Richmond planet. [volume], September 10, 1927, Image 1

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

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VOLUME XLIV, NO. 44 RICHMOND. VIRGINIA, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1927 _ PRICE, FIVE CENTS.
WILLIE JOHNSON
KILLED HER
Mrs. Georgie Pearson Fatally In
jured by Ryland Hunter’s Car
Was Repairing Machine^-Glass Broken in Door
' , I
The Police Department scored
heavilv in the arrest last Monday of
W. McKinley Johnson, of 1010 Wil
liam Street, upon the charge of reck
less driving and the killing of Mrs.
Georgia Pearson, of 1011 St. James
Street. Mrs. Pearson was crossing
St. James and Baker Streets. when
she was knocked down and fatally
injured by a driver ih an automobile.
No one seemed to have taken the
number of the car, although it was
mid-day. The remains were placed
in charge of Funeral Director R. C.
Scott. Later Johnson was arrested
by Sergeants Rice, Gentry, Wills
Cousins and Wiltshire. He admitted
that he struck Mrs. Pearson and ex
plained that he did not stop because
he did not know that he had injured
her.
Johnson’s Statement.
The case was called in the Police
Court, Judge John L. Ingram pre
siding. Later, a visit to the city
jail brought out the following in
formation: McKinley Johnson came
to the gate and he proved to be u
short, dark-skinned individual. He
wore his hair in pompadour style and
when questioned said: “I did not
know that I hit her. 1 was driving
west on Baker Street and just be
fore I crossed the street I saw a
woman crossing Baker Street at St.
James, Street with her head down.
Taylor’s wagon was on one side of
the street and a car on the other
and I swerved to keep from striking
her with the front of the car and
then I made another curve to keep
from striking Taylor’s wagon.
Worked at Filling Station.
I thought I had missed the woman.
On last Saturday, a fellow named
Hovey told me that the woman was
dead.' In reply to queries he said
that he did not tell any one. “1 did
not think I had struck her until they
told me,” he said. Johnson worked
for Mr. Vaughan at a filling station
on Chamberlayne Avenue and Lom
bardy Street. TJlease tell him to come
down here and see me. The car was
a Chevrolet. It belonged to Mr.
Hunter, a grocer on Adams Street
between Clay ai d Leigi- The way
they found out about me must have
been by Taylor’s telling them. I
worked at one time for J. W. Brown
on Second Street. He knew me there.
He put out the report that I hit her
and ran.
That Driving Permit.
Asked about his not having a driv
ing permit, he said, “I lost my per
mit. I had it in a poeketbook and
lost it. I have no people. All are
dead. Johnson is said to have come
here from Rice, Va. He claims to be
19 years of age, but looks older.
WORKED AS A MECHANIC.
Questioning J. W. Brown at 7 41
N. 2nd S«. at h»is auto repair shop,
he said that Willie Johnson had
worked for him. He was reluctant
to talk more but ala ted that when
he left his employ he did not Quit
or. his own motion. Calling at j
Ryland Hunter’s grocery at 517 j
Adams St. it was ascertained that
Johnson had appeared there to re
pair the carburetor of the Cnevrolet
car and it was not kno*wn that he
had taken the car out of the yard.
l e had it cut an hour .in l » halt
and it was sometime afterwards
upon a closer examination it was
found that the glass in the letf.‘ hand
door had been shattered.
NO INFORMATION GIVEN
Hunter expecied him to do the
work on the car. to call the next
morning for his money. The sur
prise came when the officers came
to locate the car. It was found ouf
that Johnson had taken the car
W. I. Johnson’s to be washed.
This concluded the information con
cerning the car and settled the
question as to ju^t how Willie
MKinley Johnson who was employed
at Vaughans Filling Station came
in possession of this particular car.
At Hunter’s grocery he is said to
have represented himself as a me
chanic.
DR. PARHAM TO PREACH.
Dr. S. L. Parham, of High Point,
N. C. will preach at the Second Bap
tist Church, Sunday morning and
ni^ht, September 11, 1927.
Wilson Justified in
| Killing Law Officer
With Hooded Mob
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Protracted Hearin£***Defense of
Home and Family Plea Wins
— .— m
DANVILLE, VA., Aug. 31.—A
(four-hour hearing, held under an
'oak tree a,t Bachelors’ Hall this at
(ternoon. failed to determine the
‘status of Charles W. Wilson, aged
60, who recently shot and killed J.
Claiborne Sparrow, one of the group
of men alleged to have been hooded
He is asking freedom on the claim
of home defense.
Fourteen witnesses were heard.
Many of them were mercilessly
cross-examined by the defense to
show, if possible, some connection of
the Klan with the visit. One of the
three magistrates then said he would
have to adjourn as he has a sick
wife. It was decided to hear the
final arguments at 4 o’clock Friday.
Commonwealth’s Attorney P. J.
Hundley asked that the case be sent
to the grand jury and waived argu
ment. Defense counsel said they
wished to be heard, “probably at
length.”
The village has no hall and so a
.wire was stretched un open ground
near a tobacco barn in which the
witnesses were kept A door across
two benches was the desk of the
three magistrates. About "GO per
sons were present. In the limbs of
the trees many farmers were perched.
They had called it a day to hear
“Charlie Wilson’s trial..”
Witnesses for the State, men de
clared to have been on. a mission at
the Wilson home the night of the
shooting, denied that they saw any
hooded figures. Members of the Wil
son household testified they were
terrorized by the late visit and said
that all of the visitors wore hoods
and robes.
Constable on Stand.
County Constable Oakes, who is
said to have led the party, swore that
none of the men wox’e hoods and
that there were only six persons pres
ent. Oakes was on the stand nearly
an hour. The burden of his story
was that some one, he could not re
call who, also the anonymous author
i of a letter, haa made reference to
| visits, by a Negro to the Wilson hon>e
I It was the plan to talk to Wilson
about it and that was why he took
along a group of men, none of them
deputized. It was said that Oakes
after seeing Spai'row shot and after
aiding him to his brother’s car, went
home and to bed and made no effort
to arrest Wilson until six hours later.
!
Child Is Heard.
Seven-year-old Jack Wilson,
grandson of the accused, gave the
most vivid testimony. After admit
ting that he knew that small boys
who tell untruths burn up, he said:
“Some men shouting outside woke me
up. They opened the window and
flashed a light in. They were old
Ku-Klux with high white cans and
all had on white. I counted five.
' They tried to bust in the window,
didn’t theygranddaddy?” turning to j
the accused.
Three hoods, two silk belts and a
piece of white cloth were exhibited
today, also revolver bullets found in I
the victim's pocket. Coimor Taylor
testified that he had found a Klan ,
membership card on the body. The
fact that Sparrow was hatless was
emphasized by the defense.
Farmer Sees Crowd.
Frank Sams, a young farmer, testi
fied he saw’ at least twenty men gath
ered together, and eight or nine cars
parked near the Wilson home. Paul
Cross, with him in the car failed to
appear when called. A deputy
brought him from a tobacco field and
Cross testified that the officer who
left a summons at his house told him
he “need not come.” Cross was
nervous and his memory seemed bad.
*
Tom Davis, son-in-law of the ac- J
cused, said he saw a white robed body
being carried away. |
Wilson was on the stand for nearly
an hour. He intended, it was said,
to shoot the second barrel of his gun,
but he did not have a cap. He said '
the men tried to force their way
into the house. I
His wife testified that she urged
her husband to “hold the other bar
rel until they came in,” admitting
that she was badly frightened and
felt her husband had the right to
defend himself.
All the members of the household
said that one of the party fired at
Wilson. Nearly all the State wit
nesses said they heard two shots.
The gun wa3 produced from police
custody; it was found that one barrel
was still loaded.
NEGRO YOUTH COVERS 93
MILES IN RUN
NEWPORT NEWS, VA., Sept. 6.
—What is believed to be a new rec
ord for marathon running in this
State was set by Wesley Smith,
diminutive Negro youth of this city,
who states that he left Newpoi*t News
at 5 o’clock Monday morning, ran
to Richmond, a distance of approxi
mately seventy-five miles, turned
about without a halt and covered
eighteen miles of the return journey
before he was forced to stop because
of exhaustion.
Smith, according to his statement,
was running exactly 12 hours and
52 minutes, and covered an approxi
mate distance of ninety-two miles.
The runner was paced by an auto
mobile with official timers over the
entire distance. His average speed
was said to have been between seven
and eight miles per hour.
I_
I
I
OPENING OF THE VIRGINIA
SEMINARY.
Editor, The Richmond Planet,
Richmond, Va.
The President and Trustee Board
of the Virginia Theological Seminary
and College take pleasure in an
nouncing the formal opening of the
Fortieth Annual Session on Septem
ber 19, 1927. Courses of instruction
oTered are: Preparatory, Academic,
College of Arts and Sciences and
Theological. These courses are under
the supervision of experienced teach
ers which insures thoroughness of in
struction and satisfactory progress of
the student.
Foi information address either the
President’* office or the Registrar s
Prof. S. H. Clark, Virginia Theo
logical Seminary and.College, Lynch
burg, Virginia. i
W. H. R. POWELL,
President, j
\
DEACON SCOTT GONE
Rev. T. R. Scott, the well-known I
shoemaker, died Thursday, Septem
ber 1, 1927, 6:20 P. M., at his resi
dence, 821 N. First Street. He was
a deacon of the Fifth Street Baptist
Church, and Rev. Dr. ‘Charles S.
Morris preached his funeral Sunday,
4th inst., at 1:30 P. M. Funeral Di
rector A. D. Price had charge of the
remains.
Rev. R. Spiller, D. D., now pastor
ing in Durham, N. C., was in the,
city attending the Lott Carey Con
vention. He was a central figure for
many years at Hampton, Va., and
founded Spiller Academy. He recent
ly lost his wife by death, but he
carries the weight of years himself
lightly.
WHIRLWIND FINISH, NEW SEN
SAT10NALS AND SURPRISES
I
BK®*-*' '
By W. A. Kersey, Manager.
September a whirlwind finish. Now
for sensations and surprises. Present
leaders must increase their vote
totals mightily if they wish fo finish
in the prize winning class. As may
be seen by glancing at the vote totals
below aif the leading candidates are
entirely too close to be safe, so de
velopment are bound to happen.
It is in you to win if you will. This
' is the final test. These are the days
that test your resoui-cefulness. Here
is where your courage upholds you,
and keeps you from trailing in the
dust. Sometimes, too, your supreme
coui-age urges you on, even when you
tie, but it is the gamest fight of all.
I
‘Tis the coward who quits to mis
fortune
’Tis the knave who wins half the bat
tle. j,
’Tis the fool who changes every day,
Then throws his chances away.
‘ The time to succeed is when there,
Discouraged, shows traces of tii’e.
The battle is fought on the “home
stretch.”
I And won—twixt, the flag and the
wire.”
The final vote scale is the one big
opportunity for success for a motor
car. that holds treasures of happiness
for >you. Pcead the final instructions
carefully if you would be a prize
winner. Provisions that are absolute
ly vital to success. }
< ‘ The present indications point fo
hairbreath finish and appears certain
I that the margin by which prizes will
he won, occasion tfce greatest sur
prise. No candidate can feel certain
(of victory, and there is abundant
'room for speculation as to the out-N
j come. The race is too close to bank
1 on any possibilities as there are many
people interested in each candidate
to assure anyone ati easy victory.
Relaxation at this time is suicidal to
success. Determination to win, and
votes alone will win prizes for you.
. —• -*■ •
i
AL C. EDMUNDS GONE
' The funeral of Al. C. Edmunds,
who died at his residence Sunday
morning, September 4th, took place
Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock,
from the Third Street Bethel A. M.
E. Church with Rev. W. E. Spratley,
the pastor officiating. On the ros
i-um in addition to the pastor were
Rev. G. W. Glalnes D.D. and Rev
S. W. Watkins. The procession was
led by Rev. W. E. Spratley. Alfred
Hardy, J. E. Hairston. F. L. Williams.
The choir sang. Prayer was offer
ed by Rev. S. W. Watkins. The 14th
Chapter of Job was read by Rev. G.
W. Gaines, D. D. Rev. W. E. Sprat
ley announced that the family de
sired Rev. James S. Hatcher to
officiate, but that he notified him
that he could not be present. He
sent a telegram of sympathy. Then
Rev. Spratley delivered a most "vm
pathetic and powerful discourse. Fe
stirred all present by his masterly
handling of the subject and by his
manner of delivering the eulogy.
The Jndges represented were Per
fect Ashlar, Lodge No. 159 of Ma
sons, Al Edmunds, deceased was
Master., R. B. Bell acted in his stead,
Asforia Beneficial Club. Invincible
Lodge No. 2674. Odd Fellows, T.J.
Williams, N. G., Williams Lodge, No.
11, Elks. J. B. Neblett, Ex. R., Mocha
Temple Shriners.
The pallbearers were Rev. J. S.
Johnson, C. A. Herndon, Benjamin
F. White, W. H. Harris. J. W. Dun
ston, E. A. Pollard, all of Perfect
Ashlar Lodge.
The casket was a magnificent one,
being bronze cedar with heavy ex
tension handles finished in old gold.
The arrangements were perfect and
the casket was rolled into the church
upon a unique two-tc-ne bier,
which seemed to correspond with the
color of the same. Funeral Directors
Cunningham & Minor had charge of
the arrangements.
"Millionaire” J. W. Johnson, a well j
known Richmond citizen, who is now
erjoving a residence in Washington, |
D. C., with his madam, was in the
city last week locking after his real
estate interests here. He was the
picture of health.
Rev. J. E. East, D. D., Secretary
of the National Baptist Foreign Mis
sion Board, who resides at Phila
delphia, and Rev. Page M. Beverly,
of Newark, N. J., representing the
Publishing Board of the National
Baptist Convention, were in the city
during the session of the Lott Carey
Convention.
Dr. H. E. Barco, of Blackstone,'
Va., was in the city last week.
FOR SALE—One rear lot, back of
510 North Third Street, 26x48Vi;
good for storage or garage. Apply
200 East Marshall Street.
Nicely furnished rooms; modern
conveniences; quiet surroundings.
407 West Clay Stre-1. Madison 6727.
Dickerson’s Oyster
Punching Machine
3rd Anniversary ***Editor Mitchell Speaks There
- 1
Nesting, Va., Sept. 5.
The third ' anniversary of L. R.
Dickerson’s invention of the oyster
punching machine took place today at
St. Paul Baptist Church, with Rev.
H. E. Green, the pastor, as master of
ceremonies. After the devotional ex
ercises. music was rendered by th°
Nesting quartet* Rev. Green pro
ceeded to introduce Editor Joh’1
Mitch el1. Jr.. from Richmond, who had
com^ to deliver the address. Mr
Mitchell discussed the ovster. toM of
its habits and peculiarities as defined
in the encyclopaedia. He then snokc
of the purpose of Mr. Dickerson’s ma
chine, to minimize labor and to in
crease the output. He complim°nted
thor-e who had aided Inventor Dicker
son in Ms works, and urged them to
continue so to do.
He spoke of the progress of the
colored people, citing statistics from
the United States Census. He was
rapturously applauded at the conclu
sion of his 45-minute address. He
was followed by Mr. W. A. Kersey, of
Iniiiana, who is in charge of the
Planet’s circulation campaign. Mr.
Kersey gave sound advice, telling of
the handicaps of the Negroes. He
u_ed all to help Mrs. Carrie Dicker
son in her drive for subscriptions and
vo'es in the automobile contest.
Other speakers were Mrs. M. S.
Reede, Mrs. E. C. Moody, Mrs. Bessie
Green. Miss L. J. Corbin read a
composition on Mr. L. R. Dickerson’s
invention.
The following resolution was unan
imously adopted:
Whereas, L. R. Dickerson, a citizen
of Middlesex county, has invented a
machine known as Dickerson’s Oyster,
Puncher; and
Whereas, it has lessened the labor j
in me shucking of the oyster and done
much to advertise and promote vhe,
we.fare of the oyster industry in this
section; therefore, be it I
Resolved, That we endorse him and
his work and pledge to him our sun-j
' port in promoting the sale of the same
jand to do all else deemed necessary 1
to aid him in his great work. I
Mr. Dickerson made an award to
these who had rendered service after
| which the meeting adjourned. Re
j freshments were served on the church
grounds.
j Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Kersey left
' at about 5:30 by car for Richmond.
(Special by John Mitchell, Jr.)
I left Richmond Labor Day, ac
companied by Mr. W. A. JKersey, cir-j
culation manager in charge of the
automobile campaign. For the first j
time in my life, I boarded one of the
motor coaches for Saluda, Va. It
left the News Leader Square at 8
A. M. Mr. L. C. White, who has re
cently “hung out his shingle” as an
Attorney at Law in the Mechanics;
Bank building, joined us, he being enj
route to King William County in the;
interest of the Negro Organization
Society. The bus driver was a master
at seating passengers. A colored
woman with two girls and one boy |
was en route home to Urbanna. She
said that she had been down in
(Continued on Page 5.)
THE TUCKAHOE ASSOCIATION
TO MEET
The Tuekahoe Baptist Association
of Virginia will convene in its thirty
third annual session and the Woman’s
Auxiliary in its twelfth annual ses
sion with the West Wood Baptist
Church, Henrico County, Rev. I. H.
Hines, pastor, Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday, September 14, 15 and
16, 1927. The public is invited to
attend. The church may be reached)
by driving out Patterson Avenue or
by walking a short distance north
from Stop 21 on the Westhampton
car line.
Mrs. Mary Duvall, of Youngstown,
Ohio, is visiting her sisters at 1524
(Brook Road, Richmond, Va.. where
she will be glad to see her many
friends while here.
Mr. Horace Hall, who has been very
sick is improving slowly at his home
2300 Old Dominion St.
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MARKET INN
A Place of Pleasure
Mr. Frank F. Reed. President ,1f
Fortieth Club.
—
1 The Fortieth Club entertained all .
the inmates of the Afro-American 1
Old Folks Home, 1115 W. Moore.
Street, Richmond, Va.
At Market Inn, a day of pleasure j
long to be remembered in the hearts :
of the inmates, and the president was I
greatly renewed. Too much cannot,
be said for the Fortieth Club. Such j
broad-hearted young men. ,The Presi
dent of the Afio-American Old Folks
Home J. C. Randolph extends thanks
1
Contestants Near the
Million Vote Mark
Standing of Contestants
7th Week of Campaign
Who Will Be Winner?
Mrs. Nannie Powell. 109 E. Marshall St. 745,000
Mr. James A. C. Johnson, 10 W. Leigh St. 730,000
Mrs. Eliza A. Berkley, 508 W. Baker St. 729,000
Rev. John E. Fountain, 809 W. Clay St. 720,000
Mrs. Senora B. Lawson, 702-a St. James t. 647,000
Mr. Humphrey Newsome, 219 W. Leigh St... 612,000
Miss M. Kate Doyle, 1027 St. John St. 148,000
Miss Annette O’Neal, 2704 Q St. 35,000
Miss Virginia D. Wood, 620 N. 5th St. 35,000
Mrs. Addie Johnson, 811 1:2 W. Clay St. 27,000
Mrs. Martha Pryor 10 W. Duval St. 27,000
Mrs. Zemoria J. Wood, 615 Judah St. 27.000
Mrs. C. P. Hayes, 727 N. 2nd St. 27,000
Mr. J. Montague, 708 N. 30th St. 27,000
Miss Effie Mickles, 8 E. Federal St. 17,000
Mr. J. T. Richardson, 325 N. First St. 27,000
Mr. Elijah Shields, 810 St. John St.. .. 17,000
Mr. Robert C. Scott, 2223 E. Main St. 27,000
Dr. H. A. Allen, 412 E. Clay St.27,000
Mr. Henry Neal 605 N. 2nd St. 17,000
Mr . James H. Ammons, Jr., 404 N. Adams St. 27,000
Rev. A. D. Daly, 1412 W. Caiy St. 50,000
Mr. James H. Shelton, Jr., 708 N 1st St. 27,000
Mr. John Neblett, 1105 S. Allen Avenue.V 27.000
Mr. Paul Donaldson, 15 W. Clay St. 30,000
Rev. R. M. Williams, 616 N. 5th St. 27,000
Mr. Bias Crawford; 405 Bacon St . 27,000
Mr A. ,C: ■ Ellis. 527 N. 2nd St. 27,000
Mr. D. C. Deans. Jr., 607 N. 6th St. 27.000
Miss J. C. Weaver, 403 1-2 E. Clay St. 62,000
Mr. H. L. Minor, 507 N. Fifth St. 27,000
Mr. John H. Braxton. 112 W. Leigh St. 27,000
Mrs. Alease Hodges 303 E. Clay St. 17,000
Mr. Thomas D. Harris, 402 W. Marshall St... 40,000
Mr. W. A. Price 700 N. 17th St. 40,009
Miss Lucille Cross 507 N. 5th St... 27,000
Rev. J. H. Binford, 124 N. 18th St. 97.000
Miss Florine Ball. 407 W. Clay St. 35.000
Rev. F. W. Quarles. 318 E. Baker St. 57,000
Mr. A. D. Price Jr., 210 E. Leigh St. 27,000
Mrs. Hattie Lassiter, 709 1-2 W. Ciay St. 17,000
Mr. W. L. Johnson, 410 N. Adam St. 27,000
Miss Ruth Mae Denny, 610 N. 3rd St. 82,000
OUTSIDE CONTESTANTS
Miss Natalye L ong, Box 6 Cambria Va. 785,000
Mrs. Frances Dias, R 1 Box 45-A Norge Va.... 745,000
Mrs. Carrie Dickerson-. Nesting Va. 372,000
Miss M. O. Smith, Danville Va. 127,000
Mr. C. H. Clarke, West Point, Va. II 7,000 *
Rev. W. H. Skipwith, Jersey City, N. J. 72,000
Mrs. Isabella Betts. Sutherlins. Va. 12,000
Mr. J. P. Boltin, Box 674 Munhali, Pa.... 27,000
Mr. D. C. Johnson, Bluefield, W. Va. 12,000
Mr. J. E. Williamson. 120 St. Mark St. PetV*. Va. 12.000
Mrs. Lucy Peters, 503 S. Adam St., Petersburg Va. 12,000
Mr. R. H. Tinsley, Ellerson, Va. 12.0(F)
Mr. W. A. Conway, Manassas, Va. 12,000
Mr. O. G. Conn, 119 E. Main, Charlottesville, Va 12,000
Mr. A. C. Mabrey, 132 E Main. Staunton, Va 12,000
Mr. L. R. Woolridge, Glasgow, Va. .*..• 12.000
Mr. D. C. Johnson, Box 67, Pocahontas, Va. .. 12,000
Mrs. S. J. Holbrook, 401 S. Main. Danville, Va. 12,(XX)
Mr. W. T. Stokes. 1014 Wilcox St., Petersburg 12,000
Mr. Waverly Hatchett, Petersburg, Va. 12,000
Mrs. M. C. Adams, 1608 Effingham, Portsmouth 12,000
Dr. D. W. Palmer, Cape Charles, Va. 12,000
Mr. James Crawley, Winterpock, Va. 12.000
Mrs. Millie B. Paxton, Roanoke, Va. 12,000
Rev. James S. Hatcher, Roanoke, Va. 12,000