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About Omaha monitor. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1928-???? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1928)
Successor to The Monitor _THE MILITANT DEFENDER OF THE RIGHTS OF THE RACE $2.00 a Year—5 Cents a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, Friday, December 21, 1928 Vol. XIV—No. 25 Whole Number 697 HEARTIEST GREETINGS OF THE SEASON PERRY HOWARD IS FOUND NOT GUILTY White Jury Finds No Grounds for Prosecution of Mississippi Na tional Committeman. ALSO EXONERATE ASSOCIATES Jackson, Miss., Dec. 21 (ANP).— After being locked up over night be cause of inability to agree, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the case of Perry W. Howard, former republican national committeeman from Mississippi, and his associates, , who were charged with bartering fed eral patronage in the state of Mis sissippi. The verdict, which was rendered here at noon Friday, bore out the prediction made by the Associated Negro Press correspondent when the trial opened that the defendants would be exonerated and that the de- . sired end had been, accomplished, | namely, the wresting of the leader I ship in republican affairs in the state from the hands of Negroes. The trial opened Monday with the court room packed with citizens of both races. The prosecuting attor ney introduced A. P. Russell, former postmaster ,of Magee, Miss., who tes tified th?^ he had paid Perry How ard, S. D. Redmond, and E. L. Pat ten $3,000 for the postmastership. I As the white man told of how he visited Attorney Redmond, who ex acted $1,500 from him, and how he went with Redmond and the other Negro leaders to Washington to see the Mississippi republican leader, a smile draped the countenance of At torney Perry W. Howard. The wit ness further testified that he was ad vised to return home and get “other endorsements” which meant an ad ditional $1,500. Taking the stand in his own de fense, Mr. Howard denied that he had received any money from Russell with the declaration, “I did not re ceive one penny from Mr. Russell in Washington or anywhere else.” He admitted that he had held an inter view with Russell, but at the time informed him that he had indorsed F. S. Swalm, white, of Brookhaven. ’x ’ fqr the position. Upon learning that the Mississippi senators favored the : candidacy of Russell through Attor- j ney John Marshall, an executive of ! the department of justice, Mr. How ard stated that he indorsed him. The attorney also stated that he told Rus sell at the Washington interview that if there was any financial consider ation planned he would require them ; to withdra wfro mhis office. Attorney Redmond substantiated the testimony of Attorney Howard and declared that he made the trip to Washington to attend to some personal business and that his in dorsement of Russell was incidental. He also refuted the statement of the white man that Russell had paid the exper, ses of the trip. One of the features of the trial was the tilt between Lester G, Fsnt, prosecuting attorney, and Attorney Perry W. Howard, when the former j i injected the question: “Isn’t it a fact that all of your ! department of justice recommenda tions were accepted?” To this Mr. Howard replied: “I don’t want to get personal, Mr. Fant, and I don’t mean to be discourteous, /but I recommended Mr. Edward 3mith of Clarksdale for your place and Mr. Jphn Marshall, administra tive assistant in the department of justice said they wanted you." This was followed by the follow ing question by Fant: “Isn’t it a fact that the district attorney usually ap points his own assistants?” I “Well, we usually get together," replied Mr. Howard. This drew a titter from teh aud ience, much to the chagrin of Attor m ney Fant who is assistant district attorney for the northern Mississippi district. The tilt was occasioned by the statement of Mr. Howard to the effect that he considered a sugges tion or recommendation from Mr. Marshall as an order. Another feature of. the trial was' the testimony of Gus Woodcock, sus pended bailiff of the Biloxi court, that A. P. Russell had approached him and offered him $1,000 “to help frame these niggers." Others indicted along with Attor neys Howard and Redmond were S. R. Redmond, druggist, "Col." E. L. Patten, and Scott Hubbard, a white man. All were declared not guilty. DISCRIMINATION DENIED BY FLA. FLOOD RELIEF HEAD Says No Basis for the Charge That Negroes Were Discriminated Agains tby Red Cross. _ i Chicago, 111., Dec. 21 (ANP).—In reply to charges made by the Work ers’ Negro Relief committee, with headquarters in New York City, that Negroes were being discriminated against in the Florida flood area, Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune, presi dent of Bethune-Cookman college, and a national figure, vigorously pro tested and denied accusations and said in part: “I do not know anything at all about the relief committee of New York, which has been criticising the work of relie fwhich is being done by the Red Cross among our people in this state. I have made careful in vestigation into this work and have had close contact with the workers, and I am happy to say that those ru mors are absolutely false.” An investigation conducted by a representative of the Associated Ne gro Press revealed that the relief committee of New York had sent one investigator, Mr. Isbell of Chicago, to the storm area and this investigator had made a full and detailed report of conditions as he observed them. A reading of the report showed that Mr. Isbell had done a painstaking job and that for the most part found that there was little or no discrimination on the part of the officials of the American Red Cross. There were isolated cases of discrimination, with no affidavits to substantiate charges, but at least 85 per cent of the report showed that Negro victims were be ing treated fairly. GIRL’S ENACTMENT OF KILLINGS FREES HER Shreveport, La., Dec. 21 (ANP).— Mattie Lee, 13, charged with stab bing to death Louis Scott, 21, was acquitted here Tuesday. The girl claimed self-defense, and with the knife which she killed Scott, in her hand, went through the actual motions. Judge Crane did not be lieve the girl holding the knife in the ! manner she said, would cut through j the victim’s coat, without cutting her hand, but was of the opinion that if she could, her story of the stabbing was true, and that she was justified in killing him. Consequently, the judge ordered the coat taken to a grocery store where it was wrapped around a sack of flour, and the girl, with the knife clutched by the blade, deftly slashed through the coat, pen etrating the sack several inches. The stroke won her fredom. CHURCHES AID IN EMPLOYMENT Detroit, Mich.. Dec. 21 (ANP).— According to a letter received by ten of the leading churches here, mem bers of the Ministerial Alliance, the ministers were advised that one of the large business firms is preparing to employ one hundred colored sales girls. Each church is supposed to send ten girls, it is reported. Owing to the fact that the name of the firm cannot be divulged until af ter the list has gone in and the pros pective sales girls have qualified, speculation is running rife as to what business concern it is. The colored people, however, are jubilant and many are of the opinion that it is the Sears-Roebuck company of Chicago which recently opened two large stores here. K. OF P. HEAD SPEAKS IN DETROIT Detroit, Mich., Dec. 21 (ANP).— S. W. Green, supreme chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, was the prin cipal speaker at a Pythian gathering held at Bethel A. M. E. church here Sunday afternoon. Chancellor Green gave’a plain talk on co-operation in which he*"refuted the common saying that Negroes will not co-operate with one another by citing many of the outstanding things accomplished by the Pythians, such as the erection of a $421,000 bath house at Hot Springs, Ark., the acquiring of over a million dollars in assets by the erder, and the erection of the National Pythian temple in Chicago, which he termed the larg est, most modern and most beautiful building owned by Negroes in the United States. MISSISSIPPI REFUSES TO NAME NEGRO JURYMEN Jackson, Miss., Dec. 21 (ANP).— Judge Wiley H. Potter overruled the motion to quash indictment against S. D. and S. R. Redmond, who claim ed that the 14th amendment was vio lated, inasmuch as no Negroes were on the grand jury. George P. Luckett and Elmer D. Greaves, members of the borad, who draw the names of the grand ‘jury, testified that they would not under any circumstances draw the name of a Negro to serve on the grand jury. E. D. Fondren, Hinds county circuit clerk, testified that he had held the position for the past 25 years and had never known of a Negro doing jury service since the present state constitution was written in 1890. The Redmonds were placed under a bond of $1,000 each on an attempt t odefraud. LIONS CLUB OPPOSES PAROLE TO NEGRO KILLER OF WHITE Slidell, La., D*c. 21 (ANP).—The Sliddell’s Lions club, composed of business men, at their weekly lunch eon, opposed the granting of a parole to Walter Cade, who has been sen tenced to seven years in the state penitentiary for the killing of Charles Smith, a white man, in 1911. After the shooting, Cade eluded arrest for ten years but was captured in Missouri and brought back to this place for trial. A resolution signed by all the members was presented to the board of pardons. DIES IN GAS EXPLOSION; BUILDING IS WRECKED Los Angeles, Cal., Dec. 21 (ANP). —Shaking houses in the neighbor hood and shattering windows, a ter rific explosion from leaky gas killed William E. Jackson, 40, at his home at 4238 Compton avenue. He died from second degree burns at the Gen eral hospital. The building in which Jackson had his apartment was badly damaged. CLOSE “POLICY HOUSE” IN DETROIT Detroit, Mich., Dec. 21 (ANP).— After a thorough expose of the “pol icy game” by one of the daily news papers here, a campaign to stamp out the policy “racket” has begun in earnest. It is estimated that the 31 policy houses do a business of $50,000 a day, udth only a small percentage of this sum being paid out to winners. The past few days all the “houses” have been temporarily closed. The Ministerial Alliances, both white and colored, have been called on to help in an organized effort to stamp out th egame for all time. WOMAN DIES AT AGE OF 116 New Orleans, La., Dec. 21 (ANP). —Born in Baltimore during the war of 1812 and brought to Jonesville, La., for many years of slavery, Mrs. Delia Whitley died in this city Mon day at the age of 116. According to the woman’s grand children and great grandchildren, several of whom reside in New Or leans, she was 116 years old when she became fatally ill two weeks ago. Until her last illness, she cooked and walked without assistance and saw well without glasses. Following her emancipation, ac cording to her children, she remained in Jonesville, and was well known throughout Catahoula parish. Two years she came here to live with her children. The body was shipped to Jonesville for interment. I. GARLAND PENN, JR., WEDS Chicago, 111., Dec. 21 (ANP).— Announcement was made this week of the marriage of Rev. I. Garland Penn, jr., to Miss Willie Beatrice Ma son of this city. Rev. Mr. Penn, who is a pastor of an M. E. church here, is the eldest son of Dr. L Garland Penn, an M. E. official. SETS FIRE TO RIVAL'S HOUSE Bastrop, La., Dec. 21 (ANP).— Mattie Johnson is being held in the parish jail on a charge of arson. It is alleged that she set fire to a house occupied by Hattie Carter, in revenge for the stealing of the affections of her man. MISCELLANEOUS BITS OF INTEREST Philadelphia, Pa.—The merging of the Rosha Building and Loan associa tion and the Stephen Smith Building and Loan association, with their com bined capital increase! from $200, 000 to $800,000 has been recently announced. Beaufort, Va.—The Rev. A. M. siq pauSisoa seq Xtp ■qqt jo jfaAjejj pastorate to enter business. He will act as state manager for the Con tinental Financing company of New York City. Detroit, Mich.—The board of di rectors of the Michigan Peoples Fi nance corporation at its regular meeting Thursday, November 15, de clared a Christmas dividend, payable December 15, to all stockholders as of record on December 1. Gary, Ind.—Negroes engaged in business gave their second annual business exposition on December 3, 4, and 5. Thi -exposition, which is sponsored by the Noonday Business club, was wel1 attended and drew forth many novel commercial ex hibits. Camden, N. J.—Robert W. Smith has resigned as manager of the Phila delphia branch of the National Ben efit Life Insurance company to take the office managership of the Peo ples Finance corporation of this city. Although this is the latest finance in stitution to assume importance in the field of colored finance, it has near ly all of its $100,000 capital sub scribed. -1 Durham, N. C.—Another business enterprise of considerable magnitude has been added to the many already possessed by colored people of this city. Mr. P. N. Baldwin, who for merly conducted a furniture store in Fayetteville, has gone into business here. The new establishment will be known as the Baldwin Bargain House. Memphis, Tenn.—The Buffington Tailoring company, with headquar ters in Chicago, has opened the first of a proposed chain of clothing stores at 337 Beale street, the site of its former headquarters. Little Rock, Ark.—The Lincoln Security Life Insurance company, with a paid in capital of $100,000 Jias recently been organized here. The company will operate on the le gal reserve basis. St. Louis, Mo.—The Midwest Life Insurance company of Missouri, an old line legal reserve company with a capital of $100,000 has been au thorized to increase its capitalization to $200,000. CHILD BURNS TO DEATH * ———— New Orleans, La., Dec. 21 (ANP). —Mary Dancereau, age 7, is dead in Charity hospital, the result of bums received when she went too near a grate fire to light a cigaret, and her clothing caught fire. Her mother had gone to a grocery store and locked the child in a room. Mary had been smoking cigarets since babyhood. Her father thought it was cute and rather encouraged her, and her mother could not stop her. Just before her death, the little youngster often asked for cigarets and seemed sad to learn that babies and juveniles were not allowed to smoke in wards. SWEEPS CARTRIDGE IN FIRE; IS KILLED Scooba, Miss., Dec. 21 (ANP).— Annie Clark was the victim of a pe culiar accident which cost her her life. When sweeping the kitchen floor, she noticed a cartridge lying in the edge of the fire place. She did not pick it up, but swept it into the ashes. The cartridge exploded the ball, penetrating her stomach. DESERTED HUBBY BURNS WIFEY’S NEW HOME Clarksdale, Miss., Dec. 21 (ANP). —Because his wife packed up her possessions and left him, Eli Hill set fire to her new home in an effort to “get even." He is now in jail on charges of arson, and the prospects are that Eli will go where matches are not found at every turn—the guard will give him one occasionally. OPEN NEW NATIONAL RESORT IN MICHIGAN Chicago, 111., Dec. 21 (ANP).—E. J. Jacob, of the Jacob Realty com pany, Grand Rapids, Mich., was in Chicago this week,. laying before the aristocratic citizenry of the South side his plans for the development of a brand new Idlewild at Long Lake, Mich., a short distance from Grand Rapids. Under his supervision, the Rest-a Dale Resort company has been or ganized with Stanley Barnett, prom inent Grand Rapids business man, as president. The company has a tract containing more than eleven hundred lots which are to be sold to the right kind of people on a club membership plan. There is a 14-room club house already erected on the grounds with Jack Rhoades in charge. A golf course is to be constructed. Apli cants for membership must agree to observe certain building specifica tions which are contained in their contracts. DAYTON DENTIST ERECTS OFFICE BUILDING Dayton, Ohio, Dec. 21 (ANP).— What has been proclaimed as one of the most modern office buildings owned by Negroes in the state of Ohio has been erected by Dr. L. W. Hathcock, prominent dentist of this city, at 409 West Fifth street. The building, which has been un der construction for several weeks, was formally opened here Tuesday. The edifice is a two-story structure composed wholly of well-lighted and lavishly decorated offices, several of which are occupied by Dr. Hathcock. The offices are especially equipped for professional men, desiring lab oratory and clinical space, and are modern in every respect. OLDEST RESIDENT OF ARKANSAS COUNTY DIES Helena, Ark., Dec. 21 (ANP).— j Burt Swanson, aged 98, reputed to be ; the oldest resident of Phillips county died here Monday after a long ill ness. Mr. Swanson came to Phillips counts 60 years ago and has lived here since that time. While he lived to see the Helena riot, the building of the county and Negroes vote the democratic ticket and in a democratic primary, he had never voted himself. UNKNOWN WHITE MAN ATTACKS COLORED GIRL New Orleans, La., Dec. 21 (ANP). —Police are investigating the story | told by Catherine Craig, 14-year-old colored girl, 2131 Orleans street, | who sai dthat an unknown white j man, posing as a meter inspector, en-1 tered the dry cleaning shop of Roger DeJean, where she was employed and attacked her. The girl is being treated at Charity hospital for bruises around the head and body. The girl was alone in the shop at the time. No lynching party has joined the investigators. URGES YOUTHS TO SHUN CITIES Tuskegee Institute, Ala., Dec. 21 (ANP).—“When you complete your education here, do not go to Chicago and New York, but go back to the communities from whence you came and help those who have not had your opportunities,” was the advice of T. C. Walker, attorney and educa tor from Gloucester, Va. Mr. Walker told of his early strug gles to get into Hampton Institute and how later he went back 'to his county, started teaching and lectur ing to his people on the subject of home ownership. For 40 years he has dedicated himself to this task and Gloucester county, Virginia, during that period has been transformed from a landless group, so far as Negroes are concerned, to a group of nineteen hundred families out of an approximate nineteen hundred and fifty who own their homes. BOY KILLED BY FALLING WALL Ne wOrleans, La., Dec. 21 (ANP). —Edward Marshall, 10, will die as a result of a fractured skull received when a portion of a brick wall which was being demolished by workmen employed in wrecking the old Y. M. G. C. building, fell on him. The boy was almost buried by the falling bricks. He and his sister, who nar rowly escaped death, were gathering fire wood from the structure. NEGRO ADVANCES IN BUSINESS AND FINANCE Survey Shows Great Strides of Colored People in Business and Industrial Field. The fourth survey of this depart ment covers one of the medium sized cities of the south. This may be compared with last week’s survey as to the relative progTessiveness of a city of the north with a similar pop ulation. Survey of Texarkana, Ark. Negro population by 1920 census 5,613. In this city, Negroes own and oper ate the following retail outlets: 2 drug stores 12 groceries 8 restaurants Negroes also own and operate: 13 barber shops 4 beauty parlors 2 hotels 1 printing establishment 1 loa nassociation 1 fraternal building company 3 public dance halls. Four sick and accident insurance companies have branch offices lo cated here, and likewise, three life insurance companies. The population includes four physicians, two law yers, two dentists, four undertakers, four real estate brokers, and one or chestral organization. The city em ploys 33 colored school teachers and there are four Negroes in the gov ernment postal service. The mass of colored wage earners find employ ment in the local railroad yards, a creosote plant and a post pipe fac tory. A local branch of the Negro Business league helps to promote ad ditional commercial activity. (Editor’s comment: This survey indicates that the colored citizens of Texarkana are quite progressive and endeavoring to take advantage of their limited opportunities. Our re port shows that two theaters are op erated by whites for colored patrons. Here, possibly, is a field for some en terprising citizen to exploit. There is evidently a need also for a few music shops, a shoe store, a haber dashery, and a small laundry. NEGROES DRIVEN FROM HOME BY WHITES Farmerville, La., Dec. 21 (ANP). —Jim Lowery, Claude Hattaway, and J. L. Youngblood, white men, were arrested Monday and charged with having entered the home of Wil lie Sutton, after firing upon it and late, demolishing the furniture. Charges entailing capital punish ment may be preferred against the trio as under Louisiana law entering a house at night and threatening life with guns is punishable by death or life imprisonment. The raid was instigated by a white man who wanted to move on the Roach plantation and occupy Sut ton’s house. Refusal of the owner of the plantation and of Sutton to move is believed to have angered him. Thereupon, he rallied a band and perpetrated the attack, it is claimed. The house was riddled with buckshot, but the occupants escaped injury by fleeing. MILLIONAIRE LEAVES $800,000 NEGRO CATHOLIC INSTITUTE Louisville, Ky., Dec. 21 (ANP).— Judge Matthew O’Doherty, who died here last week, left to the Little Sis ters of the Poor, a colored Catholic institution, $800,000 and a like sum to the Good Shepherds, where white and colored are cared for. The fol lowing very interesting clause was found in his will: “All of the rest of the said residue of my estate, real and personal. I will and devise in equal parts to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 10th and Magazine streets (or Home for the Aged and Poor, as it is called), and to the Sisters of Good Shepherd, with request which I know they will comply with, and I know they will re member me in their prayers. I re gard the two institutions named in this clause as the very truest and noblest of charitable instiutions. They make no distinction of race, creed, or color. I appreciate this and especially appreciate the fact thai poor colored people for whom I have had a sincere regard, receive the same consideration from these good sisters which they extend to the white race.” FOURTEEN DROWN IN AFRICAN MARRIAGE RITUAl Ne wYork City, Dec. 21 (ANP).— News has reached here that fourteer African girls had drowned during the carrying out of the native mar riage ritual near Johannesburg South Africa, Thursday. All of th< girls, aged 16, were participating ir the customary rites which quaiifj them for marriage when they wer< trapped in a flood and drowned. WOMAN ACQUTTED OF CHARGE OF MURDEI Little Rock, Ariz., Dec. 21 (ANP) —That Mrs. Amelia White was justi fied in killing Walter Bragg, neai here, on September 24, was the deci sion of the court which acquitted thi woman of the murder charge Tues day afternoon. Mrs. White testifie< that Bragg had attacked her, and t< prevent from killing her, she stabbei him. The wound proved fatal am the man died a few hours later. LOUISIANA JAZZ BAND TOO MUCH FOR OHIO OUTFIT Dayton, Ohio, Dec. 21 (ANP).— Public acclai mstamped the Hardy Brothers Radio orchestra of New Or leans, the victors in a “jazz contest” staged by the Louisiana aggregation and the Palace theater orchestra of this city here Saturday evening. The visiting orchestra, which is a part of the stage production, “Sugar Cane,” won the plaudits o fthe crowd completely with their rendition and interpretation of jazz. It was a real jazz contest between two premier orchestras and the bette rorchestra won. FAMOUS JOCKEY DIES IN KENTUCKY Louisville, Ky., Dec. 21 (ANP).— Babe Hurd, famous jockey in the early eighties who rode Apollo to victory in the Kentucky derby in 1882, died Friday at Long Ridge near Lexington. He was also a great steeplechase rider, and during the last 12 years has been employed by W. V. Thrave3 on the Long Ridge farm. There are only a 'few of the old timers left. During the recent races in Louisville, there were two noted colored jockeys present. William Walker, who rode Ten Brook in the famous race between Ten Brook and Molly McCarty, and William (Monk) Overton, was present as a trainer. COMMERCIAL NEWS ITEM Chicago, HI., Dec. 21 (ANP).—A third Negro bank is soon to be estab lished here. Jesse Binga, president of the Binga State bank, with assets of more than $2,000,000 has recent ly purchased the Kenwood National bank building, located at 47th street, and South Parkway. Albion L. Holsey, secretary of the National Negro Business league, an nounced that the National Clean-Up and Paint-Up bureau of New York had continued its offer, through its secretary, R. W. Emerson, to give the silver trophy cups which are awarded each year during the annual session of the National Negro Busi ness league. NEGRO NEEDS POLITICAL POWER, SAYS DUBOIS Washington, D. C., Dec. 21 (ANP) —According to Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois, editor of The Crisis, the most impor tant task before the Negro is the ac quirement of political power. Speak ing before the National Interracial conference, which is meeting here this week, Dr. Du Bois said: “For 26 years this nation, and even the friends of the Negro, have decided that the question of the Ne gro vote should not be touched upon nor investigated We do not, there . fore, know how far Negroes vote to • day, only in a very general way.” Los Angeles, Cal., Dec. 21 (ANP). > —Otis Williams, notorious boy bur - glar, is again in the clutches of the I law. He was arrested by Officer i Henry for a burglary committed in I Santa Monica, Cal., on September 20. 1 It is expected that he will draw a long term sentence in San Quentin.
