the county jail here by a masked mob early today, dragged two miles from town, and hanged to a tree. Merrick was awaiting trial June 13 on charges of dynamiting J. M. “Jack” P’Pool’s general store at Hopson, nine miles from here, last February 8. P’Pool was seriously injured in the blast, as was 13-year-old Harold Nabb, playing nearby. Revenge Was Motive Authorities charged Merrick and P’Pool had quarreled and the dynamiting was in revenge. Six automobiles carried the men to the lynching. They gathered on the outskirts of the city and at midnight their leader rang the jail door bell. As Night Jailer Curtis Jones opened the door, he faced a dozen revolvers. The leader said: “We want Merrick.” Without another word the mob pressed on into the jail office. Three men remained with Jones, tying him hand and foot and taking his keys. The others went to Merrick’s cell. The prisoner was awakened. The mob leader said: “Let’s go.” Merrick said: “What’s this all about?” Then he apparently realized his fate, and acquiesced with only a mild protest. Speeded Out of Town He was half dragged, half carried to one of the automobiles and speeded out of town. It was a half hour before Jailer Jones broke his bonds and telephoned Sheriff Press Blackburn, who with deputies hunted in vain for the mob. Shortly after dawn Paul Grant, a youth, traveling along the road, came upon Merrick’s body hanging from a tree. Officers cut down the body and brought it here. P’Pool was widely known in western Kentucky where he was a bank director and a school trustee in addition to owning a store.

Newspapers.com

1932-6-1

Grace Yi

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Caldwell County