This may be our last battle. We believe that it is the beginning of our finaHriumph. ^
MAY 17.1923
VOLUME XIJ, NO. 36
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1924
PRICE, FIVE CENTS
FRANCE FIYS HIGH
HONOR TO COLORED
' WORLD WAR DEAD
(Prestoa News Service.)
RHEIMS, FRANCE;, July 2p.—Dedi
cating a monument last Sunday to the
colored troops of the great World War,
General Archinard praised their cour
age and the exalted part they took in
>1 victory. He replied to the Ger*
jnan campaign against the colored |
troops saying: “Our black sharp-shoot
ers conducted themselves like good!
Frehchmen. showing themselves wor
thy of fighting by our side.”
The colored troops engaged before
■Rhelms from May to July, 1918, he said
comprised about a dozen battalions, or
eoaroely a tenth of all the troops on
the front. 4: They were terrible to the
Germans,’’ he continued\ “because they
regarded the Germans as savages fight
lug with disiloyal arms and devastating
everything f6r the love of evil. Our
sharpshooters fought well for France
because she treats them with humanity
•and justice on the same footing as h-:r
other children.**
"Edouard Deladier, minister of t-ie
.colonies, said that 800,000 black
'troops fought for France and 30,00^
were killed on the battle field.
mt'ATIOX STOPS liYNCHING.
(PTMton Netw flarvte)
MONTGOMERY, ALA., July 25 —
The blighting curse of the lynching
evil in the United States does not ap
pear to lessen by agitation for legisla
tion to prevent it. The general unwill
ingness on the part of the masses of
ignorant Americans to manifest a com
p unction of conscience against such
outbreaks of barbarism seems ever ap
parent. The Montgomery Journal
says:
‘.In the South greater consideration
is being shown the various elements
that, make up the citizenship. Bcttei
facilities for the education of the Ne
groes are being provided. These facili
ties are far below the needs, but as
time goes by they will be increased*.
Education will do more to remove the
curse of lynching than any anti-lynch
laws that could be written.”
While the South is showing a splend
id attitude toward the Negro as to the
matter of increased educational facili
ties. it must, if lynching to be curbed,
show a still greater effort toward the
education of the whites. Education
will certainly curtail the lynching evil
but all persons must be educated.
DAVID Ml’XROE DIES SUDDENLY
IN DUNN, N. €.
(Prftton N«w* Service)
DUNN. N. Oi July 25—David Mun
roe. aged 70 years, who had been en»
ployed as a porter in Young's Hot 3!
here, died suddenly Wednesday morn
ing while sitting in a chair in the smoic
ing room. According to tire coroner
death was due to heart failure. Before
coming to the Young Hotel he serven
27 years at the LaFavette Hotel and
was widely known among traveling
»>lesmen.
PYTHIAN INSTALLATION.
The officers of the subordinate lodges
and also the officers of the courts of
Calanthe will be installed at the Shar
on Baptist Church. Tuesday night
August 5th, 1924 at 8:00 o’clock. Busi
ness of importance to the organization
~n demands that the officers and members
the order be present. Rev. J. H. Bin
ford, D. D., District Deputy G. C.
KLAN ISSUE INVOLVED IN D. 0.
MURDER TRIAL.
Court Rejects Cbailwige on Ground
of Prejudice—Juror Admits
Former Kiwi Membership.
WASHINGTON, July 18.—(P. N.
S.)—The Invisible Empire of the
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, which
fk>r a time threatened to disrupt the
recent Democratic National Conven
tion, bobbed up today in Criminal
Court No. 1, presided over by Chief
Justice Walter I. McCoy, of the Su
preme Court Bench. The subject
was brought up by T. Morris Wam
pler, of counsel for four colored men
who are on trial on a charge of first
degree murder, in connection with
the shooting and killing of John W.
Purcell, a colored policeman, in the
southwest section last October.
Edward D. Talbert, of apartment
20, 1918, Notfhweet, a prospective
juror an<^ ex-service man, was being
examined by Wampler when the at
torney suddenly asked him if he was
a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
' Not now," Talbert answered.
“Were y»ou ever a member of the
Klan?” Wampler continued.
“I refuse to answer,” was Talbert’s
retort.
Attorney Wampler, who is white,
and who was former counsel for Jo
seph Graves, now said to be serrving
a jail sentence for contempt of court
under the Prohibition 1/aw, then ap
pealed to the conrt to compel Talbert
to answer, and Judge McCoy ruled
that the attorney was entitled to an
answer, do matter what it might be.
Talbert then explained that he
dropped out of the Klan “some
months" aijh, .haring Joined k when
he came out ■tff the army.
He was then challenged for cause
on the ground that no member of
the Klim can sit on a Jury to try a
Colored defendant, without 'being pre
judiced tn advance against them be
cause of their color.
Judge McCoy refused to order Tal
bert to leave the box, as no copy of
the Klan oath waB before the Court
to show that the prejudice existed.
Talbert explained that he took no
oath which would cause him to dis
criminate againBt Negroes, Catholics
or Jews.
Wampler, with other defense
counsel, noted an exception to the
ruling of the 'Court. However Tal
bert is still subject to challenge
While attorneys for the prosecution
have nothing to say about Talbert’s
fitness to serve as juror, the defense
i attorneys may still issue a peremp
1 tory challenge and remove him.
[ This is the first time in the history
of the local courts that either a mem
• her or former member of the Klan
, has been compelled to admit mem
I JOHN H. YOUNG, SR. DIES AFTER
JLONB ILLNESS.
(Preston News Service)
PINE BLUFF. ARK., July 24 —Jo in
H. Young. Sr., said to be one of tbe
best known race men in this sectio j,
died at his home Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. Young served for more than 30
years as Supreme Master of Exchequer
of the K. of P. At the meeting of the
Supreme Lodge last year Mr. Young
tendered his resignation, but it was
not accepted. He had been a resident
of Pine Bluff virtually all his life, and
until last year was custodian of the
local Masonic Temple at Fourth Streui
ml State Avenue.
TENTH ANNIN ERSARY OF THE
ST. JOHN WATCHMEN.
The public of Richmond is invited to
attend the Tenth Anniversary Exercis
es of the St. John Watchmen: Sunday,
July 27th at 3:30 P. M. at the True Re
formers Hall. The annual sermon will
be preached by Rev. T. W. Smith, of
Morning Star Baptist Church. South
Richmond and an excellent musical pro
gram has also been arranged, includ
ing Mr. Joseph Matthews, soloist.
W. I. Wright,
man.
Woman, it is Gharged
Strangled Her Twins.
(Preston News Service)
WILSON, N. C., July 24—Effie Fel
lows is being Tjeld in the Smithfield
jail without bond, to answer to the
charge of strangling to death her new
born twin babies with apron strings
and concealing their bodies in a trunk
where they were found yesterday by
officers. The crime is alleged to have
been committed the early part of July
The prisoner refused to make a state
ment.
i
GOV. TRINKLE PARDONS
OOTH '
FACED ELECTRIC CHAIR
Aubrey Barrett, Convicted in Charlotte
County is Freed Conditionally.
I M II M I I i I U I I IJJ'I I IJ
Aubrey Barfett, who was,It years
of age at the time of his incarceration
in the Virginia Penitentiary, after
seven years service was released
Tuesday, July 22, 192 4, on a condi
tional pardon granted by Governor
E. Lee Trinkle. The tender hearted
Chief Executive commented at length
on the oase. The Wiling of /this
Charlotte citizen was largely the re
sult of his own act In going to the
home of young Barrett’s father and
beating him. While the two men
were struggling on the ground, the
boy, Aubrey went to his father’s aid
and as a result the white man was
kilted. - ‘ «'
TRIED WITHOUT COUNSEL.
A jury found elder Barrett guilty
of first degree murder and he was
•electrocuted. Attorney W. L. Lan
caster represented the accused. The
boy was placed on trial without
counsel and entered a plea of guilty,
whereupon Judge Hundley sentenced
him to death, alleging that upon a
plea of guilty, he was left with no
discretion In the matter. The case
attracted much attention at .the time
and many white citizens interested
themselves in the case. The Rich
mond, Va. News Leader was out
spoken in behalf of the hapless youth
and as a result of its strictures the
editor was summoned to appear at
Charlotte C. H. Va. to show cause
why he should not be punished for
contempt.
JUDGE HUNDLEY REVOKED
CITATION.
The Richmond, Va. Planet had
also taken up the case and had re
produced the articles from The News
Leader. Editor John Mitchell, Jr.
wtts also summoned. A plea in both
cases was filed and finally Judge
Hundley agreed 16 withdraw the ci
tation and ithe cafes were dismissed
from the docket. :
This is the samfe county, in which
Richard Walker, & colored man was
lynched more thaq thirty years ago.
Editor (John Mitchell, Jr. condemned
the lynching in uhmeasured terms.
A letter was «,e»i to- him with a
drawing of a Ehull and crossbones
and a piece stating that
they would, treat' lflm In the same
manner. ....
THAT CHARLOTTE COjONTT VISIT
He published the letter* ‘in The
s Planet and announced that he would
visit the county. Charlotte Court
House is five miles from any railroad
station. He arrived there in the
early morning, drove five miles, in
spected the jail and the tree from
which Walker had been hanged and
'returned to Richmond, relating the
affair in the columns of The Planet.
For that, he has 'been known ever
since as the “fighting editor/’ Pres
ident William J. Simmons in his
sketch of the life of John Mitchell,
Jr. gave him that designation. „
Aubrey Barrett, a colored youth,
convicted of murder in the circuit
court of Charlotte county in July, l*)iG
now serving a life term in the state
penitentiary, was granted a conditional
pardon today by Governor E. Lee Trin
kle. The governor’s action concludes
one of the most interesting and unus
ul caeca In the history of crime in
Virginia.
Young Barrett, who was between 15
and 17 yeare old at the time of the
crime, was convicted of first-degree
murder along with hii father, and both
were sentenced to the electric chair by
the late Judge George J. Hundley.
Certain circumstances in connection
with the case led to protests from sev
eral Virginia newspapers! these papers
believing the boy had not been given a
fair trial. The protest of The News
Leader caused Judge Hundley to cite
the editor for contempt of count, al
though he did not bring the case to
trial.
APPEAL TO GOVERNOR!.
An appeal was made on behalf of
tibe Barretts to Governor Stuart, who
made a thorough investigation, and de
cided the elder Barrett was guilty of
murder but that the sentence of his
son should be commuted to life impris
onment. The father was electrocuted
and the son began serving his life
term.
It was believed by many persons at
the time that subsequent executive
clemency would be shown the boy and
repeated efforts toward that end have
been made on his behalf by Former
Senator James E. Gannon, K. T. Craw
ley of Richmond and others
These efforts culminated today in
the conditional pardon granted by Gov
ernor Trinkie.
Another unusual feature of the ca3e
was the fact that after the boy had
been convicted, defense counsel was
provided by an anonymous friend of
justice. The identity of this person was
(Continued on page 4)
HOMEWARD BOUND
,.. J
<•
DAPPER COLONY LEADER SLAIN;
WIPE IS ARH(ESTED.
1 I . ! i ■ •
HUNTINGTON, W. VA., Jtaiy 25.-'
Van Clark, sal<l to be “emperor’’ ot
Huntington’s special elite det of new
comers here, was killed last Thursday
evening with a bullet fired into his
heart. H16 wife is in jail' charged
with the murder. It is said that the af
fray In which dark died climaxed, an
all-day nuarrel over another woman. It
is said that Mrs. Clark objected to the
attentions her husband had been pay
ing to the other woman and remonstraj
ed wfah her huSband, who, It Is said
told his wife that he could not keep wo
men from liking him.
According to the police Clark left a
wardrobe which included 16 snappy
suits and half-dozen overcoats, all of
the latest design and Btylfe. He was a
meticulous dresser and acclaimed the
beau-brummel of the set in which he
circulated.
INSECT BITE KILLS BABY; DIES
ON TRAIN NEAR WASHINGTON.
(Proton Nam Barrie*)
' WASHINGTON, D. C., July 24.
Sympathetic passengers aboard a train
that arrlveed here at 7:30 Thursday
morning from the South told of a
mother's devotion to her dying child.
Thejnotber, Mr* Martha Robert", aged
52, of West 142nd Street, New Yom
City, was on her way home from a vis
It to Aiken. 9. CL, and the child, Ar
thur. aged 18 months was with her.
The child died Wore the train reach
ed the Union station,. Mrs. Roberts held
the stilled and fluent form in her arms
until it was taken from her at the sta
tlon and removed to the morgue.
’ Mrs. Roberts explained that the child
had been bitten by an insect at Aiken.
He had been attended by a physician
and the infection appeared to be recov
ering. She Said she had no thoughts of
a serious ending, as she believed that
her child had virtually recovered, other
wise, she would not have tried to make
the long trip on the train.
PERSONALS AND BRIEFS:
—Col. Giles B. Jackson is at his desk
again after a protracted illness of a
month and is able to resume his prac
tice of law.
—Miss Ida Anderson was in the city
this week arranging for a return of her
company in August. She stopped at
Slaughter's Oafe.
—Col. George F. Knickerbocker of
Washington called to see us and paid
his subscription.
- -
MR. BOOKER’S FUNERAL.
The funeral of Mr. Willie Booker
took place last Monday from the
First Baptist Church, of which he
was a member. ReV. W. L. Ran
some, the pastor, officiated. He was
buried with Odd Fellow honors. He
was also o member of the United
Sons Benevolent Club. Interment
was in Maury’s Cemetery. Ml*. Book
er’s tragic death, which occurred on
Friday, the 18th shocked the South
side, as he was well known among
the young and older sets of the efty.
FROM BOSTON TO NEWBERN N. C.
Messrs,. Wni Taylor, Benj. J. Battle
De Witt Hamm, and Thomas T. Taylor
arrived in the city last Saturday eve
ning from Boston. Massachusetts, en
route to Newbern, N. C. The party left
Boston Friday morning, the 18th in
the beautiful "Willis Knight touring
car” belonging to Mr. William Taylor
and arrived in Richmond Saturday aft
ernoon at 5:30 o’clock. Spending the
night on the Southside at the home of
Mrs. Robinetta Cogbill; they left Sun
day morning for Newbern, where they
will spend two weeks, visiting relatives
and frienriis before returning to the
‘.Hub City.”1 Mr. Taylor will carry his
wife and daughter back with him.
GRAND EXALTED RULER
WILSON WEDS IN
5 RICHMOND '
brilliant morning marriage
at first baptist church.
Many Visitors Attend Ceremonies,
The marriage of Miss Leah B. Far
rar, of this city, to Mr. James Finley
Wilson, of Washington, I>. C. took
place last Wednesday morning, 10:16
o’clock at the First Baptist Churclr,
with Rev. William H. Stokes, Ph D„
pastor oi the Bbenezer Baptist
Church, performing the ceremony,
Hev. W. T. Johnson, D. D., as
sisting. The affair had been magni
ficently staged with decorations, eft
the church, many floral baskeis.be
ing in evidence. The brfdV and”
groom at the altar made striking
figures as 'Riev. Dr. Stokes proceeded
with a ceremony, seldom If ever,
heard in this community and lasting
about twenty minuted
I
THE BRIDAL Pa*. t
Flower girls made up of "wee sma"
misses added to the brilliance of the
scene. Mra Leah B. Farrar, Mrs.
Alma Lucas and her husband, Mr.
Ashby Lucas, Mi*. Joseph Farrar and?
Mr. D. J. Farrar composed the im
mediate family of the bride. The
bride was attired in white (satin
crepe) with silk tulle veil with
wreath of orange % blossoms. The
groom wore the conventional suit for
such occasions. Mr. C. TifTany Tol
iver of Roanoke, Va. was best man.
Prof. Charles M. Bland, presided at
the organ. Mrs. Irene Stokes sang,
"I Love Thee Truly."
Those present were: Mr, Peter A.
Lomax, Grand, Traveling Deputy,
Washington, D. C.; Mr. Charles A.
Marshall, Mr. Duke Morris. Mr. Clar
ence Jackson, District Deputy, Col.
George F. Knickerbocker, Mr. Ed
ward Stafford of New York, Mr. John
H. Lovette, Grand Traveling Deputy,
New York, Mr. James T Carter, Mr.
Cary Wheaton, Mr. Joe Hayes, Mr.
King Watkins, Durham, N. C„ Mr.
James H. Ammons, Exalted Ruler
of Williams Lodge, Mr. Edward J.
Morris, Mr. J. M. H Graham, Phil
ippine Islands, Mr. W. H. Hall, Dis
trict Deputy, Mr. Robert L. Hender
son, District Deputy, Central, Pa.;
Mr. iToseph I. Bailey, Washington,
Mr. James T. Johnson, Mrs. Peter A.
Lomnx, Washington, Miss Bessie Bur
rell, Forest Temple, Mrs. Lena Con
nor, Mrs. Laura Williams, Grand
Daughter Ruler, New York, Mrs. Ida
B. Lovett, Eureka Temple, 22, Past
Daughter Ruler, Mrs. Margaret EX
Stout, District Deputy, New York.
THE RING CEREMONY.
At the conclusion of the marriage
ceremony,, prayer was offered by Rev.
Dr. Johnson. The ceremony of plac
ing the ring, by the groom upon the
finger of the bride was impressive.
A flow’er girl carried the same up to
the altar in a silver receptacle, con
taining the ring and white flowers.
Then began the wedding march out
as it had taken place upon the en
trande of the party. A movie picture
camera operated by a white photo
grapher and an ordinary camera,
operated by another white photo
grapher took the pictures of the
bridal party as they passed out to
the waiting automobiles. Some time
was taken in preparing them for this
ordeal.
Mr. A. D. Price had charge of the
cars. The party then went to the
bride's residence at 610 North First
Street, where refreshments were
served. Later, a reception was ten
dered the couple at the Elks’ Home
of Williams Lodge, Fourth and Clay
Streets. The happy couple left at
2:20 for IRbanoke, Va. and, from
there they will go to West Virginia
and then will go to Cuba. They will'
reside in Washington, D. C.
Rufus Holmes Stays Wife
in Fit of Anger—-Flees,
(Fraatoa Nen fcrrlert
CHARLOTTE* N. C., July 25.—Hutts
Holmes returned to his home about 7
o’clock Wednesday morning, a£te» be
ing away frem home since Friday, and
in a fit of anger after his wife question
ed him about hie long alienee, shoe
and killed her. The woman died almost
instantly, it is said. Mrs. Holmes was
an expectant mother. Holmes fled and-,
has net been apprehended.