VOLUME 11, NO. 51
SOLONSASK FOR MARTYRS’ RELEASE
■ A f/y ■ .ft
Truth Serum Is Used to
Force Axmen Confession
Woman Prisoner States That Five Injections Were Given Her in
Right Arm—Health Officer Discounts Truth
of Police Statement.
Birmingham, Ala.—Three persons, two men and a woman, will
go to trial in Criminal Circuit Court February 25, charged with the
murder of John R. Turner, white, on January 6, 1923. • Turner's
skull was fractured by blows from a blunt instrument, believed by
police authorities to have been an ax. His body was found in a y
Negro residential section lying beside a colored woman, Lilly Bell,
unconscious from injuries about the head caused by a similar
weapon.
Evidence to be brought out at this
trial is expected by the authorities to
clear many of the ax assault mys
teries which have startled Birming
ham for four years, twenty-three fa
talities resulting from forty-four at
tacks. In all cases the attacks were
against white men and colored wom
en found together. Two indictments
were returned against each defend
ant. Murder in the first degree is
charged in the Turner case and as
sault with intent to murder in the
case of Lilly Bell.
,The-three accused individuals were
given an injection of the so-called
Truth Serum, scopolamln. One of
them, Peyton Johnson, thus describes
his experience with the Truth Serum
injection:
“They took me from the city jail
to the country. A tall man wearing
specs, dressed in a gray pinchback
suit,, told me to strip and get ready
for vaccination. He used a syringe.
“I began to feel dizzy, like an in
toxicated man when they put the stuff
in the left arm. I was asked what
time it was. I heard the clock strike
10 and told them it must be about tep
o’clock. They said It was lofn.
That was the last I knew until next
morning, when I awoke feeling dizzy
and sick." My heart hurt and I
couldn’t get my breath right.”
Johnson didn’t remember, he said,
any questions about the ax murders
and denied knowledge of any such
crime. He signed nothing, he de
clared.
■ vv
Pearl Jackson, the woman accused
In the ax killing, told a vivid tale of
five injections in, her right arm, a
white fluid having been used. Pearl
admitted she was acquainted with
Lilly Bell.
Persons given scopolamin injjec
tions in attempts to force them to tell
the truth, might tell fairy tales in
stead, Dr. J. D. Bowling, Birming
ham health officer, said today,
discounted the value of any confes
sion which might be obtained in this
manner.
Reports that the accused belonged
to a gang whioh drew lots to decide
who would commit the next murder
were denounced by the solicitor as
pure invention by newspaper report
ers.
Pres. Coolidge
Visits His Valet
Washington. D. C.—President
Coolidge provided an excellent argu
ment for Republican spellbinders
among colored people when on Sun
day he and Mrs. Coolidge visited Ar
thur Brooks, valet to presidents since
the Taft administration. Brooks has
been confined to his home several
weeks by illness.
Residents of the northwest section
of the city got a thrill when the presi
dential limoußine drove up to the
Brooks home. Immediately follow
ing church services. President and
Mrs. Coolidge asked to be driven to
the home of the stricken valet. Great
excitement prevailed when the pala
tial car with the well known coat of
arms stopped in front of the Qfooka’
red brick home and word flashed up
and down the block that the presi
dent was in the neighborhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge spent about
fifteen minutes with Brooks, express
ing their hope for his recovery and
receiving his thanks for the flowers
which have been sent him each week
from the White House conservatories.
Secret service men held back the
crowd which was quickly gathering,
and the president was quickly whisk
ad back to the White House.
THE NORTHWESTERN
Bulletin-Appeal
Alpha Phi Alpha ‘Frat’
Picks Ten Delegates to '
Attend The Sanhedrin
It Is a matter of great grati
fication to the committee in
charge of the Negro Sanhedrin
that the Alpha Phi Alpha fra*
temity has chosen ten delegates
to attend the Chicago session.
The young educated Negro
must harness up his intel
ligence to serious racial task.
It is to be hoped that the other
inter-collegiate fraternities and
sororities will follow the exam
ple set by this elder order, and
contribute their vigorous and
fresh’ intellectual energies to
statesman-like endeavor to
solve or to settle the most tan
gled of all social problems.
Where there is intelligent and
consecrated youth there is hope.
Siki vs.Lohman
At Minneapolis
Joe Lohman, Toledo light heavy,
has been secured as an‘opponent for
Battling Siki, Senegalese colored bat
tler, for the main event of next
Thursday’s card at the Kenwood arm
ory, Minneapolis.
Siki is touring the United States,
meeting all comers. He has not had
any great success, but his many es
capades give him considerable color.
Lohman is one of the best of the
young light heavies, having met
Gene Tunney twice, Harry Greb and
many others.
Church Refuses
Commission to
Survey Island
Secretary Denby Makes Excuses
for Not Having Warship
for Conveyance.
Washington.—The race commis
sion appointed by President Coolidge
to make an economic survey of the
Virgin Islands came up without Its
chairman, when Robert R. Church,
Memphis financier and political lead
er, announced that his business
would not permit him to accept the
position offered him by the President.
It was too late to name a successor
or an alternate to Mr. Church, as the
members of the commission sailed for
St. Thomas, V. 1., on January 12.
Another interesting phase of the
commission’s activity was brought to
light when it was learned that the
appointees took passage on a mall
steamer, instead of one of the govern
ment’s ships. Ordinarily, when such
representatives of the government
are named, they are offered the serv
ices of one of the U. S. warships for
Selr transportation; but Secretary of
e Navy Denby said all the govern
ment warships were down in the
South Sea Isles maneuvering among
the sheltering palms, destroying war
ships that had been marked for the
scrap heap.
Keep off—Date, Feb. 14, Valentine
evening, Mask Ball, given by the
Feasances Court No. 7, Daughters of
Isis, at Union Hall. given.—
Adv. * /
It appears that the more the boot
leggers are prosecuted, the more they
grow. •
WOMAN NEARLY
HUNDRED YEARS
OLD BURIED HERE
Death Calls Woman After She
Had Reached the Age of
, Ninety-seven Years.
Mrs. Caroline Fanks, mother of the
late Mrs. Strong and Mrs. Hazel, a
former, resident of Chicago, passed
away Wednesday evening at the home
of her daughter, 670 West Central
avenue.
Deceased was born in Sumpter,
Ala., and at the time of her death she
was 97 years of age.
The funeral was held Tuesday aft
ernoon from the chapel of Simpson
and Wills. Reverend L. W. Harris of
Pilgrim Baptist church, who officiat
ed, spoke of her sterling qualities;
her good deeds, kind words and
Christian advice have not been carved
on stone or marble; they have been
numerous, many who received them
having passed on before.
Mrs. Fanks is survived *by an only
daughter, eleven grandchildren and
a host of relatives and friends who
will mourn her absence.
F. D. McCracken
May Be Sent to
G. 0. P. Caucus
Congressional District Urges
Local Realty Man to Attend
Convention.
Fred D. McCracken, prominent in
business and civic affairs of the city,
is being strongly urged by Repub
lican leaders of this Congressional
district to become a candidate for one
of the Congressional delegates to the
Republican national convention. Mr.
McCracken has been a consistent Re
publican when it comes to national
affairs and a very strong supporter
of President Coolidge. He played a
very strong part in the last two U. S.
senatorial campaigns actively sup
porting the Republican candidates. It
would be a wise move on the part of
the Republicans of this county to con
fer this honor on one of our group,
especially when the new Negro is
thinking more of “what today” and
“how about tomrrow.” This would
also set a precedent for the Non-par
tisan party and the Democratic party
in Ramsey county, which parties
seem to have a large following among
our group.
‘St. Cloud’Say 8
Judge to Burglar
Pleading guilty in district court to
a charge of burglary, Charles Merrill,
24 years old, was sentenced by Judge
John W. Boerner to an indeterminate
term of not more than five years In
the state reformatory at St. Cloud.
Merrill was arrested in Minneapo
lis by Detective J. A. Mitchell. He
admitted breaking into the cafe con
ducted by R. A. Moore, 317 V 4 Wa
basha street, on the night of Janu
ary 14, and taking |34 and a re
volver. /
He said some one in Minneapolis
stole the revolver from him the same
night.
Hotel Howell To
Serve Public Sun .
The public can be assured of a first
class place to dine Sunday when
meals a la carte service will be availa
ble at the Hotel Howell, corner Mc-
Kubln and Roqjlo streets.
From 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. the restau
rant will be open to all who desire
to partake of a home-cooked meal
served by culinary experts who will
cater to those dining abroad. Noth
ing but the best of foodstuffs will be
used at all times.
AN INDEPENDENT WEEKLY
ST. PAUL—MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. SATURDA Y, JANUARY 26,1924
Radio Concert to
Be Given Feb. 13
There will be a Grand Radio Con
cert given at St. James’ A. M. E.
church Wednesday evening, February
13, under the auspices of the North
western Conference. The Radio Con
cert will be under the management of
Mr. Fred Swanstrom, manager of the
Starr Piano Co., and also Mr. Maurice
Goins, who is manager of the Radio
department of the Starr Piano Co.
The concert can be heard from any
part of the church. Best selection
will be made from the following sta
tions: W.L.A.G., Mpls.; W.8.Z.,
Springfield, Mass.; W.H.A.S., Louis
ville; W.J.Z., Kansas City; K.D.K.A.,
Pittsburg; Y.Y.W., Chicago. An ad
mission charge of 35 cents will'be
made. Presiding Elder Edith B. Set
tles, John Hickman, Jr., Pastor.
VOTERS’ LEAGUE
HOLD MEETING
THURSDAY NIGHT
Attorney Smith Makes Appeal
for Platform as Inaugurated
in the By-Laws.
The Colored Voters’ League called
their regular meeting Thursday eve
ning at Little Pilgrim church, Grotto
and West Central avenue. This or
ganization of colored citizens is in
teresting itself in all legislation, city,
county, state and national, but pres
ently are devoting their attention to
the municipal government, believing
in certain legislation that is for the
benefit of all citizens and are to co
operate with all organizations for
mutual benefit. St. Paul has a pop
ulation of about 9,000 colored people
and is continuously growing. There
must be some definite means of em
ployment. This organization is en
deavoring to establish a municipal in
dustrial board, bo as to assure em
ployment. For years this question of
employment has caused much con
cern among the colored people, and
the establishment of an industrial
board seems the only way to remedy
their needs as well as assure work
for all people—not merely for color
ed people, but the desire of this or
ganization is to have a colored man
appointed on the board.
Attorney Smith said: “I wish it
emphatically understood we wish no
designated board as colored munici
pal industrial board; that is not the
desire nor will that be ultimate re
sult. Our people must have repre
sentation in the various departments
of the municipal government and re
ceive their rights as citizens and not
as colored people. We have men and
women as qualified and as competent
for this work as any other group,
race or nationality, and all we ask
for, and all we want, and all we are
going to fight for is equal opportuni
ties of employment, and equal repre
sentation merited only by our quali
fication and our constitutional rights
as citizens. These are fundamentals
of every thinking man and woman
and for which we are going to stand
unqualifiedly and uncompromisingly.
Let us approach all questions not as
colored people, but as citizens of this
county, state and nation, that is our
glorious right and a privilege that is
sacred and for which the blood of
our race has been freely spent on the
soil of this country, on the soil of
France and Europe since the begin
ning of this government, in every war
as well as the last to protect our sov
ereignty and perpetuate democracy.
Referring to the delegates to the
Working People Non-Partisan League
of the Farmer-Labor • party, there
seems to be an opinion of affiliation
which i* entirely erroneous. Section
XI. of the by-laws of this organiza
tion reads as follows:
The President and Secretary
shall co-operate with all commit
tees and organizations whose
(Continned on page 4) 'j
MAYOR NELSON’S
MARGIN WIDENS;
WENZEL IS OUT
Present Head of City May Have
No Dangerous Opponent in
Next Mayor Race.
Unless there is a big and sudden
change in sentiment and circumstanc
es, Mayor Arthur E. Nelson will be
returned for a second term with vir
tually no opposition.
This was made almost certain dur
ing the present week when Commis
sioner H. C. W’enzel let It be known
through the daily newspapers that he
did not desire to run for mayor, and
that since the decision as to his im
mediate future had been left with
him, he had determined to file for re
election as commissioner.
The next possibility on the mayor
alty horizon is a former mayor, L. C.
Hodgson, who, it is said, will make
the race against Mayor Nelson if he
is given labor’s indorsement., Many
of Mr. Hodgson's most intimate
friends have tried to convince him
.that he will be wasting his time and
breath in an attempt to supplant the
present municipal head, but it is re
ported he is inclined to Believe he
has a chance.
Hurley May Run.
It is also reported that W. D. Hur
ley wants to run, but just what ex
cuse there is for his candidacy has
not been stated. Mrs. Hurley is a
member of the city and county board
of control.
Meantime, while the political pot is
trying to get up some steam, perma
nent registration continues without
any special indication that interest 1b
increasing. In all cases where Henry
Olson, city clerk and commissioner of
registration, has sent his deputies out
after registrants, they have "come
home with the bacon,” but this sys
tem cannot continue indefinitely. Mr.
Olson reports there has been little in
itiative shown on the part of the vot
ers. This is particularly true with
reference to the women.
Impetus Given to
Holy Land Race
Of Mme. Walker
Precedent by Nationally Known
Company Being Earnestly
Competed.
Indianapolis, Ind.—With nothing
like it ever attempted before by Ne
gro business. The Grand Trip to the
Holy Land Contest now being con
ducted by the Mme. C. J. Walker
Mfg. Co. of this city is proving itself
remarkable both for the new Interest
it is arousing in the 13 toilet prep
arations manufactured by this com
pany and the wide popularity it is
bringing to the individual entrants.
358 representatives of the several
religious denominations are keenly
competing in the contest and show
ing marked interest and great deter
mination to be the guest of the Mme.
C. J. Walker Company on a trip to
Palestine and back. No better pres
ent of far reaching benefits could be
given a minister and with enthusi
astic individuals and well working
organizations buying and selling the
Mme. C. J. Walker’s Toilet Prepara
tions, using the coupons found in
each package and voting for them,
each contestant seems determined to
earn no less than the very first prize.
The first half of the contest is now
over, having closed December 31st.
At that time the following candidates
were leading the field:
I—Rev. M. /. Key, Washington,
D. C., 541,150.
2 Bishop W. A. Fountain, Atlanta,
Oa., 501,300.
3 Rev. J. A. Hithcox, Cincinnati, 0.,
’ 312.350.
(Continued on page 4)
300 Congressmen Appeal
To President Coolidge
Solons From Northern States Back Efforts of Equal Rights
League to Secure Release of Houston Martyrs
Incarcerated at Leavenworth.
Official interest at Washington in the issue of whether the
colored soldiers at Fort Leavenworth Federal prison should be par
doned by President Coolidge is on the increase by virtue of the ap
peals made to 300 Northern Congressmen by the National Head
quarters of the National Equpl Rights League. Every day letters
from United States Representatives or Senators are received at
League Headquarters anent these appeals. Congressmen make
further inquiry of the league, or declare their intention of seeing
President Coolidge or Secretary of War Weeks, or send a copy of
the letter they have sent to the President, or enclose a copy of
replies from the War Department.
Connecticut! Boxing
Commission May Ask
Harry Wills Suspension
Suspension of Harry WUls,
heavyweight challenger, in Mas
sachusetts, New York and New
Jersey probably will be asked
when the Connecticut state
commission meets to investigate
the action of Wills in calling off
a contest on January 25.
Wills was to have boxed Jack
Taylor, Omaha, at an American
Ijegion benefit for which a large
number of tickets had been
sold. He notified the promoters
he had broken his band. He
appeared here yesterday to
“show them."
When the promoters asked
to have the hand examined by
their medical representative.
Wills was said to have declared,
"This is good enough,” and he
Jumped on the train waving his
bandaged hand.
Mason Pardon
Fund Reported
by Committee
Authentic Statement Given Pub
lic as to Collection and '
Expense of Campaign.
The committee working through
the legislative department of the Min
nesota Federation of Colored Wom
en’s Clubs, in behalf of the Max Ma
son Pardon Fund, submits the follow
ing report from the entertainment
given at St. Stephen's Auditorium,
November 30, 1923:
Receipts From Ticket Sale.
St. Paul, Minn.
Mrs. Mae Black Mason, sub
chairman 13.00
Citizens’ Committee.
Mrs. Nellie Francis —22.26
Dr. John R. French 1.00
R. H. Moore 2.60
R. N. Travis 1.00
Mr. Drizzle 1.00
Mrs. Chas. B. Cotton - 1.26
Mrs. Lucritla Cotton l.OO
Mrs. Marie T. Coles, Sab-chairman,
Duluth.
Calvary Baptist church $5.61
St. Mark’s A. M. E. church 7.09
Citizens’ Committee, Minneapolis.
Mrs. Gilbert Curry $1.26
Mrs. J. E. Perry 1.00
Mrs. Jennie Johnson 2.50.
Mrs. Mary McClure 1-35
Mrs. R. J. Hill 60
Mrs. Gertrude Thomas 1-00
Mrs. Marie Allen ——- 5.00
Miss Louise Kane 2.60
Mr. John Pulllns 2.50
Mr. Chas. Foree 5.00
Mr. John Collins 1.00
Mr. Wm. C. Jeffrey .50
Mr. Bert Thompson 2.00
Atty. Wm. R. Morris 2.00
- Total T _~563.80
Mr. Eddie Boyd, cash fl.oo
Mr. Clyde Allen - 1.25
Atty. Olander Smith, St. Paul,
check —— 1.00
Total 567.05
Door Receipts 10.35
From hat donated by Mrs. Ber
kowits 7.10
Total $74.50
(Continued on page 4)
PRICE: FIVE CENTS
Rep. A. P. Andrews of Massachu
setts answers, “I shall be glad to con
sider the suggestion you make of
writing to the President,” Rep. J.
W. Summers of Washington wrote to
President Coolidge, "I believe the Ne
groes now in Federal prison as result
of Houston riot have paid full penal
ties and should be liberated, provid
ed their records have been good in
prison.
Senators Say:
Senator G. P. McClean of Connecti
cut answers, "I shall be glad to ap
peal to the President. I feel sure he
will do as justice demands.” Senator
Ralph H. Cameron of Arizona an
swers, “I shall take occasion to talk
personally with the President.”
Rep. Theodore Burton of Ohio an
swers, “I take it formal application
has been made for the pardon of the
54 colored soldiers of the 24th U. S.
infantry now at Leavenworth prison.
There is a certain amount of routine
through which every request for par
don must go. In the first place there
must be consideration by the Depart
ment of Justice.
“At no distant date I will take oc
casion to speak with thp Attorney
General and with the President.”
Among those who enclose letters
from the Secretary of War, who may
prove to be the stumbling block, one
was Sen- Shortridge of California, en
closing a letter from the War Depart
ment which charges the soldiers with
mutiny and murder of Innocents,
claims they were fairly tried and con
victed of participation in offense
which it was their special duty to
prevent.
Suggestion Made.
It appends the following summary
of those now in prison:
Life sentence, not reduced 31
Life sentence reduced to 30 yrs 5
Life sentence reduced to 20 yrs—l 7
Life sentence reduced to 16 yrs 1
15-yr. sentence reduced to 12 yrs... 1
15-yr. sentence reduced to 11 yrs... 1
15-yr. sentence reduced to 10 yrs... 1
The league urges Douglass-Lincoln
Day Observances Feb. 12-14 every
where for agitating for pardons and
for passage of the Dyer Bill, also
churches on War Depta. Law and Or
der Sunday, Jan. 27, to write or wire
Congress for Dyer Bill.
Bankers to Raise
Million Dollars
Atlanta, Oa.—ln the campaign be
ing waged in Atlanta to bring up the
deposits of a race banking institution
to the point where it can qualify for
admittance into the Federal Reserve
Banking System, the Citizens Trust
Company is having the support not
only of all elements in the city of
Atlanta and throughout the State of
Georgia, but is receiving aid from a
large number of race banking insti
tutions and business houses as well
as prominent leaders throughout the
country. From present reports, it is
predicted that the one million dollars
in deposits set as the amount requir
ed by the Citizens Trust Company be
fore the end of this week. According
to one of the officers of the company
this will be easy now that such whole
hearted co-operation is assured from
the leaders and rank and file of the
colored people of the oountry.
The total enrollment of all depart
ments of Howard University Is ap
proximately 2.490 students.