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IMA PAPER.WITH A POLICY” H] I I AN / INDEPENDENT^ WEEKLY . n5j| VOL. IX.—No. 45. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1927. ' PRICE FIVE CENTS IN CHICAGO— TWELVE PAGES Link Prominent Citizens With Gary Black Ku Klux STAGE STAR DIES AFTER HHIHH ^ Recently Returned From Europe Where She Had ^Tr.'umpheo tor 3 Years . FAVORITE! ^BBegan As An Entertainer ^ 1 In Chicago Cabaret " NEW YORK CITY, Nov. 2. (Spe cial)—Florence Mills, internationally famous musical comedy star, who re cently returned to this country after three years of unprecedented tri umphs in Europe, died Tuesday morning at 4 o’clock in the German Deaconess Hospital. She had been confined there nearly a fortnight If during which time an operation for ^ appendicitis had been performed. Her ■a sudden death came as a shock to phy m sicians and friends becasue it was H generally supposed that she would fi recover at an early date, i Miss Mills was perhaps one of the ■ foremost musical comedy stars in the T world. She was 32 years old. She landed in New York City early in October after completing a three year engagement in London where she appeared in the leading role of the “Blackbirds.” Began Career in Chicago. Flo’ Mills, as she is known by close friends and admirers, began her career in Chicago in the old Panama cabaret at 35th and State streets. Th«re, •’1ong with Brick Top and Ca rolyn Williams, a famous trio was Formed. After playing there a while the trio left and played at the Pekin, 27th and State streets. When their engagement was completed there, the girls already acclaimed as laaders in their profession, went west. The going Was evidently not so good out in the west and it was not lortg until the famous :rio was a thing of the past While there Miss Mills united in marriage with Air. U. S. Thompson, a wall known dancing star. Goe* to New York The next big hop was to New York. Paul Sahin upon seeing the rare ability of Miss Mills, placed her on the bill at the Plantation Cafe. It was here, old timers say, that she began to blossom out into a really (Turn to Pag* 2, Col. 1) SET BOY ON FIRE MT. VERNON, JND., Nov. 2—Set upon by a gang of Caucasian rowdies and used as a human torch, Henry Dimmett, 12 years old, narrowly es caped burning to death Sunday night. According to witnesses, the boys, who were carrying on a series of Hallowe’en pranks, seized Dimmet, poured gaso line on him and then threw a match at him. The boy’s attire immediately burst into flames and his screams at tracted some older people from a near by church. With their aid, the flames were extinguished before great dam rge was done. Dimmit escaped with minor bums but his clothing was almost burned j from his body. One of his assailants, j Ralph Storey, was arrested and charg-1 ed with assault and battery. kv LONE BANDIT IS HELD AS WOMAN TERRORIST Dies Suddenly I I jvp I Florence Mills, foremost musical comedy star, died suddenly early Tuesday morn ing in New York City where she had been confined in a hos pital following an operation. For three years while playing the leading role in the “Black birds” in London Miss Mills was the favorite of British royalty. PRIVATE SLEUTH * Two Of Three Aldermen Are Accused Of Being Members Of “Bow Tie” Group Sheridan A. Brusseaux, of the Key stone Detective Agency, who has just completed an inves tigation in regards to the recent Gary school strike, finds and reports that a sinister political fi gure has been lurk ing in the back ground of the affair. Mr. Brusseaux re veals and discloses in his report, in formation that will throw consternation and disgust into the fight against segre gation in Gary. His investigation lays Mr. Brasseaux l -c the “Bow Tie Amalgamation” which is averred to be affiliated with the local Ku Klux Klan and is popu larly known as the Black Klan. This organization it is said functions for the political benefit of 'he K. K. K. and lists among its members some of Gary’s most prominent citizens. Aldermen Members Membership roster of the Black K. K K. revealed the names of Alderman William Burru nnd Alderman S. R. Blackwell as well a* Attorney L. W. (Turn > Page 5, Col. 1) * Bandit’s Bond & Set At $125,000 After Five Women Complain A desperate highwayman who has worked without any opposition along the lake front between Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth streets, was taken off the street Thursday by Officers William Walsh and James McManus of the Stanton avenue police station. Many complaints had been sent into the sta tion about the man whd was believed to have terrorized women on Lake Park avenue since last June. Not long after the two sleuths arrived in that vicinity, they apprehended Green walk ing along nonchalantly, questioned him and locked him up. Victims were called in to the district station and five of them identified the man as the one who held them up and robbed them. All were women. Sat urday, when arraigned before the mag istrate at the 27th street court, he was held to the grand jury under bonds of $125,000. His Victims Green, according to the evidence, has been operating since June 2, this year. His record however, shows that he was in the House of Correction six times last year and the year before, each time for larceny. Anthonia Sliders, 3552 Ellis avenue, pointed him out as the man who snatched her pocketbook containing $2 June 12 between 35th and 36th streets, on Lake Park avenue. On August 13, between 37th and 38th streets on Ver non avenue, Mrse. Thurmon Wheeler, 3758 Rhodes avenue, said Green relieved her of a $50 beaded bag containing a compact and $1.50. The next woman to positively identify the bandit was Effie M Melville, 12243 State street. She de clared he not only robbed her, but crim inally assaulted her in her home. She was unable to attend the preliminary hearing however. The others were: Clara Jane Bennett, 4041 Ellis avenue, robbed in front of 4545 Ellis avenue, of $85 on Oct. 7; Louise Rich, 3974 Lake Park avenue, robbed of $4 in currency, diamond ring and a $10 pocketbook ! while she was walking along Lake Park | avenue in the robber’s favorite ambush. POPULAR LIGHT SEEKS DIVORCE — Lovie Austin, 4434 South Parkway, for many years a well-known stage and record star, appeared before Judge Joseph Sabatli Wednesday morning to petition a divorce from her husband, Phillip Austin, who is also quite well known in theatrical circles. Mrs. Austin charges her husband with desertion. She states that she married him Feb. 25, 1916 and they had lived together until June 5, 1922. Mrs Austin was formerly the wife of S. H. Dudley, the famous actor and producer. She is an accomplished mu sician and composer of no small note. Her husband was formerly of the team of Austin and Delaney and is now of the Austin and Green team. y Judge Sabath indicated he would grant the divorce. Attorney Richard Westbrooks represented the petitioner. \ Citizens Meet To Prosecute Cop Who Killed Man A mass meeting was held Sunday afternoon at the Pilgrim Baptist Church, 91 Buffalo street, South Chicago Sunday under the auspices ofthe South Chicago Citizen’s Com mittee to raise funds to aid in the nroseciition of Officer Malek who WAR LOOMS UP IN THE METHODIST CHURCHES HERE Dr. F.L. Birt, Presiding Elder Of This District Strikes Pastor With Fist By HENRY HULL All is not well with the Methodists in Chicago and the surrounding di tricts, oattle cries are being sounded, soldiers are being drafted, while mumb lings and grumbling characteristic of dissatisfaction and unrest before the conflict are heard 0" ali sides Metho dist ministers and their followers in Chicago are wrought up because of the methoc * and tactics that are being usel by Bishop Gaines, head of the lo c^l idocese and already some of them have flatly stated that 'hey will not submit to his ruthless leadership. Fight At Preachers' Meet When the A. M. E. ministers met Monday before last at what is known as the Methodist Ministers Alliance, personal bitterness and feeling ran so high that Dr. Birt, presiding elder j struck Rev. Buchanan Lewis with his fist and only the prompt action of cool head prevented a free-for-all fight. Dr. S. E Maloney, while voicing his pro test against the conduct of Bishop | Gaines, declared that he intended ty ^ be heard and when the Rev. Mr. Lewfcj sanctioned his desire it is said that h, wa sstruck by the presiding elder. It seems that the ministers are incensed because Bishop Gaines has transferred men who have labored faithfully anf longin the churches of Chicago and who have built up splendid churches (Turn to Page 7, Col. 1) j CORONER WILL PROBE EVANGELIST’S DEATH The Reverend Buchanan Lewis, evan gelist at Quinn Chape Church, 24th and Wabash avenue, died Sunday morn ing. Several days ago, he was struck by the Rev. F .L. Birt. presiding elder o' the Chicago district and it is said that this blow may have been the cause of his death. A date already arranged by the coroner's office lias been set at which time a thorough probe will be made relative to the real cause of the pastor's death -———1 ■ ...— S?< retary Killed In Double Tragedy _~~__ Dr. Velma L. Colbert, secretary to Dr. R. A. Williams and also a foot specialist, was killed by Charles G. Coleman, Jr., in her apartment at 4838 Prairie avenue, Sunday night. He killed himself immediately afterwards. Jealousy is believed to have be^n the motive. photo by Woodard I — -- In his weekly bulletin n Chicago's health, Dr. Herman N. Bundesen com i missioner of health makes public the results oi a health sur vey of the colored i population of the city. The conditions | shown by the survey in the commission | er’s opinion disclose a situation which j justifies vigorous and immediate cerrec advisory Dr- Harris made up of eminently minded, and representative under the chairmanship of S. Falk. Urges Action health conditions will be ini in Chicago and elsewhere not but by honestly facing the taking the corrective measures i facts demand” Dr. Bundesen is bulletin. death rate is twice that as a whole,” he continues, figured on a population of and 160.000 Negro, pop to Page 5, Col. 3) ftTTRAGTSCRQWD Attracted by a large crowd in front of a barber shop at 3126 State street Sunday night, Officers Deon and Rapier of the Second District, wrent down to investigate They discovered a man and a woman, allegedly both stark na ked, fighting in plain view of the street. The officers entered and begged the battlers to desist. The man was more or less docile, but the woman refused to be ruled. She addressed the officers in uncomplimentary terms, spat on them, fought them and otherwise show ed that she didn’t give a rap who they were. She was finally subdued and both she and the man were taken to the police | station and locked up. There they gave | the names of Henry Brotvn and his wi ; their names as Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brown. Both were hailed before Judge Borrel li at the Pekin court Monday morning. Brown testified that his w’ife had been nervous and “fractious” ever since she got hurt in a street car accident. He admitted they had quarrelled Sunday night and she ha<J become fully divest ed of her clothing in the struggle, but instated that he was fully clothed when arrested. Officer Rapier told the story of the occurrence and added that when the woman saw the crowd watching the fight, she turned on them and hurled a cuspidor through the glass door at them. I Judge Borrelli warned the couple to stop fighting and fined them $1 each. WOMEN IN CUTTING FRAY Mattie Jackson, 20 years old, of 548 E. ! 40th st., lost an argument with one 1 Louise Jones Sunday night at their home when Louise drew a keen blade and cut her adversary in the left side. , She was taken to Wilson hospital. I KILLS FOOT SPECIALIST Shoots Her Twice In Breast, Turns Gun On Himself After Brief Quarrel The death-heralding bark of a long, black, sinister revolver startled the southside again Sunday night and when the smoke had lifted and the sound had died away, Dr. Velma L. Colbert, 4838 Prairie avenue, apartment 1, secre tary to Dr. R. A. Williams and also a foot specialist with an office in her own home, lay stretched on the floor of her office dead. And CharlesC. G. Coleman, Jr. G. Coleman, Jr., her slayer, lay huddled up a few feet away in the dining room—dead by his own hand. The shooting occurred about 11:20 p. m. There Were no eye-witnesses,' and exactly what transpired between the two lovers in that last scene will probably never be known. Woman Heard Shots The nearest approach to an eye wit ness to the tragedy was Mrs. Flossie Mitchell, who roomed in the rear of the apartment. She was preparing to re tire at the time and the first intimation she had of trouble was the crack of the revolver She said she was so excited tr.at she did not know how many shots were fired, but said there were two vol leys, the second volley following an in stant after the first. On account of the lack of witnesses, there was some confusion as to who had done the shooting. The police report' stated that Dr. Colbert had shot Cole man and then had turned the gun on herself. Officer Phillip Carroll, of the (Turn to Page 7, Col. 3) 1 PHILADELPHIA, PA., Nov. 2—Four colored meh and five Caucasians were, injured in a race clash which occurred at 7 o’clock Sunday night in the vicin ity of Waterloo street near Cumber land avenue. One of the Caucasians is not expected to live. The trouble is said to have started when an unidentified Caucasian, un der the influence of liquor, attempted to take possession of a colored citizen'3 front porch Objecting to the vile lan guage the stranger was using, the resi dent put the drunk off his premises. Witnessing the ejection, a gang of toughs set upon the resident. Other neighbors came to the assistance of the lone man and a general fight fol lowed. Knives, brass knuckles and clubs were used freely in the fray. The disturbance lasted nearly an hour and was quelled only by the arrival of police reserves in response to a riot call. Twelve of the rioters were arrested, ten of them being colored. I