The Detroit tribune., August 08, 1936, Page 1, Image 1

About The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966

Image provided by: Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library

                
01 ON ALL
NEWS
STANDS
VOL. XIV NO. 21
Olympic Star
JESSE OWENS, University
of Ohio athlete who has won
the plaudits of the world, by
his amazing feats at the Olym
piad in Germany. Owens is
tile first American athlete to
win three Olympic world cham
pionships in one year. He
broke all previous records in
the 100 and the 200 meter
sprints and in the running
broad jump.
Ethiopian Exhibit
In Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, N. Y.—(C)—A col
lection of paintings, jewelry and
other objects of art are in the ex
hibit of Ethiopian crafts at the
Brooklyn Museum for the rest of
the summer. The exhibit is com
posed of the collection made by
Miss Paula Lecler who spent six
months in Ethiopia during the war,
and who interviewed Emperor
Haile Selassie, and since her re
turn has spoken on programs with
J. .A. Rogers. In the exhibit are
rugs, Ethiopians coins, silver trays
with bone rims and weapons used
by tribesmen.
For I'p-to-the- Minute News
Always Make It
A Point To
Read The Tribune
MAURICE SUGAR ASKS
POLICE PROBE OF
CHAS. HARRIS CASE
In a recent communication to
Police Commissioner, Heinrich
Picket, Attorney Maurfc§~Sugar,
prominent local labor defense
lawyer, asks that a thorough in
vestigation he made into the case
of Rev. Charles Harrison, a for
mer employee at the Dodge Auto
mobile plant, who was tired on
J u 1 y 2, under peculiar circum
stances.
According to Harrison’s story,
ns embodied in a signed affidavit
submitted to Commissioner Pickert
just prior to his dismissal from
the Dodge Plant, he was visited at
his home by two strange white
men ,who threatened him with the
loss of his job and other misfor
tune, if he did not act as a spy at
Communist meetings. Hb said the
men told him the Black Legion had
no intention of harming Negroes,
and they ordered him to report to
a certain individual at Police Head
quarters, whom he said he saw and
talked with about the spy work,
in which he claimed he did not de
sire to participate.
After signing the affidavit, Rev.
Harris, it is said, was Immediately
fired from the Dodge Plant.
Attorney Sugar’s letter to Com
missioner Pickert reads as fol
lows:
July
Thirteenth
1936
Mr. Heinrich A. Pickert
Commissioner of Police
City of Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Dear Sir:
In your letter of July 6, 1936.,
referring to the affidavit of Char
les Harrison which I mailed you
under date of July 1, 1936, you
IB etroJftSlSnbtmc
PINO NEG KQ WEEKLY OF MICHIGAN
CLIFFORD 2924
OWENS. OLYMPIC HERO
Man Burns To
FORD WORKER CREMATED
AS FLAMES DESTROY
HIS HOME
Man’s Relatives Have Suspicion of Foul
Play In Wright’s Death
Deep myste'ry shrouds the death
of James Wright, 42-year-old Ford
worker, who was cremated late
last Wednesday night, when flames
destroyed his home at 3758 Irene
street, Inkster, Mich.
According to one version of the
tragedy, the unfortunate man was
asleep in bed, preparatory to go- •
ing to work on the midnight shift j
at Ford's River Rouge Plant, when J
the tire occurred. Another version
has it that when firemen from the
Dearborn Fire Department re
sponded to the fire alarm, they
were informed by neighbors stand
ing outside the burning cottage
that Wright had warned them
from within that he would shoot
anyone who attempted to rescue
him. Wright was armed with a re
volver and deliberately refused as
sistance it is said.
Because of the mystery sur
rounding the tragedy, and the sus
picion voiced by the dead man’s
relatives that foul play might
have been involved in the victim’s
death, an autopsy of the body was
made by the Wayne County Coro
ner’s office, Tuesday, and tlje
stomach sent to the chemical labo
ratories at the University of Michi
gan, to be examined for traces of
poison.
Mrs. Wright .the widow of the
dead man was in the house when
the fire occurred, but escaped with
out injury.
The theory is advanced that,
Wright’s alleged refusal to allow
neighbors to rescue him. might
have been caused b y a delirious,
state of mind, resulting from
poison or some other pathological
condition. |
The findings of the chemical ex
amination of the victim’s stomach
have not been made known.
Attempts to reach Ford officials
and ascertain if Wright was at
work and in good physical condi
tion on the night prior to his death,
have thus far been unsuccessful,
as Donald Marshall of the Person
nel Department of the Ford Plant,
is out of town on a vacation in
Canada, and other officials could
not be reached.
state that you have had the matter
investigated and that you find that
i “recently the Department received
a letter from a man named Harri
j son which was rather illegible and
which was followed by a visit from
I him” That Harrison wrote a letter
and that he made a visit to the
| Department was disclosed in the
affidavit. It is to be assumed that
I no great amount of investigating
! was necessary to uncover this.
May we ask if the letter was not
, confirmatory of the statment made
j by him in his affidavit? And may
j we further ask if the visit was not
to Mr. Harry Mikuliak, Room 429
Police Headquarters, as stated by
Mr. Harrison in his affidavit? And
may we ask if your investigation
did not result in a confirmation of
the facts recited by Mr. Harrison
in his affidavit?
You state that you “cannot find
that he was connected with any ac
tivity here.” We are at loss to un
derstand just what you mean. Did
not your Investigation disclose
that he was approached by repre
sentatives of your Department for
the purpose of doing spy work?
You state that you have no
knowledge of a man named Barton.
May we ask whether or not you
questioned Mr. Mikuliak about this,
having in mind, of course, that the
name Barton was fictitious?
Our letter to you was mailed on
July 1, 1936. On July 2. 1926 Mr.
Harrison was discharged from his
Job at the Dodge Plant. And may
we ask you to investigate this, to
determine whether or not there is
iny connection between our letter
to you and the action of Mr. Har
rison’s employer?
Very truly yours.
Maurice Sugar
Semi - Finalist In
Scholarship
Audit i o n s
Survivals of the preliminaries of
the scholarship and audition con
test which were held at St. Antoine
Y. M. C. A., Thursday myrning and
evening, are priming themselves
for the semi-finals which will be
held at the same place Friday, Au
gust 14th.
The scholarship and audition
contest is being sponsored by tho
National Association of Negro Mu
sicians, Inc., which convenes here
August 23 to 26. Dr. J. H. Moore,
of Flint, national chairman of the
scholarship committee, will have
charge of the finals which will be
held at the Bethel A. M. E. church
August 21.
The units conducting the local
scholarship audition are the Im
perial Choral Society, Azalia Hack
ley Music Club and the Detroit Mu
sicians Association. There will be
three winners of voice and instru
ment to compete in the finals.
Perhaps one of the outstanding
features on the convention program
will be artists’ night at the Detroit
Institute of Arts, Thursday even
ing, August 27. Many prominent
artists are scheduled to appear on
the program.
Notable among these artists are
(Continiied on page 10)
Mrs. William Kelley
Visits Detroit
Mrs. William Kelley and children
of Milwaukee. Wis., are visitors in
Detroit as guests of Mrs. Kelley’s
mother, Mrs. Rachel Scott, 6412
Beechwood avenue.
The Kelleys arrived here Satur
day and will remain two weeks.
W. C. Kemp
Meets Death
Impressive funeral services will
be held Friday afternoon at 1
o’clock, from Ebenezer A. M. E.
Church, for the late William Cla
rence Kemp, prominent local gro
cer, who was killed in an automo
bile accident near Jackson. Mich.,
last Saturday night. Rev. G. W.
Baber will officiate. Burial will
be in Memorial Park Cemetery, the
Fred Anderson Funeral Home be
ing in charge of the body.
The tragedy which cost Mr.
I
W. C. KEMP
Kemp his life occurred at a sharp
curve on the highway near Jack
son, as Mr. J<emp and his cousin,
Thomas Kemp, were enroute to
Chicago, weary from a streneous
day’s work at the store. They were
drowsy and had been taking turns
at the wheel, when their car left
the road and plunged over an em
bankment, killing Mr. Kemp and
seriously injuring his cousin. Mr.
Kemp, who was proprietor of the
Kemp Ment Market and Grocery
Store, at St. Antoine and Farns
worth. had been in business in De
troit since 1927. He was born In
Georgia 38 years ago.
The deceased is survived by his
widow, Mrs. Luclle Kemp, whom
he married in 1924; two brothers,
John K. and Clemmin. of this city;
two sisters. Miss Carrie Kemp, and
Mrs. Mahle Wesley of Georgia; and
other relatives.
A Non-Partisan Newspaper
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, SATURDAY AUGUST 8, 1936
Death In Mystery Fire
Club Women of
12 States To
Hold 6th Biennial
CHARLESTON, W. Va.—(ANP)
Hundreds of delegates from the 12
states comprising the Central As
sociation of Colored Women are
expected in attendance at the six
th biennial Conference, to be held
in this city August 16-19. Among
the prominent women of the na
tion who will bring messages to
the central group Include Mrs.
McLeord Bethune,. recently ap
pointed National Director Negro
Division, NY A. Dr. Mary F. Warr
ing, president National Association
of Colored Women, Mrs. Sallie W.
Steward, chairman of the national
body, Miss Nannie Burrough of
Washington, I). C. and many others
The confab will open with a big
mass meeting in Charleston, with
John P. Davis, secretary National
Negro Congress, as the principal
speaker. The business sessions will
be held on the campus of West
Virginia State College, thorugh
courtesy of President John W. Dav
is. A feature of the meeting will
be a one-day Institute on “Under
stand Cooperation,” with submitted
reports on President Roosevelt’s
Commission and on Cooperation
Abroad and in America Demonstra
tions of successful Self-Help Co
operatives will also be given by
Miss Rosa Miller, Illyria, Ohio,
Mrs. Jane E. Spaulding. Charles
ton, and by Miss Nannie Burroughs.
Win. Winemiller and associates of
the Ohio Farm Bureau will assist
with the Institute.
Three Jailed In Welfare Fraud
Charges with conspiracy to defraud the Department
of Public Welfare, Raymond Winchester, 18, of 3845
Riopelle street, a messenger boy at the Alfred street Wel
fare Branch; and George Bailey, 35, of 3950 Dubois street,
were held Wednesday in Judge George Murphy's Re
corders Court, after a lengthy examination.
William Kennedy, 53, of 3528<
Riopelle, is also being held, in
connection with the case.
According to testimony brought
out at the examination Raymond
Winchester gave George Bailey a
welfare identification card on June
17. and Bailey gave the card to
William Kennedy, who received
from the department a check for
$22.45. made out to the order of
Robert Whitesett, 3626 E. Gar
field avenue.
When Whitsett called for his
check, he was told that it had al- i
ready been issued, and he was giv- I
NOONDAY LUNCHEON CLUB
OF TRADE ASSOCIATION
CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY
Inspiring Address
By Chicago
Attorney
(By Staff Reporter)
Wednesday evening, July 29th,
at the Y. W. C. A., the Noonday
Luncheon Club of the Booker T.
Washington Trade Association
celebrated its fourth anniversary.
It was an evening full of activity,
serious thought and entertainment
and the main dining room of the
“Y” beautifully decorated, was fill
ed to capacity. The program got
under way when Attorney Charles
W. Jones, toast master called
for order and the invocation was
said by Rev. A. Clyde Randall.
One of the best dinners ever serv
ed by the Y. W. C. A. was heartily
enjoyed by everyone present. The
members and guests were then put
in a chearful frame of mind by sing
ing a number of peppy and popu
lar songs led by Chas. C. Diggs.
Rev. William H. Peck, president of
the Trade Association spoke on
some of the achievements of the
Trade Association and Luncheon
Club nnd Mrs. Fannie B. Peck
spoke on the work <>f the House
wives League. These addresses a
lone would have proved sufficient
for the anniversary program, but
that was Just the beginning of a
memorable evening. Two read
ings by Mrs. Fannie Poole almost
brought the diners to their feet with
applause. At this point Carlton
A Georgia “Peach”
'
Lovely Miss Ellcnu L. Ver
ity, of Augusta, Ga., prepos
sessing Fisk University co-ed,
who was honored Saturday and
Sunday, at an elaborate week
end party, given by Alf. Thom
as, Jr„ at the Thomas’ sum
en a five dollar emergency check.
Later, it is reported that Ken
nedy received another welfare
check for $22.95.
The three men were arrested on
information supplied by Jake
Swartz, 3700 Hastings street, store
owner who cashed the checks.
Bailey stated that he gave Win
chester ten dollars for one of the
checks, but the latter denied hav
ing received any money, although
he admitted having given Kennedy
the identification card.
At the examination of Winches-
W. Gaines, chairman of the Lun
cheon Club, was supposed to have
spoken on "The scientific Basis
of Trade Associations’’ and to be
introduced by L. C. Blount. How
ever, this turned out to be the
first joke of the evening as Mr.
Gaines was not even expected to
speak on the subject. On the con
trary Mr. Blount suprisingly pre
sented the chairman with a beau
tiful cocktail set, a gift of the
Club and other friends. Mr.
Blount in presenting the token
almost ran out of words in praising
the chairman for his consistent
work in the Trade Association nnd
Luncheon Club. He said that
"Carlton Gaines" specialized in do
ing big things nnd giving the cre
dit to others". Mr. Gaines was
then presented as the toastmaster
for the remainder of the program.
With tears in his eyes he thanked
Mr. Blount and those whom he re
presented and stated that as deep
ly as he appreciated the surprise,
increased support on the part of
the Club members and others
would be even more highly appre
ciated. He wns given a great
hand. After he finally got his
bearing things broke out anew.
J. J. Theus. the photographer,
produced two tiny fish supposed
ly caught by Rev. Peck and Rev.
Baber, on a two weeks fishing
trip, It being the policy of the
Club that all members who go fish
ing must present the actual fish
to the Club as proof nnd evidence
(Contlnned on page 10)
2146 ST. ANTOINE ST.
mer resort. Midwest Country
Club near Grasse Lake, Mich.
Guests in attendaiiee during
the two days, number more
than B>o, many of them hav
ing journeyed from distant
parts of the United States, hy
imitation of Hie genial host.
ter and Bailey Wednesday morn
ing testimony was given by Dan
iel J. Ryan, Jr., assistant account
ant for the D. P. W., who explain
ed about the welfare check system.
Charles Foster check dispenser,
who gave the check to the person
poßing as Whitsett, also took the
stand.
Whitesett testified that on June
19, he called to get his check and
presented his identification card,
but was told that his check had
previously been given out.
The two cancelled checks were
presented in court and Whitesett
testified ijiat the signatures en
dorsed on the back, w’ere not his.
Several welfare employees, the
grocer and the bank cashier, who
cashed the checks; and Lieutenant
Anxiously Awaits
Son’s Return
MRS. I). HARDEMAN, 8767
Cardonl avenne, mother of
Howell King prominent local
boxer, who Is expected to dock
at New York this week, on his
return voyage from Germany,
after having been eliminated
by the American Olympic Com
mlttee.
In an Interview, Mrs. Harde
man told a Tribune represen
tative that she canid not con
ceive of Howell having violat
ed any rales or participated In
any misconduct, which would
hate warranted his snspenslon,
as he was too eager to take
part in the Olympic contests,
to risk forfeiting the oppor
tunity.
Mrs. Hardeman Is deeply
disappointed, hnt desires to
withhold further comment, nn
til she has had the opportuni
ty to talk with her son nnd
learn the facts.
FIRST AMERICAN ATHLETE
TO WIN THREE CROWNS
AT OLYMPIC GAMES
Other Negro Stars Hoist “Old Glory”
At Olympics
NEW YORK CITY —Cable dispatches from Germany
bring to the shores of the United States the good tidings
that the superb Negro athletes participating in the Olym
pic contests, have won signal victories, among them be
ing Jesse Owens, sensational University of Ohio star; John
Woodruff, of Pittsburgh University; Cornelius Johnson,
of Compton Junior College, California; and David Albrit
ton, team mate of Jesse Owens at Ohio University, all of
whom took turns in hoisting the “Star Spangled Banner"
to the top of the flagstaff on the Olympic Field, through
their spectacular victories.
Welfare Family
Stricken With
Ptomaine Poisoning
After eating a meal of canned
fish which was given them by the
Department of Public Welfare,
Mrs. Rebecca Singleton, age 50,
Ada Singleton, age 45, Dorothy
Singleton, nine years old, and Eu
gene Singleton, six months old, all
of 5330 Russell street are In the
Receiving Hospital suffering from
ptomaine poisoning. The members
of the family were stricken Tues
day morning and rushed to the
hospital In a Receiving Hospital
ambulance.
Miss Fleming of the Board of
Health and the police are carrying
on an investigation into the case.
1 Earl Stephens of the Scientific
Laboratory of the Police Depart
ment, all pave testimony which
pointed to the fact that the checks
had been fraudulently secured
and cashed.
Winchester was represented at
the examination by Attorney James
Jackson ; while Bailey was de
fended by Attorney Charles Per
kins.
Attorney. John K. Graham, as
sistant prosecutor, who represent
ed the state, recommended that
the defendants be held for trial,
on charges of conspiracy to de
fraud the Department of Public
Welfare.
Killed By Fall
While Painting
House
While painting a house at 5851
Beaubien street .Monday, Mack
Daniel. 281 E. Canfield street fell
from the top of a forty foot ladder
fracturing his’ skull and injuring
his right hip. He died shortly af
ter he was taken to the Receiving
Hospital. Was taken to the hos
pital by Joe Nichols, 9147 Lake
point street.
o
Attention
Rend about the Joe Lonis
Good I-tirk Club, on Page 9, In
this Issue. .Join the elnb to
day.
NATIONAL G. 0. P. COMMITTEE
PLANS ACTIVE CAMPAIGN
AMONG NEGRO REPUBLICANS
Chicago, 111.—Chairman John
Hamilton of the Republican Na
tional Committee announceH that
the 1936 campaign among Negro
Republicans will he more Intensive
than ever before In the Party's en
tire history. It will be educational
In nature and will be conducted In
harmony with modern Negro
thought, he says.
An Innovation will be a Young
Republican Division. The personnel
of this department will be announc
ed within the next week and, ac
cording to Mr. Hamilton, It will be
composed of the greatest number
of young people ever called Into
political service. They will come
from every section of the land and
represent every element of young
America.
Western Division appointments
as announced by Chairman Hamil
ton are: L. K. Williams and R. R.
01 ON ALL
NEWS
STANDS
S CENTS A COPY
1 In the presence of more than
100.000 cheering spectators, most
of whom were Germans, Jesse
Owens won the 100 meter sprint
Tuesday. He won the broad jump,
setting anew Olympic record of
26 feet, 5 21-64 inches. Wednesday,
Owens won his third championship
in the Olympics, by capturing the
200 meter race. These three vic
tories place Owens in a class to
himself, as the outstanding ath
lete at the Olympic Games, and
the first American to win this
threefold victory in a single year.
John Woodruff, of Pittsburgh
brought victory to the United
States, in the 800 teeter race. Dav
id Albritton and Cornelius John
son established new Olympic re
cords in the high jump.
Ralph Metcalfe, of Marquette
University, ran second to Jesse
Owens, in the 100 meter sprint,
Monday: and Mack Robinson of
California, trailed Owqns Wednes
day, in the 200 meter race.
Despite the brilliant records
made by the Negro athletes from
the United States, it is reported
that Herr Hitler failed to accord
them the official reception given
victorious white contestants, al
though he gave Owens the Nazi
salute, after one of Owens’ sen
sational victories. Press dis
patches state, however, that the
thousands of German spectators at
the Olympic Games cheered the
victorious colored athletes enthu-
I siastically.
Buy New Car
With Fake Check
Police arrested Turner Apple
gate, age 19, of 4422 Lumley street
Tuesday morning shortly after he
had bought anew car in Highland
Park with a bum check. Apple
gate was turned over to Highland
Park authorities where he will
face a charge of passing bogus
checks.
o
Woman Dies *
From Burns
Mrs. Jesse Banks, age 32,
Brewster street who fell asleep
while smoking a cigarette and was
seriously burned when her bed
caught fire last week at her home,
She died Tuesday at 11 o’clock in
the Receiving Hospital.
o
Always Make It
A Point To
Read The Trlbnne
Church, Roscoe Conkllng Simmons,
Director of the Speakers Bureau;
Robert S. Abbott, Chairman, Pub
lic Relations and press; Mrs.
Lethla Fleming, of Cleveland, Ohio
director of Women’s Department;
and Perry W. Howard. National
Committeeman. General Advisor.
Assistants, heads of departments,
field workers, contest officials and
the personnel of the Organization
Bureau will be announced at the
end of the week. Ninety percent of
these will be wholly new to poll
°al activities and will be sum
moned from every state in the un
ion, It Is announced.
It is the desire of Chairman
Hamilton that every element of
Negro life have representation and
earnest consideration in this cam
paign. He has taken a personal In
terest In this phase of the organi
zation.