—■ I 'T'ttt? M n XT ITA1? I ~ I
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A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
___THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
$3.00 a Year. 10c a Copy_OMAHA, NEBRASKA. DECEMBER 30, 1920 _Vol. Vi. No, 27 (Whole No. 287)
We Wish You a Happy and Prosperous New Year
DR. BUNDY GRANTED
NEW 'M . BY COURT
Brave East St. Loiu 'v t Who Protected Race in Horrible
Massacre and Wa v* -ed to Life Imprisonment for Con
spiracy to Murder °^. Released on Supersedas Bond,
Given Favorable Dec. 1 Liberty on $25,000 Bond Dur
ing Pendency of Case.
SENTENCE FOR LIFE IS REVERSED
High Court of Illinois Rules That Errors in Trial Justify Reversal
of Original Court and Therefore Remands Case to the Mon
roe County Court—Triumph for Bundy’s Attorneys—Race
Throughout Country Contributed to Defense Fund—Dr.
Bundy Given Ovation in Omaha I^ist July When He Made
Most Favorable Impression
—Courtesy Omaha Daily Bee
MRS. CHARLES OFFUTT
Chairman of the Y. W. C. A. Committee on Colored Work
(Special to The Monitor)
Ol'KINGFIELD, 111., Dec. 30.—A fa
^ vorable decision was rendered
here Monday, December 20, in the fa
mous case of Dr. Leroy N. Bundy,
former East St. Louis dentist, who
was sentenced March 28, 1919. to life
imprisonment for conspiracy to mur
der, in connection with the East St.
Louis massacre in which semes of
Negroes, men, women and children
were done to death with unbelievable
brutality at the hands of a white mob
July 2 and 3, 1917. Dr. Bundy, who
urged his people to protect them
selves, was charged with conspiracy
to murder in connection with the kill
ing of two detectives during the riots.
He fled to Ohio and fought extradi
tion until passion had cooled. The
governor of Ohio refused to surrender
him to Illinois, until Illinois had de
posited $500,900 with the state of Ohio
as a guarantee for Dr. Bundy’s safe
s conduct. He was tried at Waterloo,
111., one of the most prejudiced towns
in Illinois, was convicted and sentenced
to life imprisonment.
The supreme court of Illinois here
Monday reversed the decision of the
lower court and granted the dentist
a new trial, declaring that errprs were
contained in the verdict, which sen
tenced him to life imprisonment at his
trial at Waterloo, 111., almost two
years ago. A special telegram from
court officials at Springfield and per
sonal friends of the dentist in this city
informed him of the court’s findings.
Dr. Bundy is now practicing dentistry
in Cleveland, O.
Make $25,000 Bond
Chief Justice Orin N. Carter of the
state supreme court ordered the re
lease of Dr. Bundy from the southern
Illinois penitentiary on Friday, March
19, last, pending the disposal of an
appeal to that court. The dentist had
completed several months of a sen
tence to life for murder in connec
tion with the slaying of Detectives
Coppege and Wodley (white) of the
East St. Louis police force. The court
made the bond $25,000, pending final
disposition of the case.
Writ if* Heard
Attorneys Hueston and Calloway of
Kansas City, Mo., represented Dr.
Bundy at the time, and obtained his
release on a writ of supersedas. Chief
Justice Carter, who at the request of
Justice Duncan, also a member of the
supreme court, heard the application
and passed upon the proceedings. In
granting the release Chief Justice Car
ter said:
"It appears to me, upon due consid
eration of the record and abstract
thereof, and the brief and argument of
counsel, that there is serious and pre
judicial error in the record of the
crime of which he stands convicted and
upersedeas is herein granted.”
Trial at Waterloo
It is charged that at the time of
the Bundy trial at Waterloo, 111., race
prejudice was openly permitted in or
der to obtain a conviction. The pre
siding judge favored the prosecuting
attorney in all angles of the case,
denying Bundy’s lawyers objections to
the procedure at various intervals of
the trial. It was further charged that
jurors were selected at the behest of
the state because of the peculiar fit
ness to serve the purpose desired.
Insane Juror
The word “nigger” was permitted to
be used in reference to Dr. Bundy and
his efforts to uplift his people at East
St. Louis. An insane man was allowed
»
to serve on the jury, and after thc
trial was confined at the asylum for
the insane at Dunning. Mrs. Bundy,
wife of the dentist, worked faithfully
for the release of her husband, despite
the fact that all indications pointed to
a hopeless path.
Doctor Bundy was heard in Omaha
last July when he spoke here under
the auspices of a citizens’ committer’
of which the Rev. John Albert Wil
liams was chairman. He was given an
ovation by an audience which packed
Grove M. E. church to the doors and
upon which the simple recital of the
tragic events through which he had
passed made a profound impression.
A liberal contribution was given at
that time towards his defense fund.
FORMAL DEDICATION OF Y W C A. BUILDING
The Handsome Center for Colored
Girls and Women Will Be Sei Apart
Wilh Appropriate Exercises Sundaj
Afternoon—House Has Been Re
modeled and Well Furnished for Its
Important Work.
The Young Women’s Christian asso
ciation center at Twenty-second and
Grant streets will be formally opened
and dedicated with appropriate exer
cises Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock.
The Rev. W. F. Botts, pastor of Zion
Baptist church, will preside. Other
pastors of the city will also take part.
Greetings will be given by the Rt.
Rev. Ernest, V. Shayler, bishop of the
Episcopal church in the Diocese of Ne
braska; the Rt. Rev. Homer Stunt?..
Methodist bishop; Mrs. Carrie Ada
Campbell, general secretary, and oth
ers. The dedicatory address will be
given by the Rev. John Albert Wil
liams, rector Church of St. Philip the
Deacon.
The center is housed in an attrae
tive bungalow, which has been remod
eled, beautifully furnished and well
equipped for the work in hand. The
first floor is occupied with a large,
handsome room about 35xfi0, which is
used a un assembly and recreation
room, and secretary’s office, kitchen,
bed room and large hath room.
The upper floor is occupied with a
large dormitory with accommodations
for about ten transient guests, to
which accommodations the center will
be limited for the present. A cafe
MISS FR ANK IK B. WATKINS
Secretary
teria will be one of the features of
the center.
The basement contains the heating
plant, store rooms, a supplementary
kitchen and other conveniences.
Mrs. Charles Offutt, who has been
the efficient chairman of the gcner.il
board charged with the duty of hous
ing the colored branch, has been most
untiring in her efforts and generous
in her contributions. She has received
hearty co-operation from those asso
ciated with her. The members of the
provisional committee having charge
of this work were: Mrs. Charles Of
futt, general chairman; Mrs. J. Alice
Stewart, chairman finance committee;
Mrs. 'esse H. Hutten, chairman edu
. rational committee; ivirs. u. w. ouuu'
ten, chairman membership committee;
Mrs. Jessie Hale Moss (deceased),
chairman religious work; Miss Madree
Penn, chairman, and Mrs. L. N. Peo
ples, assistant chairman of girls’
work; Miss Lena Paul, chairman of
house committee. Miss Frankie B.
j Watkins is secretary.
The public is cordially invited to the
i dedicatory services Sunday, at which
! time the following program will be
; given:
Invocation, Rev. S. L. Deas; hymn;
1 responsive services, led by Rev. T. A.
Taggart; “The Gloria;” responsive
prayers, led by Rev. Russel Taylor;'
offertory; violin solo, Miss Evelyn!
Battles; solo, Cecelia W. Jewel; ad
dress, Rev. John Albert Williams;
hymn; greetings, Bishop Shayler,
Bishop Stuntz, Rev. W. C. Williams,
| Mrs. Carrie Ada Campbell, general
secretary; benediction, Rev. W. G.
Franklin; Rev. W. F. Botts, presiding. I
RACIAL ACTIVITIES TO
HE SHOWN IN MOVIES
WASHINGTON. Dec. 30.—Recently
a contract was signed here by J. Wil
liams Clifford, president of I he Monu
mental Pictures Corporation . nd the
Seaboard Film Corporation for the
world distribution of the Negro news
reel railed the Monumental Monthly,
which will be devoted to portraying
the activities and achievements of the
American Negro. Gradually the pol
try outlined by the executives of the
Monumental has in its program the
extension of its activities to the entire
world. .
The Y. W. C. A. Center for Colored ©Iris at Twenty-second and ©rant 8ts,
S
COLORED AMERICANS
WELCOME IN BRAZIL
President ot the American-Brazilian Colonizing Syndicate Draws
a Roseate Picture of Opportunities Awaiting Ambitious and
Well-Equipped Members of Race in South American Republic
—Offers Many Business Advantages, is Claim
AGRICULTURE IS LUCRATIVE FIELD
Land is Cheap and Soil Fertile; Crops Numerous and Varied_
Any Place in Brazilian Republic Will Serve Purpose of Man
Who Desires to Enjoy Profitable Farm Life—Knowledge of
Portugese Language Valuable Asset
(By The Associated Negro Press)
□HICAGO, 111., Dec. 30.—“There is
little or no employment to be
found as waiters, porters, cooks and |
similar occupations followed by large \
numbers of our people in the United
States, but there are many positions '■
in large business concerns open and j
waiting for high class men and women
of color.” This statement was made
recently by George Rambo, president
of the Brazilian-American Colonizing
Syndicate, in the course of an address
on the general opportunities for Ne
groes in the republic of Brazil.
In a later interview he declared:
“Not only are there good business
openings for live people but there are
splendid opportunities for successful
ventures in the fields of manufactur
ing. Ice, cotton goods, leather articles
and furniture making offer inviting
chances to make money for anyone
who has fair knowledge in these sev
eral directions. This would apply par
ticularly to the large number of towns
and small cities in the interior sec
i;otis of the republic.
"Most all stnictural iron, fabricated
metals such as gas and electric fix
tures are imported into the country.
This is also true of the better grades
of office and household furniture,
shoes, clothing, men and women’s fui
nishings, in fact one can include most
of the manufactured necessities in the
list of things that could be made and
sold to profitable advantage in nearly
every section of this rich country.
“The government encourages home
production of necessities by maintain
ing a high protective tariff on all
manufactured imports. The wisdom
of the government, in this connection,
is sustained by the great abundance
of raw materials available everywhere
that but awaits the disposition to turn
them into manufactured products. I
again emphasize, however, that the
people who go to Brazil must possess
a good working knowledge of the busi
ness and trades they wish to follow,
and they must also acquire a reason
able acquaintance with the Portugese
language which is spoken in the
country.
“But the cultivation of the land,”
continued Mr. Rambo, “is the shortest
and most practical way to success in
Brazil. You can’t miss it if you go
this way. Land is cheap, land is fer
tile, as fertile as it is anywhere on
the earth. There is no place that 1
know about where land is as cheap
and as good as it is in Brazil. And
there is no end to crops. You sow
and you reap, and you sow and you
reap again. It is almost an endless
proposition, this crop matter in Bra
zil. This makes farming a profitable
investment. The market is ever ready,
both domestic and foreign, for youi
products and labor effort is quite a
negligible question in the investment.
Any place in the Brazilian republic
will serve the purpose of the man who
desires to enjoy a profitable farm life,
for that is what farming means in
Brazil.
“I am confining myself .to a short
presentation of the advantages of
fered in the fields of manufacturing
and farming in the republic of Brazil
at this time. At some other time I
shall be glad to make a statement re
garding the mineral wealth of the
country and the profits that can be
realized in cattle and general live
stock raising.”
Mr. Rambo will be in the United
States for several months. He is ac
tively engaged in presenting the
claims of Brazil as a desirable place
for ambitious colored people to settle
in. He is meeting with considerable
success in this connection.
HOMESTEADER IS
CREMATED IN CABIN
(By the Associated Negro Press!
BILLINGS, Mont., Der. 30.—E. F.
Lampson, a homesteader, near Tuffley,
was burned to death in his cabin, a
posse having set fire to it after an all
night rifle and revolver battle and nu
merous attempts to dynamite the
house. Lampson perhaps fatally
wounded Sheriff Jesse Garfield who
had gone to the cabin to arrest him
for suspected insanity.
PAYNE UNIVERSITY
MOVES TO MONTGOMERY
(By the Associated Negro Press!
SELMA, Ala., Dec. 30.—The Payne
University, one of Selma’s well known
schools, will, after the present session
be moved to Montgomery, where
grounds and buildings have been pur
chased for its use. The board of
trustees of the school have acquired
the property of the old St. Joseph
Catholic school, together with all
buildings and properties and about 200
acres of land. The St.. Joseph school
is situated about three miles from
Montgomery. The purchase price of
the property was said to be $30,000.
WOMAN 100 DIES: BELIEVED
HOME CONCEALS WEALTH
(By the Associated Negro Press
PORT DEPOSIT, Md„ Dec. 30
Mrs. Mary Ringold, more than 100
years old, died recently. Mrs. Ring
old was the widow of Thomas Ringold,
at one time one of the most prosper
ous merchants of Port Deposit. He
was reputed to be comparatively
wealthy, but at the time of his death
his hoard could not be located and his
widow would not allow her home to
be invaded by searchers. His friends
have maintained the belief, however,
that the money will be found now that
the obstacle is removed.
\MERICAN NEGRO ACADEMY
HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.—The twen
ty-fourth annual meeting of the Amer
ican Negro Aeadamy was held at the
Dunbar High school, 'the attendance
being large. John W. Cromwell, pres
ident, took as the subject of his ad
dress, “The Challenge of the Disfran
chised.” The Rev. Charles D. Mar
tin also delivered an address. One of
the features of the session was the ex
hibit of rare prints, portraits, manu
scripts, books and other interesting
products of Negro culture. .1. Weldon
Johnson of New York City spoke on
“Some Phases of the Haitian Situa
tion,” which, in view of the report of
the court of inquiry recently made
public, was very Interesting, timely,
and was well received.
WEALTHY TEXAN PLACES
*12,000 MONUMENT AT
HIS SON’S GRAVE
FORT WORTH. Tex., Lee. 30.—
What is said to be one of the largest
and most expensive cemetery monu
ments in Fort Worth is the one which
is being set up in Trinity cemetery by
William M. (Gooseneck Bill) McDon
ald in memory of his son, who died
about three years ago. Thq shaft is
thirty-one feet high, of polished gran
ite and cost $12,000.
It was made by a Chicago concern,
whose manager, Josef RIttemeyer, is
here to superintend its erection. It
required three weeks to set the der
rick and lift the monument upon Its
base.
RIttemeyer is editor of the Monu
ment Reporter, one of the oldest trade
journals in the country, and a former
Texan who is renewing old acquaint
ances while in Forth Worth McDon
ald is one of the best known Negro
politicians and business men in the
state.
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