The Gary American

Marion, Ind. A New Ninevah Says Ogden
Indiana Attorney Gen'l Lambasts Citizens of Hoosier Town.

MARION, Ind. -- What speedily became a political bomb echoing over the entire state of Indiana, was set off here last week by Attorney General James M. Ogden, who declared in a public address that the city of Marion, Indiana, scene in August, 1930 of two lynchings was seething in corruption."

The address was made before the Indiana State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and has resulted in a spirited public battle between the city officials of Marion and Attorney General Ogden. In his speech before the N. A. A. C. P. of which he has been a contributing member for several years, Mr. Ogden said in part:

"I say woe unto Marion! You have placed your official approval on bombings, lynchings and numerous crimes of violence. Your grand juries refuse to return indictments. Your local authorities having completely fallen down in bombings and lynchings, the Attorney General's office took the matter up and two alleged lynchers who were tried were both acquitted.

"Marion citizens have defied and overthrown their courts and all orderly processes. Added to the shame of lynching is the fact that it has been impossible to make anyone answer for the crime."

In his address Mr. Ogden repeatedly paid tribute to the cooperation he had received from the National Office of the N. A. A. C. P. and from the local officers of the Association's branch and state conference. Walter White, N. A. A. C. P. secretary, investigated the lynchings and forwarded the names of 27 persons seen in the mob to Indiana authorities Mrs. F. Katherine Bailey, president of the Indiana State Conference of the N. A. A. C. P. pushed the case against the mobists and insisted upon attending the trials even despite threats made against her life and that of her husband.

Mrs. Bailey reports that the state conference was a stirring success with 25 representatives of state branches in attendance.