The Monitor
A Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of the Eight Thousand Colored People
in Omaha and Vicinity, and to the Good of the Community
The Rev. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
$1.50 a Year. 5c a Copy. Omaha, Nebraska, January 29, 1916 Volume I. Number 31
Mohr Murder Case
Attracts Attention
Former United States Attorney Lewis
a Conspicuous Figure at Trial
Table.
TWO RACE TYPES CONTRASTED.
Lewis and Edwards Excellent Exam
ples of Highest Type of Amer
icans, Regardless of Color.
Providence, R. I., Jan. 19.—The
Mohr case, now being tried here, is
perhaps the greatest legal drama ever
enacted in this section of the country.
Few trials have contained the com
plications of this one and never before
has this quaint old New England town
been so stirred.
The Negro is represented in this
case in both its lighter and darker
shades. Brown, Spellman and Healis,
the three youths upon whom the State
is endeavoring to fix the direct res
ponsibility of the crime, are represent
atives of the shiftless and worthless
class of their race while William H.
Lewis and John C. Edwards, the bril
liant attorneys who are defending
Brown and Spellman, are excellent ex
amples of the very highest type of
Americans, regardless of color.
Mrs. Elizabeth Mohr, the wife of
the late physican, and the co-defen
dant of the colored lads, with her
weak, passionate face, is not an ap
pealing figure as she sits motionless
in the court room between her attor
neys. She is, however, the central
figure in the case, for it is she, the
State claims, who instigated the he
nious plot to slay her wealthy hus
band. At first it was claimed that
Mrs. Mohr was actuated by jealousy,
but later, it was alleged that she
wanted to come into possession of his
wealth. Now it is alleged that she
has been infatuated with her chauf
feur, Healis, and wanted to get the
doctor out of the way. Any and all
of the reasons may or may not have
prompted the woman to be anxious
to rid herself of her husband, but if
she is connected at all, the first two
reasons are the most plausible. Her
alleged intimacy with Healis was per
haps a coincidence, and may have
aided the original motives.
When Healis took the stand today
the first real knowledge of his alleged
intimacy with Mrs. Mohr was brought
out when two letters were produced,
which had been written by Mrs. Mohr
to Healis. The letters were not read
but counsel for the defense were al
lowed to inspect them. It was evident
that counsel for Mrs. Mohr was an
noyed by the presence of these let
ters. It seemed to have been their in
tention to prove that the doctor’s life
was a dual one, and that his alleged
intimacy with other women was un
just to his wife; but this testimony of
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Please Remember This
The Monitor is the only Negro newspaper published, not only in
Omaha, but in the whole stale of Nebraska. It now has a large cir
culation in Omaha and vicinity and ultimately will be read by every
colored family in the state. To reach the colored people, advertise in
The Monitor.
MISS BLANCHE THOMPSON,
Prima Donna with The Smart Set at Brandeis Theatre.
Something to Make You Think
BOOKS BY OUR OWN AUTHORS.
Many people who count themselves well informed know very little after
all of the real happenings during and after the civil war, as it affects the col
ored people. True, the histories give a version that must be accepted for lack
of something better. But it must be remeinberd that most books on the sub
ject were written by white men and women, which would be equivalent to say
ing that they would be colored more or less to suit their own preju
dices.
We are asked, for instance, to criticize “The Birth of a Nation.” In a
general way we can point out the objectionable parts, but can we intelligently
pick out the chaff from the wheat? There are always two sides to every
story. We learn the white man’s side, because it is forced upon us. In recent
years we are beginning to learn our own side because we have within oud
ranks such eminent writers as Kelly Miller, Professor Du Bois, Major John R.
Lynch, and others who have given the world word pictures from our point of
view.
“Facts of Reconstruction,” the recent classic from the pen of Major
Lynch, has found place in the libraries of most of the great universities,,
which argues well for its authenticity .and value as a matter of record. This
and other books by race writers should be in the home of every one. We can
not be too well versed on the things that have vitally touched our lives.—Chi
cago Defender.
SUPREME COURT DECIDES CASE.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently handed down its opinion in
the case of the Commonwealth vs.Athens George, sustaining Justice Kephart
of the Superior Court, who held in his opinion that theatre managers MUST
provide EQUAL and sufficient accommodations and no discrimination on ac
count of race or color will be permitted.
The case was taken up for a final ruling on the matter, and the final word
of the Supreme Court gives the Negroes and the theater managers just what
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Brazil Ideal Country
For Colored Man
Equality Everywhere and Foremost
Citizens of Republic Are Members
of Race.
ANY PAN-AMERICAN PROGRAM.
Proposed by United States Must Be
Prepared to Accept These
Conditions.
Rio de Janeiro, Jan. 21.—Few peo
ple in the United States, who have not
been to this country, can appreciate
the vastness and great growth along
all lines of the Republic of Brazil.
This country may be said to be the
elysian field of the Black people. If
any doubt exists in the mind of the
American white man that the Black
people are incapable of self-govern
ment he need only to see and study
the Black people of this wonderful
republic to be convinced. Here they
have attained the highest degree of
proficiency in every department of
human endeavor. In the city of Rio
de Janeiro from which this article is
written, Black men are owners of the
largest blusiness enterprises, some of
which employ thousands of men and
women and represent millions of in
vested capital. This city is one of the
oldest in the Western Hemisphere
and has grown in importance and pop
ulation until it is now ranked as the
sixth largest city in the world.
It will be of interest to the col
ored population of the United States
to know that among the Presidents of
this republic the ablest is conceded
to have been H. E. Nilo Pechana, who
presided over the destinies of this
country as its chief executive from
1908 to 1912. His wise and progres
sive administration was responsible
for an era of development such as the
country had not hitherto known. Un
der his regime six thousand miles of
government-owned railroads * were
built, which connected the capital with
every principal city in the republic.
Senor Pecanha resides in the city of
Rio de Janeiro, and is regarded as the
elder statesman whose counsel and ad
vice is always sought and adopted on
all great government questions. No
table among the high ranking officials
of the government who are members
of the Black race are the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court, Chief Secre
tary of Foreign Relations, Secretary
of the Treasury and Minister of Edu
cation. The form of government is
identical with that of the United
States. The Congress has, out of its
160 members, ninety-two identified
with the Black race. In the Senate
twenty-two of the forty members are
Blacks. The army and navy are thor
oughly representative of the Black
people. The vice-admiral, who is
highest ranking officer in the navy, is
a member of the Black race, and offi
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