Sunday, November 6, 2011

Mob Threatens Worcester Prosecutor...Big State Police promotion to Pocomoke native... Prominent Pocomoke business and civic leader is remembered.

 

March, 1932

(The Morning Herald- Hagerstown, Md.)

Mob Threatens Worcester County Prosecutor

Berlin, Md., March 24 (AP)- An investigation to establish the identity of the members of the mob which surrounded the Atlantic Hotel early today and threatened State's Attorney Godfrey Child, was promised today by Charles R. Mason of Pocomoke City, a member of the Worcester County Board of Commissioners.

Mason said the investigation would be conducted by the County Board of Commissioners.

Meanwhile, State's Attorney Child was resting comfortably at his home in Pocomoke City after being conducted there by Sheriff Wilmer S. Purnell after the latter and state troopers had dispersed the mob about the hotel. He made no intimations today concerning any actions he may take against the persons in the crowd.

The mob action followed the rendering of the decision by Justice Of The Peace William J. Bratten in dismissing the kidnapping and assault charges against Robert Allen, Chief of Police of Ocean City, and George K. Jarvis, prominent cattleman. The charges had been preferred by Charles W. Brown who said he had been waylaid and held a prisoner by Allen, Jarvis and two other men for five days last week.

State's Attorney Child presented the evidence for the complainant at the hearing last night and the attitude of the crowd wanted to know why the decision had been in the favor of the defendants. A window in the hotel where Child planned to spend the night was broken and the State's Attorney's automobile was wrecked.

After the hotel was darkened and the doors bolted, Sheriff Purnell and state police were called to break up the mob. Later the Sheriff took the prosecutor to his home.

Footnote: State's Attorney Godfrey Child was also involved in a highly publicized murder case from this same era in which Euel Lee, aka "Orphan Jones," was ultimately convicted and executed for murdering a Berlin area (Taylorville) farm family of four. To the reader who left a comment regarding this case on my preview posting this past Thursday, and to others who may be interested, more information is available at http://orphanjones.com/press.php

 

December, 1969

Maryland State Police Superintendent Robert J. Lally announced that Pocomoke City native Edwin D. McGee would become Commander of the State Police for the lower Eastern Shore. Sergeant Major McGee was a 28-year veteran of the force and along with becoming Commander of the Salisbury Barracks he would also rise to the rank of Lieutenant. In Pocomoke City MeGee was a former president of the Lions Club and an active participant in matters involving Pocomoke City schools.

 

January, 1977

Pocomoke City residents were remembering the life of R. Harlan Robertson, Sr., prominent civic and business leader in the community, who passed away at age 99. In 1906 he and his brother Clarence founded Pocomoke Foundry And Machine Works, later known as Robertson Brothers. He served in the Maryland legislature as a Worcester County Delegate and later served on the Pocomoke town council from 1924-1938, and served for nearly two decades on the Worcester County Welfare Board. He was a longtime president of Citizens National Bank. Numerous memberships included the Pocomoke City Rotary Club where he was a former president.

 

ACROSS THE USA

March, 1948

(The Times Recorder- Newark, Ohio)

New Magnetic Tape Recorder

Music lovers- and especially those who make a hobby of collecting fine record albums- have a new thrill in store for them when they hear Magnesonic, the sensational new electronic instrument which was made available to the Ohio market today.

Featuring an entirely new method of recording and reproducing on magic magnetic tape, Magnesonic is the product of Sound Recorder and Reproducer corporation of Philadelphia, and only a few weeks ago was formally introduced to a national retailers convention in New York City. 

Ohio dealers are the first in the nation to publicly offer for sale this new machine which has literally hundreds of uses for magic tape, and with which it is possible to make the finest symphonic, orchestral, and oral recordings directly from a home microphone or from radio broadcasts.


 

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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous5:54:00 PM

    I remember Mr. Harlan Robertson well. I also remember that his funeral was a rather small affair. His family and descendants were there, but almost none of his friends. Why? Because he lived to be 99 years old and most of his friends were already dead!

    Your friend,
    Slim

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