My copy of “Inside the COATESVILLE LYNCHING" arrived today

This is on page 146-147 of the book. It takes at least one volume to tell the story but these few words from Grand Jury Testimony sum up the story:

“William Butler, a black who lived in Coatesville made a public statement that colored in town had no desire to avenge Walker's death; they held the greatest respect for Officer Edgar Rice. He stated you can't hold a race responsible for the criminal acts of one man. He also added that despite rumors to the contrary, the blacks in town did not possess an uppity spirit. The general sentiment Walker was lynched not because of being black but because he killed Edgar Rice a well-respected, well liked officer and lifelong resident of Chester County. He described Walker as a crazed drunkard who committed this horrible unprovoked murder. 

Some of negros in town were aware of the previous murder of another black man in their community; Walker in his confession at the hospital admitted to it and that he thus far had escaped punishment. One public leader put this best, it wasn't that Walker was lynched that was causing all the trouble. If they had shot him, or even hanged him, it would have been barely noticed by the press; there were lynchings several times a week at that time in this country. The way they did it drew all the attention; people had a hard time dealing with a burning.”

From Grand Jury Testimony 

It was Walker’s second murder in Coatesville.

This is a must read book