OCR Interpretation


Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, January 06, 1923, Image 6

Image and text provided by Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84025841/1923-01-06/ed-1/seq-6/

What is OCR?


Thumbnail for 6

LOUISIANA GOVERNOR TO FIGHT KUIN TO I
FINISH IK MER R0U9E MURDERS - ARREST
MAYOR WKOIIU AFTER FLIGHT TO MARVLMID
heldhe?§ is
Baltimore. Dec. 26.—Dr. B. M. Mc*j
Koin. former Mayor of Mer Rpuge. La.
was arrested this afternoon at Brady
Institute. Johns Hopkins Hospital,
where he has been tuking a post grud-j
uate course. The arrest was made in;
compliance with a request from Dover |
nor Parker of Louisiana, which asked I
that the former Mayor be held for tliai
Louisiana authorities in connection I
with the recent alleged Ku Klux Klan
murders at Mer Rouge.
Dr. McKoin asserted that he was not
a fugitive from Justice and that he
came to Baltimore on October 1 to
'take a course in urology under Dr.
Hugh Young at the Brady clinic. He
insisted that he knew nothing of the
murders of Richards and Daniels and
that he left the town after he had
been shot at one night as he was re
turning from attending a false call.
“I am practically ruined finaneial
ly, he continued. "Physician friends of
mine are providing the money to en
able me to study here. My friends ad
vised me to leave becuuse my work re
quired me to go into rural communi
ties much at nights. Shot at once from
ambush and just missed. I was told
'.that I could not protect myself from
.such attacks.
.MCKOIN TELLS OF THREATS
'"The trouble, so far us I was con
cerned. began six years ago when I
was elected Mayor of tlie town for ni
period of two years. I did not want the
position but the best people of Mer
Rouge wanted me to run. They elect
cd me and I did my best to stop the as-;
socintion of white men with Negro j
women, gambling and other evils. Mer
Rouge is u town of between 7o0 and |
1.000 people. It is surrounded by a pros
porous farming community. You know i
bow things are in a small town when
any change is attempted. One-half is;
with those who are in. The other half
is against them.
“When I had finished my first two
years 1 received a letter tolling me not
to run again. After such a threat, ori
course. 1 had to run I was elected. I
finished my second torni in 1920. Since,
then there has been some disorders at
various times. Last summer some of
the men who were opposed to me used
to come out in front of my house and
fire off their guns and shout. It fright
• ened my wife and children and I asked
that it be stopped, but it wasnt
stopped.”
T-v.. M _4~t.l 1-- 1, ~
been called by -a false message to at-,
.■tend an aged Negro woman who ha l
not asked for him. and how be had
been shot at in his car on returning,
home. Federal agents who examined |
his car after he left Mer Rouge -he'd j
•that the shots which punctured the)
• ear would have killed the driver, and)
that because Dr. McKoin escaped un-i
hurt the shots must have been fired
from within the car. After relating1
that, following this occurrence, he
had received a letter telling him that
-“they would get me the next time.” he
Kiontinued.
“It was then, after my friends bad
told me that I could not practice medi
•cine, make my calls and protect myself
from such night attacks ns that that I
got out. I received this letter on Friday
and I left Mer Rouge on Tuesday. That
was last August. While I know noth
ing about the death of Richards and
Daniels, the attack of the mob on those
men and on J. L. Daniel. W. C. An
drews and C. C. Davenport occurred
after I left. I do know tlie men.”
“Were they identified with you
when you were Mayor?" he was asked.
“No. not especially1.” he answered.
DENIES HE IS KLANSMAN
“All I know is that both men who
were killed were on the bad side the
side of the bootleggers, gunmen and
men who kept Negro concubines.” he
continued. "I had fought that element
while I was in the Mayor's chair and
bad a hard time doing it.
“Just before I left Mer Rouge a boy
of good family was shot in the back
there. What did the Sheriff and the
Governor do? The ease was dismissed
after a jury filled with bootleggers and
the vicious element declared the alleg
ed murderer innocent.
“Now, however, when a bootlegger
and some one else is killed the Gover
nor Joins in the investigation. This af
fair in my opinion will decide whether
the decent or good element of the town
will control. The town has a reputa
tion for being rough.”
He asserted that lawlessness was a
'common occurrence at Mer Rouge and
that he was among those who started
to clean up the place. The result, he
said was a hard battle with bootleggers
moonshiners and men of bad reputa
tion.
“Were you Identified with any
'Church?" he was asked.
'Yes; I was a deacon In the Baptist
•church.
“Were the church people with you
vr.ien you were Mayor?”
“Yes. generally.”
“Was »he Ku Klux Klan active in
thr ncdgbbr t ber dV
“We>l. they used to parade around a
•great deal with their robes and their
masks on but 1 never knew of any
thing like this that they did.”
“Are you a member of the Ku Klux
Klnn?”
Dr. McKoin refused to answer this
question.
Dr. McKoin was locked up pending
further word from the Louisiana Gov
ernor'. whose message read:
"Important. Arrest Dr. McKoin for
murder. Hold him for Louisiana au
thorities."
The fact that Dr. McKoin was a
student nt Brady Institute was learn
ed In an unusual way. Letters address
p<1 to him at that address had been re
turned to the Post Office marked “un
known.”
Today when a policeman fell uncon
scious on the waterfront and an am
bulance was called the report was sign
txl “Dr. McKoin.” This revealed his
identity, although at this time the tele
gram from Governor Parker had not
been received. His whereabouts had
been a mystery.
While Dr. McKoin at first said lx?
would fight being returned to Louis
iana. he later stated that he would
make no opposition to Governor Park
er’s demand, would start back tomor
row' and would answer to the best of
his ability uny and all questions ask
ed of him.
SILENT ON MCKOIN CHARGE
Baton Rouge. La., Dec. 26.—Gove
nor Parker declined today to make
any comment on'the arrest in Balti
more of Dr. McKoin beyond the state
ment that the State authorities had
ample grounds for ordering the physi
cian’s apprehension. The Governor in
dicated that any statement concern
ing charges against Dr. McKoin would
have to come through the office of At
torney General Coco.
A requisition on the Governor or
Maryland for the extradition of Dr.
McKoin, it was announced at the Gov
ernor s office, would be issued inime(7
lately. Armed with the proper papers,
•in officer will l>p sent to Blatimorc at
once to bring the doctor back to Louis
iana. It is understood that Dr. McKoin
is wanted on a charge of complicity
in the murder of Watt Daniels and
Thomas F. Richards
Secret Service men have been trail
ing Dr. McKoin for several days accord
ing to Information received here to-•
day. The moment Governor ParK-'r
was advised that l>r. McKoin had been
located he sent a telegram to the Chief I
of Police of Baltimore ordering the ur
I he arrest of Dr. McKoin created
considerable excitement in Mer Rouge.
Citizens there asserted that he was
one of the leaders of t lie hooded moil j
which butchered Daniels and Richards
Witnesses will bo produced, it is said. I
who will identify McKoin pcoltlvely)
as a member of the mob.
Dr. McKoin became identified with
the Ku Klux Klan in 1921, according
to Mer Rouge residents who joined the1
klan at the same time and quit. M<*-|
Koin’s career in office'. It is said here.!
was one of turmoil and strife from the!
time he joined the klan to the date of
his departure from here. Former Klaus
men here say McKoin was appointed
Captain of the klan at Mer Rouge by
tiie Exalted Cyclops of Morehouse Par
ish. and it is charged that he partici
pated in several raids in this section.
Among them the allegation is, was
the kidnapping of Addle May Hamilton
u IS year old girl, who was dragged
from her mother’s home and put
aboard a train bound for Little Rock
without a cent of money.
MCKOIN ARREST STIRS BASTROP.
Mer Rouge. Dec. 26.—Reports that
Dr. B. M. McKoin had been arrested in
Baltimore at the request of Governor
Parker created a stir in Bastrop and
Mer Rouge. Sheriff Curpenter had
sent a telegram to McKoin in Balti
more advising him that lie was want
ed here as a witness in the open hear
ing.
One version of the killing of Daniels
and Richards is that friends of Dr. Me.
Koin kidnapped them because Daniels
and Richards were said to have tried
to slay McKoin in his car, as he told
the story of shots fired at him. Rich
ards said before the kidnapping that
he had been seized by a band of mask
cd men one night and asked about the
alleged attempt on McKoin’.s life, but
that lie had been able to clear bimecU'.
Those who assert that McKoin was a
member of the klan say that the klans
men regarded tlie attack as aimed di
rectly at one of their members and
that therefore the klan sought revenge
Efforts to catch the men wbo dyna
mited Lake La Fourche and thus re
vealed the bodies or Daniels and Rich
ards occupied the attention of Depart
ment of Justice agents today. State
Adjutant Coombs, Sheriff Carpenter
of Morehouse Parish, ColoneJ Louis
Guerre, in charge of the State troops
stationed at Mer Rouge and Bnstrop;
Major J. Fulton, a Medical Corps
officer; other militia officers and De
partment of Justice men visited today
the lake where last Friday l,50i>
1 pounds of dynamite were exploded.
The men who dynamited Lake Lh
Fourcbe are known to the authorities,
according to an admission made to
night by Assistant Attorney General
Wulmsley. He refused to say .f arrests
were to be made, stating that rested
solely with Attorney General Coco. It
Is reported, however, that the authorl
ties know where they can get the dyna
miters whenever they want them.
NO HEARING ASKED FOR
BURNETT.
“Our office knows nothing of orders
for additional troops, and does not cori
slder them particularly necessary at
this time.” Mr. Walmsley said In dis
cussing a rumor that more troops were
to be ordered out.
No reunest for a preliminary bear
ing for “Jeff” Burnett on a murdei
charge has yet been made. District
Judge Odom wild In Bnstrop today, add
ing that he would allow plenty of time
to the State and defense to prepare
their cases before setting a date. That
this date will eome after Jan f>. wher
the open hearing Is started, Is the gen
dally accepted view.
The open hearing, which has been
invoked only three times before In
Louisiana. Judge Odom described as
» procedure when there 1ms been a
crime committed and no complaint
made or indictment returned. Witness
es are summoned and put under outn.
After the testimony is taken at the
open hearing there can l»e either a
Grand Jury indictment or an arrest
on an affidavit as was the case when
A'torney Genet al Coco mode an nffl*
davit against Hut nett, against whom
l:t apparently f it that he had a suf
leiently strong case without further
testimony.
^he State autlit ritles tonight stated
that they had given up hope of finding
the missing heads of Daniels and Rich
ards and explained why the dynamit
ers were able to set the blast and raise
the bodies before the diver got on the
Job.
The diver arrived in Mer Rouge
from St. Louis on Dec. 20. but his out
fit, shipped from Boston where he was
lust employed on u Government job.
had to be thoroughly tested before
any chances could lie taken. This test
was made Dec. 21, and arrangements
were made for the diver to go to the
lake on Dec. 22 and go to work, but be
fore lie could do so word came by cour
ier that the bodies had been found
floating in the water.
The explosion of dynamite tore a
hole in the bank of the lake sixty feet
in length and twenty-fire feet In
width. This caused a large quantity of
earth to slide to the bottom of the lake
If the heads are In the lake they were
covered by tons of sliding earth.
Illustrating the methods of the lead
era of the Ku Klux Klan in Morehouse
parish in attempting to drive people
from their homes, a citizen of Mer
Rouge today described a peace confer
ence and the demand of klan leaders
that four residents of this place leave
town.
After the kidnapping of Daniels and
Richards, the citizen said; the situat
ion in the parish was tenee. Civil war
seemed inevitable. With a view to
patching up a truce both sides appoint
ed conference committees. The confer
ence was held in the Directors’ room
of a bunk at MoDroe. Among those par
ticipating were Jolm I\ Parker and
“Al” Smith of Monroe, Dr. Barham or
Oakridge, J. A. Davenport. Mayor Dade
of Mer Rouge and H. Flood Madison
of Bastrop.
J. K. Skipwith,. leader of the Ku
Klux Klan iu Morehouse parish, and
Dr. McKoin, reputed captain of the
Klan at Mer Rouge the citizen said, ap!
pea red at this conference and announo
ed in substnneo that the only peace
terms that they would consider was
tlmt Town Marshall W. F. Campbell.'.
Hugo Davenport, A. C. Whipple and
Thomas Milner leave Mer Rouge. Argu
meats followed, the citizen said, and
Skipwith and Mckoin agreed that the
four men named might remain, provid
cd they quit talking about the Kmn
and conditions in this section.
KLAN ISSUES A STATEMENT
Monroe, La., Dec. 20.—Morehouse
Klan No. 34, Realm of Louisiana
Knights of the Fu Klux Klan. today
issued a statement stating that the or
ganization had offered to assist in
every way possible in clearing up the
Morehouse Parish kidnapping affair
and stood ready to continue its efforts
to be of assistance.
■‘Everything possible is being done
by the Klan.” said tin) statement,
“that would be of assistance to the
State and other authorities.
“Captain J. K. Skipwittt, Exalted Cy
clops of Morehouse Klan No. 34. Realm
of Louisiana, tendered to the Attorney
General the assistance and co-operat
ion of 500 klanBmen to be used in any.,
capacity deemed necessary to brings
to justice the guilty parties connected^]
with the alleged kidnapping of Daniel^,
and Richards.” f
The Han’s statement expresses.,
doubt ae to the identity of the bodiesfi
found in Lake La Fourehe.
‘‘Althongh it is rumored that thep
bodies of Daniels and Richards have1?
been found, there is. however, no posi ]
tive evidence that this is true. Two oh!
j jects were reported to have been found'
I floating near the banks of Lake La '
| Fourche, and it was presumed that j
: tlrcse bodies were ‘hose of the missing:
men.
“Dr. O. M. Patterson. Coroner of
Morehouse Parish, was summoned to
the scone but upon his arrival he was
not permitted to hold a Coroner’s in
quest being toid and informed by a
man who stated that ho was a Govern
meat representative that an inqueM
could not be held until after the arriv
al of Attorney General Coco, at whloli
time it would be concluded at Mer
Rouge. Immediately on his arrival At
torney General Coco was Interviewed
I by Coroner Patterson as to the necess
Ity of holding a Coroner’s inquest over’
tire bodies that were supposed to have
i been found in Lake La Fourche, but
was informed by the Attorney General
that such would not be necessary.’’
The Ku Klux Klan is preparing to
I show that it was not responsible for
! the kidnapping and murder of Daniels
j and Richards. A Monroe Klansman is
I authority for the statement that after
the alleged attempt to kill Dr. McKoln
a telegram was received by an officer
to notify officially the leader of the
klan In Morehouse Parish that ther*
must not be any reprisals under penal
t •' f revok‘n; *.i < cnarter of the Mere
house klan. The klansman said this
notice was delivered personally to the
Morehouse Klan leader.
Secret Service men. when Informed
of this statement, replied that all they
cared to say was that It would be
shown by positive evidence that the
mob which kldnnpped and killed Ricn
>irds and Daniels was composed exclu
Mvely of klansmen.
EXTEND INQUIRY INTO
ARKANSAS
Investigations being made In Ashlcv
County*. Ark. north of Morehouse Par
ish, by representatives of the Depart
ment of Justice, following the murder
of Daniels and Richards*, may result
in a number of nrrests on the Arkan
sas side of the Louisiana line accord
ing to reports received here.
Department of Justice men have ac
cumulated information to the efTeC
that men from Ashley County, and per
haps other parts of Arkansas*, were in
the masked hand that kidnapped the
five Mer Rouge men. Detectives sup
posed to he representatives of the De
partment of Justice have been report
ed In Ashley County for some time.
It is believed that the cases in Ar
kansas are being worked up indepen
dently and that any defendants taken
in that State would be tried in the Fed
eral courts in Arkansas. Whether they
would be used as witnesses in the
open court investigation to begin at
Bastrop on January 5 bus not been de
termined.
MANY OF MYSTERY SEES
BURNETT
Bastrop. Dec. 26.—Visitors at the
Jail where “Jeff”* Burnett is confined
were fewer today. New restrictions
have been imposed by the military
authorities and permission to see the
prisoner must come through Colonel
Guerre, commanding the militia.
Burnett today persistently avoided
photographers. When an attempt to
photograph him through the barred
window of his cell was made he would
retreat Into the shadow’s out of reach
of the camera.
The mysterious man. who arrived In
Bastrop two days ago. and is said to
be a national official of the Ku Klux
Klan. again called on Burnett today.
The prisoner refused to divulge the
name of the visitor or bis mission.
Three Insane Negro women are qua£
tered in one section of the Jail where
Burnett is lodged. One of them con
stantly berates the klan. cursing it
and asserting that "all of them white
klansmen will be killed.” Passing pede
strlans and motorists stop and listen
a moment, then pass on.
Reports are current that virtually
every pedestrian lis armed. If sol. their
gtrits are well hidden. Throughout tho
day the people gather in the square or
walk slowly through the main streets,
marketing or gossiping. Few storeis are
open at night and few people are on
the streets. Negroes are seldom in evl
dence after 9 P. M. The sole motion p*.c
ture theatre is open three nights a
week.
Tlie troops are well cared for and
are living in tents heated with natur
al gas. piped from nearby wells. They
and the townspeople have had no dif
ferences and are on the best of terms.
Macbrfie guns are still mounted at
the jail and at the camps and are ready
.'or Instant use.
(New York Times.)
KLANSMEN INITIATE 75'
MORE IN NEWARK.
Negroes Making- Rush to Militant j
lieicv Organizations as Klan's
Shajlow Darkens Nation.
(Crusader Service.)
Newark. N. J., Dec. 29.—A Klan of;
the Knights of the Invisible Empire
received its charter from the Imperial |
Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan at a meet j
ing last night at 17 West Park street,
without hindrance from two Newark
detectives who were in the building
hut did not interrupt the meeting. The
meeting initiated seventy-five new
members and heard a “message of
world wide importance” from the Im
perial Cyclops of the klan.
The new klan was christened George
Washington Klan, No. 3 of the Realm
of New Jersey. •*
At the same time, not very far away
from the meeting of the klan there
was held an organizational meeting of
the African Blood Brotherhood, one of
the most militant Negro organizations
in the country and reputed to have or
ganized Negroes in their own defense
•it Tulsa, Okla. The meeting was held
is a result of many communications
from residents of Newark to the Su
preme Council of the organization at
2299 Seventh Avenue, asking that a
Post of the Brotherhood be organized I
in Newark to meet the growing klan !
manned. In response to these requests;
and communications two organizers of:
tiie A. B. B.. had been sent to Newark.
It is said that fully fifty persons at
tended tbe meeting which was marked
with far more effective secrecy than
was the meeting held by the Klan.
, '
Woman Shot; Savs Fuq
itive Husband Was Man.
(Preston New* Service)
Newark. N. J., Dec. 27. Mrs. Pauline
Williams is in the city hospital suffer
ing front a bullet wound in the lower
part of her right side, inflicted, site d"
flared, by her husband Edward Wil
liams because she refused to live with
him where he has been hiding from
the police. Williams got away after
flte shooting.
Williams has lived at 27 Bay street.
Montclair, since he was charged with
having embezzled a car load of coal
from, his employers about three weeks
ago. According to Mrs. Williams her
husband went last Friday night to the
house where he has beer living and
then the shooting occurred.
Mrs. Williams was living fn the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Wil
liams. not a relative, and he. his wife
and daughter were taken to police
headquarters as witnesses.
Oil Makes Blind Father
of 15 Wealthy Over Night
(Pr**torv New* Service)
Shreveport. La.. Deo. 27. The disco’ -
cry of oil on the land of Wright Roclr.
who lias been totally blind for a nuri
her of years, took him afid h'.s fanv.ly
of J5 children out of poverty into
wealth almost over night.
v hen informed of his wealth the
old man Is said to have told his Inform
nrt that he did not know what to di
with it except buy himself some
clothes and something to eat. He Is an
?x slave and being blind is unable in
fully enjoy the things wealth bring.
But hl« children declare that they will
see to It that they get all that is com
Ing to them. Only two of his children
are with him now. The others are sail
to be on their way to fathe mow. al
though they haj not communicated
with him for ytarj past.
MURDERS HAVE DAY
IN COURT
Marion. 111.. Dec. 21.-After eight
days spent in the introduction of evi
dence. the prosecution rested today ut
the trial of five men charged with mur
der in connection with the slaying of
twenty non-union miners during the
Herrin riots last June. The defense
will open tomorrow morning.
In the testimony of its last few wit
nesses. the Stato completed its evi
dence of the events from the time
three mine guards were shot while
driving in a truck from Carbondale to
I.ester Mine on tho morning of June
21 to the attack on the mine that aft
ernoon. when three union miners were
killed, the surrender under a white
Dag the next morning of forty-eight
non-union men in thfe pit. and the slay
Ing of twenty of the prisoners.
All five defendants have been podd
ed out In court as having been seen
with guns during the riots and some of
them have been named as having shot
down some of the victims. Pour survlv
nr<* of the massacre have testified.
The cross-ex&mlnations have been
brief and apparently designed to neat
out the defense contentions that the
non-union men in the mine and their
employers had Incited the riots so
State troops would be called out to
protect the pits, that the guards In the
mine were armed, and that they dlsre
garded warnings that the operation of
the mine would result in outbreaks.
In their cross-examination attorneys
for the defense repeatedly referred to
non-union worker/ In the mine and
the guards as ‘‘scabs.* ‘gunmen,* ‘pri
vate detectives" and "spies.”
A. W. Kerr, chief counsel for the d»
fense said he expected to prove the
guards or gunmen” wore the aggres
sors in the riots and brought on any
attack by their acts of provocation and
chr.l ion go.
He said he would impeach the testi-!
mony of some of the witnesses for tho ■
State and would present hundreds or
witnesses to testify the defendants now
on trial had no possible connection
with the killings.
Impersonate Officers:
Hold Un Neqroes.
(PrMten NVwd Service'
Atfonta. On.. Dec. 2S. J. A. Peoples.
”ge 29 and Ouv Richards, ago 25
(white) were arrested by the police i
:ast Thursday night in connection with
robberies said to have occurred in
local railroad yards when a party ot
three men posing as officers held up a
number of Negroes.
Richards was arrested an«l charged
with impersonating an officer. Accord
ing to the police,, railroad men claim
to have caught him in the act of hold
ing up Negroes. He was taken to head
quarters and turned over to city detec
tives. While being grilled by the detec
lives. Peeples came down to the police
station to see him He was taken in be
fore Richards, who is said to have Im
mediately identified him as one of the
two others alleged to have been with
him at the time of the alleged crimes.
Richards is a meter reader for the
Georgia Railway and Power Co., and
at the time he was arrested he was
wearing a badge of the company. His
bond was fixed at $1,000 in default of
which, lie was held at headquarters.
Peoples was charged with suspicion
and also held.
Convicted of Inviting
Friend to Kill His Wife.
Washington. D. C.. Dec. 27.—Andrew
P. Bailey, a former employee of the I
post office was convicted last Friday
by n Jury in Criminal court of solid* i
ing to commit a felony. This is said to
l'c the first indictment over returned
in this District for this offense, Capt.
Bert Emerson, assistant United States
Attorney having to go hack to the eon
non law in the absence of a statute,
•'he penalty is a term of imprisonment
not to exceed five years.
Bailey Is said to have offered a
friend. John H. Anderson. $50 and one
half the proceeds of a life insurance
policy to kill Mrs. Mamie E Bailey,
wife of the accused. According to the
testimony of Anderson, Bailey was to
arrange a "gas trap" in Iris wife’s l>ed.
and when he had taken the children to
the movie3, Anderson was to start, a
flow of gas in the wife’s bedroom.
Bailey was to furnish Anderson with
rubber gloves so that no tell tale fing
er prints might be found on the gas
jet. Judge Stafford remanded the pris
oner to Jail for sentence later.
reducing church mortgage
fPretton New* Service)
Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. 28.—Rev. J. C.
Anderson, D. D.. pastor of Bethel A. M.
E. Church, has Just completed a mon
iter rally In which the $23,000 morr
gage on the mother churclv here has
been reduced several thousand dollars
The mortgage was nearly $50,000 when
Hev. Anderson became pastor In 1921
He hopes to clear the church of debt
by 1924.
Declare War on Ku Klux
Klan in New Jersey State
(Preston New* Service)
Harrison, N. J.t Dec. 29 —Instruct
ions to arrest anyone appearing In the
city wearing the regalia of the Ku
Klux Klan. ant! onlers to have the
sanity of all such persons determined
by physir«n,is. were posted last We.lnts
day by Chief of Police Walsh. The or
tiers, adopted 1> the Common Council
also Inclutlo the urmasking of hoo led
Individuals and ter. days* imprison
m'ot.
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT UPHOUS .
JIM CROW liVUS IN MISSISSIPPI DECISION
UPH0LaKE$d#MsKI ?oToPMs F<m)
{crusader Service.)
Washington'. Dec. 29.—Jim Crow'
laws passed by Southern States were
not abrogated by Government control
of the railroads during the war pid
tlie United States Railroad Admlnis-I
tration was responsible for their en
forcement, according to a decision by
the Supremo Court today.
The Mississippi courts were upheld
in awarding damages against the Ra:i
road Administration in favor of A. E.
Stephens. F. G. Gaddy and M. Swinney
three Mississippi whites who charge
that they were compelled to ride with
Negroes despite their protest.
The pluintiffs contended that the
con«fhctor refused to eject Negro pas
sengers from u section marked for
“whites only” and that as a result they
suffered “mortification and embarrass
ment.”
While the validity of Jim Cfow Haws
was not specifically passed upon, there’
can be no doubt In the minds of Intel
ligent people that the discussion of the
Supreme Court goes far toward uphold
ing these lfcwe.
I)R. MOTON ENDS “MARCH TO
THE SEA.”
(Pre*ton News Service)
Albany. Gn., Dec. 2S.—For the flvst
time in history Albany whites and Ne
groes assembled in large numbers In
the City Auditorium to listen to talks
on inter-racial problems by Negro and
white speakers. The occasion was the!
welcome on Dr. R. It. Moton. principal
of Tuskegee Institute, during his good ,
will trip through Georgia.
The meeting was presided over o.»
Mayor Peacock and the introductory
speech was mad a by H. T. McIntosh,
vice president of the Albany Herald
publishing company. Other speakerc [
wore; Carlton B. Gibson, superintend
ent of Savannah Public Schools) Prof.
C. G. Wiley, of Georgia State Colic*-** ,
and Bishop R. F. Reese and l)r. Moton.!
Dr. Moton’s party Included C.. C.
Spaulding, secretary-treasurer. North
Carolina Mutual Insurance Company
of Durham; Homan E. Perry, pres*
dent of the Standard Life Insurance
Company. Atlanta. Ga.; Dr. A. M. Wil
kin*. vice president. Citizens Trust
Co.. Atlanta. Ga; L. E. Williams,
president Wage Earners Bank. Savan
nab, Ga.; Dr. John Hope, president
Morehouse College Atlanta. Ga.; Hen
Benjamin J. Davis, editor Atlanta In
dependent; Warren Logan, treasure”
Tuskegee Institute; A. L. Ilolsey, se
rotary to Dr. Moton; Dr. W. H. Harris
Athens. Ga.; E. A. Williams. Savannah
Ga.; Prof. 7T. A. Hunt. Fort Valley, Ga.
W. A. Aery, Hampton Institute, Hamp
ton. Va.; Monroe N. Work; E. C. Rob
erts; T. M. Campbell; Charles II. Gin
son; C. J. Calloway; C. M. Battey. C.
H. Stewart and C. L. Webb. Tuskegee
Institute; R. S. Grossley. Jackson.
Miss.; Jesse O. Thomas, Urban League
Atlanta. Ga.; A. B. McCoy. Atlanta.
Ga.; and J. W. Holley, Albany. Ga.
Find Runaway SIood
Off the Coast of Florida.
(Prwrtor. Nows Service)
West Palm Beach, Fla., Dec. 28.—
Two Negro fishermen brought a run'
away vessel into port here last Mon*
<loy afternoon. The vessel registered
35 tons. They reported to local officials
that they found the vessel under full
nail in the Gulf Stream1 about 14 miles
oft’ Jupiter. The sloop was unmanned,
although a good supply of provisions
was on board, and there was evidence
thet it had only recently been abandon
•: d.
No identifying papers were found
aboard. The word “British” is painted
on the sloop's bow. followed by the let
ters "N. H.” Local authorities belteve
tire vessel may have been used as »
rum runner, and think it is probably I
a Bahama craft. No reason is known
for the crew leaving the sloop. It an
pears to be in good condition and
when encountered by the Negro fisher
men it came near to running them
down.
Sentenced to Death for
Hacking Wife. With Axe.
(Finwton New* Service)
Washington, D. C.. Dec. 29.—Earn
est A. Shands. 28 years old was sen
tenced last Friday in Criminal court
to die on tiro scaffold at the District or
Columbia Jail on Friday, February 2.5
1923. Shands was convicted recently
after a trinl occupying less than two
hours of hacking his wife. Mrs. Cath
erine Shands. with an ax on August 9.
last at their home in D street. Mrs.
Shands died about a month later.
When arrested Shands admitted tho
attack on his wife and when informed
by the police that his wife was still
alivo. requested permission to go to the
hospital and finish the job. He said
that he warned his wife several times
that if she did not change her conduct
he would kill her. but she only laugh
ed at him.
Helera Rotary Club to Aid
Returning Negroes.
(Pmton News Service)
Helena, Ark.. Dec. 29.—Following an
nouncement at the local Rotary Club
Dst Thursday night that Negroes from '
this section now In the North were
anxious to return to their old jobs here
a committee was appointed to provide*
ways und means of furnishing trans
portation for such Individuals .in 1
families as local planters; industries
and business concerns might require.
According to a- statement issued by
ths secretary of the club. "Numbers ot
Negroes who went north- from ttllh
county during the summer- and early *
fall have-already returned’, mostly- at
their own expense. One man declared
that he "bent his way to Helena from
Chicago.*"
Continuing the report dbolhred’ "A
recital of the difficulties encountered
by Negroes In northern Industrial oem
ters are appalling. Negroes claim they
are lured north on the promise of
high wages. They get the high wages
allright, but the living expenses ar*
correspondingly high. Can*t find hou
ses for their families and when thev
are compelled to buy suitable clothing
to withstand the rigors of winter weath
er; pay doctor bills; etc., their wages
are insufficient. One Negro said that ho
was satisfied to stay down here with
ow wages and inadequate school facil
dies for his children rather than suff
<i the inconveniences up north.
Texas Man Dies at the .
Ripe Age of 121 Years.
(Prwton Ne\va Service)
PuriH. Texas. Dec. 28.—John Dunham ;
who is said to be the oldest man in
Texas, died here last Thursdny night
He worked regularly until the time of
bis death. He is said to be 121 veara •
old Never known a sick day In Ills lir0
until pneumonia attacked him with
fatal result.
IITTLJ rsi
Alt! 18
(Preuton News Service)
Little Rock ^ rh . Dec. 26.—J. J. ,?ier *
^en> an undertaker here was arrested
la. t Tuesday wight on a charge of reilf
less driving after colliding with an
automobile at Third and Victory
streets. Gleeden was released on a *200
bond. ,
TUP Pf AWPT
Umbrella Coupon
«OOT> FOR FI\T VOTES.
Webster's |
I New International i
r DICT!CX.M»IES are in use by busi- •
K ncrs men, engineer::, bankers, :
p judgec, rrchitects, phyoirians, :
t firmer::, tsnchers, librarians, cier- ■
• cyrren, fry auccsscful men and \
!- csomen ihs world over.
P Are Ycu Equipped to Win?
; The New International provides :
: the mcan3 to success. It is an all- :
: Knowing teacher, a universal ques- :
i ticn answerer.
; If you ceek efficiency and ad- 1
: vancement v/hy not make daily \
\ use cf this vact fund of inform- \
5 ation?
: 400,000 Vocabulary Term*. 2700 PagM. '■
0000 Illustrations. Colored Plato*. ■
* *' Subject*. 12,000 ;
Regular and India-Paper Editions.
SWrlteforspao
imnn pagw,
d illustrations, •
1 otc. FrM. a I
A sot of Pocket :
J Maps if you ■
■ namo tbio • «
9 paper.
1 C.4C.
•ij MERRIAM ;
| CO.,
8prlsgfield, Mau. I
A. D. PRICE, 212 EAST LEIGH STREET
FUNERAL DIRECTOR, EMBALMER AND LIVERYMAN
AJ1 Orders Promptly Filled at Short Notice by Telegraph os
Telephone. Halls Rented for Meetings and Nice Entertain
ments. Plenty of Room with all Necessary Conveniences.
Large Picnic or Band Wagons for Hire at Reasonable '
Rates and nothing but First-claw Automobiles and !
Carriages, Etc. Keep Constantly on Hand Fine Fun
eral Supplies. Open All Day and Night.
Phon* Madison $77—Man On Duty All Night—Richmond Va
( RESIDENCE NEXT DOOR)

xml | txt