Richmond planet. [volume], December 26, 1925, Image 1

About Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938

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This niav bo our last battle. We believe that it is the beginning of our final triumph.
%i * JOHN MITCHELL. IB
MAY 17. 1923 ....... ... _
VOLUME XLIII, NO. 7
RICHMOND VIRGINIA. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 26, 1925
PRICE. FIVE CENTS
CHAIRMAN M. A. NORRELL
STRIKES BACK.
Employs Gounsel**Disputes Legal Right of Grand
Exalted Ruler**Declares Matter Local Affair.
Will Widen Breach Between Two Lodges.,
The following correspondence has
l>een received from Chairman M, A,
Norrell:
Richmond, Va., Dec. 18, 1925.
To the Grand Officers of the Grand
Lodge, Improved Benevolent and
;Protective Order of Elks of the
World, and Members of the Grand
Lodge: l
Dear Brothers:— I am herewith
appending for your information the
full record to date, as result of the
unprecedented action of the Grand,
Hxal’.ted Ruler in issuing what is
termed by his paper, a ‘‘Solemn
Mandate” regarding the manage
ment of the Convention of the last
Grand Lodge of Elks.
A SERIOUS SITUATION.
He lhas precipitated a serious sit
uation, the results of which cannot
be foreseen, and 1 want those who
.*\y\
SAYS PLANET IS INTERESTING.
Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. ^,'1925. ,
Dear Mr. Mitchell:
-I find your Planet very interesting
for the past ten years. X^eaftly en.- >
joy reading it. I am.r-i&nding you:,;
an order for $4.0,0 for SnyfiubBcrip- i
tion for the past and present year, j
May God’si Blessing continue to drop !
on you and as you pray, remember j
the Widows and Orphans. 1 am an
Old Roanoker. I
Yours tTuly. |
(MRS.) CLARA WADE,
2928 Crockett Street,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
__ _ |
MR. HENRY JACKSON DIES IN ;
RAN OYER COUNT?.
STUDLEY, Hanover Co., Va.— ,
Brother Henry Jackson departed this :
Mr. M. A NorreU, who led
the committee which enter
tained the Grand Lodge of
Elks, when asked, to com
ment on publications appeal
ing in the Richmond papers
last Saturday, made the fol
lowing statement: * ‘It is a
grand parade of ignorance
envy and jealousy. The men
responsible for it should
have monuments erected and
placed on the grounds of ev
ery pub ic school in Rich
mond. They are veritable fog
horns.Whenever their names
or voices are heard in the
future, sensible people will
exclaim. Beware of ignor
ance’. It is a significant fact
that the Grand Exalted Rul
er was present and presided
at the meeting in which the
resolution was adopted. But
this is Christmas time, anc}
1 am too busy, doing my bit
to help the unfortunate, to
be bothered wild such non
sense’’.
,VV.ViV*.
CHAIRMAN M. A. NORRELL
are injerested, in the future well
being of the Order to be in possess
ion of the facts in order that they
may be ab’e to pass upon them in
an impartial manner and fix the re
sponsibility for whatever may hap
pen upon the responsible person.
NO QUARREL WITH CAPITAL
CITY LODGE.
I wish, further, to advise you
that our committee has no quarrel
with Capital City Lodge as such, for j
! their conduct in this affair has been j
inspired and such resolution as pur
ports to represent sentiment of1
Capital City Lodge, Jias been thS
deliberate act of someone who had
no other object in view but to pro
voke strife between two (2) flour
ishing Lodges of Eliks.
We respectfully submit the record
and request your most thoughtful
consideration of same
Fraternally submitted,
M. A. NORRELL.
THE GRAND EXALTED RULER’S i
SOIjEMN MANDATE.
•‘December 9, 1925.
“Mr. M. A. Norrell,
I ‘•Chairman of the Genera i Commit
tee of the Past Grand Lodge Ses
sion at Richmond. Va., which
c'osed August 29th.
“My dear Sir and Brother: It has
(Continued on page 4)
life December 1, 1925, at 2:20 A. M.
He was a member and officer of the
Second Union Baptist Church. He
had been a member for 35 years
and was highly esteemed and appre
ciated by all his church brethren.
He had many white friends, who
spoke we'.l of him. Mr W. W. Redd,
one of the largest merchants in
Hanover County said he was one of
the best colored citizens found in
his neighborhood.
He leaves a wife, one son, daugli
fer-in-law, one grandchild, three
brothers and two sisters to mourn
their loss. Their loss is his eternal
gain.
Done by the committee of the Se
cond Union Baptist Church.
REV. J. H. PAYNE, Pastor.
W. R. TAYLOR, Church Clerk.
HARRIS—Sacred to tjhe memory
of our Mother and Grandmother,
Anna Harris, who departed this life
December 24th 1924:
One year has passed, our hearts
still sore, '
As time goes on we misis you more;
Our family circle Is broken,
Our mother’s voice is stifl;
A vacant place in our hearts
This world can never fill.
LUCY CROSS.
A SCENIC ACCOUNT—SOLOMON
MARABLES BODY—TWO MED
ICAL COLLEGES FIGURE—ED
ITOR MITCHELL’S EFFORT
SUCCESSFUL.
The death of W. S. Selden, Rich
mond’s oldest undertakes, at, the
homo, df his daughter, Mrs. Theresa
Carters. 719 Buchanan stjreet, in this
city December 13, 1925 at 8:20 A.
M. brings to mtnd (the celebrated
Lunenburg Case in which he figured
in a minor capacity Mrs. Lucy Jane
Polard was found dead by her hus
band. having been murdered and a
belt containing about 5600 having
been taken from her person. Sol
omon Marable was arrested and up
on his alleged confession, Pokey
Barnes. Mary Abernathy and Pokey’s
mother. Mary Barnes were arrested
and charged, with being accomplices
in the crime.
NOT GUILTY.
Manible subsequent^ recanted
this confession and said that the
women were not guilty. Editor .lohn
Mitchell. Jr. became interested in
the case and for 18 months, having
emp’oyed Hon. George D. Wise,
Judge Henry W. Flournoy and Capt
Alexander B. Guigon to defend the
women fought in the courts for a
reversal of the verdict, which was
that Marabie and two of the women
Should die on the gallows and, that
Mary Barnes should be confined in
thp Virginia Penitentiary for ten
years- W
WHITE MAN GOT THE MONEY.
But it is the Marat)le case that
deals with Selden. The release of
the women was finally secured,
Marablle before going to the gallows
testified, that a relative of the Pol
lard’s got him to kill the woman
and that this white man got' the
money and gave him only a $20 note
for his services* It was this large
denomination note that led to his
arrest and conviction. The other
money -was never located. Editor
Mitchell went to FarmviMe, Va. on
the 20th day of September. 1895 to
witness the execution of Solomon
Mara'ble
WEPT BITTERLY.
Marable had lost his nerve and
was weeping bitterly as the editor
approached him in liis iron barred
cage. Jailer Matthews was a col
ored man and he had immediate
Charge of the prisoner. In talking
with Marabt’e, Editor Mitchell
learned from him that his home was
(Continued on page 4)
CHRISTMAS
Christmas leads us to a cradle,
Wrapped in s'wadd,ling bands we find
At! the world’s predicted Saviour,
Man in flesh, but God in mind.
—Robert DangerfleJd Crawley
W'jHJTE cjtizen requests race
PALLBEARERS AND SINGERS.
LAWRENCEVILLE, VA., Dec. 14
The funeral of Mr. Frank W. Davis
took. p ace yesterday. Mr. Davis was
one of tflie best known white citizens
and business men Ip the county,
being at the time bf his dtath pres
ident of the local telephone company
and interested, also in other busi
ness ventures. Mr. Davis was a
staunch friend and supporter, of St..
Paul Normal- arid- Industrial Sehopl
and was gi'eatly' interested, in Its
work off uplift and its efforts to pro
mote- better race relations.
• A short wihlle before his death he
expressed a wish, id which his wife
joined, that Archdeacon Russell and
singers from St. Paul’s be invited, to
, take some part at his funeral. He
! died Saturday morning. Archdeacon
Russell was in Norfolk to fill Sun
day engagements in Norfolk. and
Hampton. At the request of the
family he was wired to return as he
was desired as tan honorary pall
i bearer Archdeacon Knsseh came
i up Saturday night and both he and
| his son. Rev. J. Alvin Russel'1, at
! tended the funerall as honorary pall
bearers.
The funeral services were held at
the house, the Rev. Mr. Gayle, pas
Hor orithe M\ E. Church South, was
the- officiatibg minister. ’ By request
of' Mrs Davis a mixed, sextette from
St. Paul’s School sang two selections
at the (house, “Beautiful Isle of
Somewhere” and “Nearer My God
To Thee”, and ‘‘Lead Kindly Light”
a#, the grave.
The incident is worth noting at
showing the excellent race relations
existing. The requests came entire
ly unsolicited by the school and
were in the nature of a surprise.
A large number of friends and
business associates of Mr. Davis
were present and there seemed to be
perfect acquiescence in the arrange
! ment. Mr. Davis was one of the
I best men in the county a,nd was
high y thought of by both white and
black for his integrity, broad
•.mindedness and likable personality
It was the first time in the his
: torv of tihe county that Negroes had
I been known to act as pallbearers
! at a white funeral or Negro singers
to appear. It is another incident
that shows that it is possible for
tthe races to live together in peace
harmony and good feering.
I _:_
?r John H. Heines, of Winches
Ky. was' In the city Last week.
He had been away from home since
November 24th. The loss Of bis fa
vorite son had affected, him greatly
and recreation was needed. The
young man was precocious and had
prepared himself for the practice of
medicine. He left a wife and three
children. They are living with Dr.
and Mrs. Holmes and are happy.
i
DO YOU KNOW HIM?
| Major It. B. Jordan, Chief of
Police received a communication
I from Mrs. EJva Disney, 618 W. Sar
atoga Street^ Baltimore, Md. enquir*
1 ing if Albert Johnson, about 5 feet
11 inches, light brown skin, lived in
this city. He died a few weeks ago
at her home and she is anxious to
find his relatives
DIED—Reuben C. Carter, Friday,
.December 18th, in New Kent Coun
1 ty, Va., after a brief illness from
i parajiysis. His funeral took Diace
atj his residence, Sunday, December
20, 1925 Rev. Tunstall Banks offi
ciating. Rev. M. M Fislher, of Vir
ginia Union University, the pastor,
being present. He leaves a devoted
widow, three gir’.s and ten sons to
mourn, their floss. Mr. O, B. Carter,
404 N. Fifth Street ia one of tbo
sons
I Preston News Service.)
NEW YORK CITY,' Dec. 18 —
Samuel Browne, 'etter carrier and
the centre of a race controversy in
,the Casti'eton Hi'd district of Staten
■Island on Thursday filed In the
Richmond County Clerk’s office at
St. George complaint in a suit ask
irg $100 000 damages from nine
white neighbors on the ground that
they sought to deprive him of his
home. n
‘• '|Ii'rs. Browne is joint Plaintiff in
■th4 action, and, the first of those
■named in the complaint is Musco M,
Robertson, wealthy rea> estate deal
er and head of the Robertson Devel
opment Company, which founded the
Cast'eton Hill development. Mr.
Robertson is a next-door neighbor of
the letter carrier, urd last August
was indicted for conspiracy to oust
Bnwne from the community. Five
others were named as ‘llohn Doe”
at the same time,
EIGHT OTHERS NAMED.
Whether six of the nine named in
the civiL Suit Thursdiay pre these
‘‘John Does” is a matter for spec
n ation. Those named by Mr. and
Mrs Browne in addition, to Robert
son are Lewis M. Robertson, his
son; Chan'es A. Price, Harry V. ear
lier. Louis Spamer, Charles A. Knei
sel, William Buen, John Schime!, Jr.
and Edward Hess.
The suburb of Castleton Hill awoke
to the spectre of a race prob'em
two years ago. It was at that lime
that Brownp, with his wife ai.d
three children moved into the white
house at No. 67 Fairview Avenue,
which he had, bought for $8,500.
Brown is six feet tall, muscu ar
and a veteran of the Spanish
American War. Mrs. Browne is a
graduate of Columbia University
and teaohes school. When the fam
ily moved, in, neighbors decided
something must be done and. Browne
was offered $9,000 for his house.
Later he was offered, $10,000. It
was according to Mrs. Browne,
while this off r—representing a pro
fit of $1,50*0—was being considered,
that a gang of six or seven men i
descended upon the property early
one morning and destroyed some
shrubbery andj jbroke eeveraf win
dows. .■? ^
PATROLMAN STILL ON GUARD.
Since that time a patrolman has '
constantly been on guard. Robert
son has been indicted and held in
$500 bail.
The chief surprise was the naming
of the eight other residents of
Cast’.eon Hill. The complaint
charges specifically that the defend,
ants conspired to have the mortgage
on the house foreclosed, to have his
insurance policies cancelled,, to have
the attack made upon the houfee,
which resulted in damage to his
fower beds and windows and also
to have him transferred from the
Stap’eton Post Office to some “other
remote office.'’
Browne insists that he was wiBIing
to sell the house for a fair price
until the intimidation tactics were
employed and, that then he felt as
a matter of principle that he must
not move. The National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People is understood \o have stood
back of him in the protest.
Browne is the only Negro resident
in the neighborhood.
Musco Robertson emphatically de- i
nied a'l a’legations in the complaint
as did, the other eight defendants. :
The other eight men admitted they
had met to discuss the situation, but
said, they had in no way oonspired
against Browne but had merely dis
cussed the purchase of his property, i
All said that violence against him 1
was the last thing they desired. 1
A CHRISTMAS HYMN.
[By Rev. James S. Hatcher, D. D., \
Author ‘‘I Cannot Drift", Pastor
Third Street A. M, E. Church,
Richmond, Va.)
rile shepherds keep their flock by
night out on a lone plain;
Ml Nature sleeps but Io a light! The ■
Star of Bethlehem.
Be not afraid. Awake, Arise, Until
thine eyes, Behold, the skies j
Putl on the blushing smi'.e of morn,
All Nature smiles, The Christ is
born. I
rbe wise men come with Tarsus’ j
gold from Persia’s distant strand,
Long tho the search,—their hearts
are bold, and with a tender hand
Present the Arab’s Frankincense, i
and Egypt’s costly Myrr, ,
And worship Him with love intense, '
then turning, seek their star
But find it not, for here they learn !
that they who give their best j
Are blest with brighter lights |
..that burn, and lead to joy and rest ;
Great God of Light and Truth and
Love, display Thy power grand! |
Zephyrs command, and bid them ,
move to ecstacy their hand,
And make Lebanon’s Cedars sing,
the Palms upoiv the brine,
Make all in Jordan’s Valley ring.
make all; the earth His shrine.
Let ancient Hermon grey with snows
bow down his lordly head
In praise to Him, Forget your woes,
GLlboah, forget your dead!
Let Zion, Shechem, Mecca, all their
songs to Him ascribe
That love which ran^ms from the
fa? give all men to imbibe
See Jupiter, Mohammed. Jove, yield
to His love their sway.
Sins knows no rest but costant rove,
the forts of hell decay;
But brighter shines His gold.en Star,
and louder angels sing;
‘Good will to men’’, peace near and
far.—'Praise Jesus Christ the King.
We as the wise men. would adore,
in homage now we bow;
Take Lord, our hearts and cleanse
them thorough, dear Lord, accept
them now.
For Tarsus’ gold, rich Charity and
Spiritual Gifts were given;
For Arab’s Incense, Purity; for
Egypt's Myrr, Truth, Heaven.
□ Prince of Peace, O Star of Day,
O Dayspring from on high.
Accept : our song of praise, we pray,
and grant this prayer, this cry.
For some the hermit’s hut will
choose and In seclusion dwell;
And some will wear ascetic’s shoes,
and macerate right well;
And) many a mystic boast him
charmed by spirits from, above:
But we prefer our lives embalmed
with Self-Repouncing Love.
PRESIDENT L. K. WILLIAMS 1
SENDS HELP.
Chicago, 111., December 11, 1925,
Editor John Mitchell;
Richmond, Va.
Dear Sir and Brother:
I am sending you the $2.00 due
for my subscription. Thanking you,
I am *
L K. WILLIAMS,
Pres., National Baptist Convention.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
The Richmond Medical Society
announces that tAe new scale of
fees as published in the daily press
will go into effect' on and after
January first, nineteen twenty edx.
RICHMOND MEDICAL SOCIETY.
Mr. E. Saunders had the misfor
tune to lose his daughter at Clifton
Forge, Va. She died in New Jersey
a«t October and Mr. Saunders has
lone to Clifton Forge, Va. to live.
iVe wish him success. Mr. Saunders !
ormerly lived in Lynchburg, Va. J