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^-x i’L- X 1 , - -urnana, iNeprasKa, Saturday, uecember Z4, 1932. Number Fortv-Four —
I Tune In ——«■
'; “DIGESTING
' file NEWS’
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1 BROADCASTED
^ Every Week from this Column
f By CLIFFORD C. MITCHELL
< GREETINGS!
• • •
To every reader of thi« column, ex
tending from the Pacific to the At_
lantic coast, and from the Great Lak
es to the Gulf of Mexico, the most
sincere greetings are extended.
• • •
To each editor, publisher, staff
employe and writer on the nearly one
hundred “exchange*" that reach me
regularly I extend the season’s greet
ings.
• • •
To each of the eighty-six book pub
lishers, and authors, who have coop,
erated with me, and their employes,
I take this method of wishing you
much joy and merriment at this sea.
■on of the year.
# • •
To the hundreds of correspondents
who have communicated with me,
from alt parti of the North American
continent. I want you to know that I
am hoping for each one of you, sue.
cess and happiness.
• • •
To my fellow "villagers", officials
and inmates alike, 1 am glad that I
am able to publicly proclaim the res
pect and heartiest feeling that your
spirit of coperation so forcibly dem
onstrates a mutual existence among
men. If, in after years, I can always
I be assured of the same cooperation
among free people as I have received
here in Jackson Prison, among pris
oners and officials, I shall be divinely
• • •
blessed And to that group of per
sonal friends who have brought so
• much cheer, hope and help into my
life through their communications at
regular intervals I am sincere in wish
inf for them the very best that the
season affords, even though I am un_
able, even to these select friends, to
offer my Yuletide sentiment in any
other manner than through these
wand* in this column. *
m m a
Continuing further in this person
al vein I wish to explain that any
seeming success that I have achieved
in the field of Negro journalism has
been earned, not from a flash of
brilliance but purely through a reg.
ular, systematic, never-failing, week
ly contribution of thought.
• • •
In order to keep well-informed it
is, and always has been, necessary to
•pend many hours in daily research
work, making notes and checking
data that appears from week to week
In our publications. As my list of
coopers tors, both newspapers and
book publishers, and also a growing
list of magazine publishers, increases
so also does the detailed research
work in connection therewith.
• • •
With this feature of my work a
lone, not to mention the handling of
much correspondence, it can be read,
iiy seen that each moment of my
' spare time in prison finds some task
to be performed and less and less am
I able to give utterance in any other
form than through the various week
ly columns that I wnte.
• • •
D *
Therefore, please accept this mes.
t sage as my personal greetings, wish
ing to you and yours, “A very Merry
Christmas and a Happy and Prosper,
•us New Year.”
Harry Buford Re-instated; Demoted
THE WISE MEN AND THE KING
by R. A. ADAMS
(The Literary Service Bureau)
They left their home and journeyed
far,
Their guide only a radiant star,
And, fleet as bird upon the wing,
Made haste to find the new born King
Onward they journeyed, day by day,
The star still guiding, all the way
Happy such treasurers their to
bring
As presents to the infant King!
Within a stable lowly, dim,
They found the Lord, and worshipped
Him,
And joyfully their lips could sing,
“All hail! All hail! We’ve found the
King!”
Then like the Magic, let us go
To Bethlehem, our love to show,
And there present our offering
To Him, our Great. Exalted King!
CHARGES OF CRUELTY TO CON
VICTS AGAIN DENIED IN GA.
Bainbridge, Ga. (CNS) George S.
Tucker, warden of Decatur County,
in a statement here denies the charge
that convicts have been “restricted*in
movement,” as made in the book ‘Geor
gia Nigger,” by John L. Spivak, of
New York, Warden Tucker also’de
nies that convicts were photographed
in Decatur County wearing spikes
riveted around their ankles, as also
stated in the book.
“Spivak’s book was recently made
the basis of an accusation of undue
cruelty to convicts in Georgia, made
by a group of 12 prominent Americ
ans on behalf of the American Civil
Liberties Union.
Denials thick and fast have been
made and Georgia’s leading daily pa_
pers are outspoken in denouncing the
charges in the book as false.
Mr. Tucker explains in detail the
method used in keeping and working
the convicts in this county and shows
that they are well fed, comfortably
housed and worked with every considL
eration for their health and comfort.
He also explains the operation of the
large county farm on which nearly
all of the foodstuffs used at the camp
are raised.
NEGROES APPREHENDED IN
BIG WHISKEY FIND
New Bern, N. C. (CNS) Nine pris
oners, five colored and four white,
were held on board of the coast guard
cutter Pamlico, at Morehead City,
Bogue Sound, Cateret County, ten
miles west of Beaufort, after a liquor
capture and arrests. These rum run
ners were taken with 720 cases of
bonded liquors, a truek, a Ford coach
and the British vessel Yadadish of
Nassau on the coastal waters of Core
Banks.
The liquor consists of high grade
brandies, Scotch rye and champaigne,
worth more than fifty thousand dol
lars.
Names of the prisoners were not
available, officers stating that all
gave assumed names any way. As
soon as the case has been more thor
oughly probed, they will be brought
to New Bern for hearings. It is pos
sible that all will be held for the
April term of Federal court.
2 LITCHMAN THEATRES CLOSE
Washington, (CNS) The Booker T.
Theatre in this city and the Olympic
Theatre in Alexander, Va. have closed
after several years run. These thea_
tres were operated by Litchman who
has a chain of theatres in many cities
in and around Washington.
12 NEGRO MINERS IMPRISONED
BY DUST EXPLOSION IN
KENTUCKY PITT
Harlan, Ky., (CNS) Twelve Negro_
es and ten white men were trapped in
the pit of the Zero mine of the Har_
lan Fuel Company at Yancey, six
miles south of here December 9 by
a dust explosion which occured about
a mile and a half from the entrance.
In the group were six sons of J. M.
Masengill, seventy-eight years old.
Several hundred relatives and
friends of the entrapped miners were
held back by the rescue crews as they
went about their work.
The accident was one of few to oc
cur in years in Harlan County, which
was the scene nearly two years ago
of bloody strife, between deputies and
mine guards on one side and striking
miners on the other. Approximately
a dozen lives were lost in the series of
clashes, and more than a score of
miners convicted of murder charges.
Their appeals still are pending.
MAN GETS OFF WITH FINE OF
$100 FOR MANSLAUGHTER
$ ___________
Rockville, Md. (CNS) Karl Brown,
a Negro chauffeur who was convict
ed of manslaughter here December 1,
was given the unusual sentence of
“pay a fine of $100 or serve 60 days
in jail. The fine was paid.
Brown was chauffeur of the auto_
mobile of Paul F. Myers, of Chevy
Chase, Md., which struck and fatally
injured Walter E. Early, of Wash,
ington, while the later was working
on tbe engine of his automobile near
Hyattsville. Mr. Early’s wife wit
nessed the accident.
Because of extenuating circum
stances and pleas for clemency made
by the jury, the State’s attorney and
a number of residents of the county,
Judge Arthur D. Willard in Mont
gomery County circuit court at Rock
ville, Md., exercized leniency in im
posing sentence.
CULT “SACRIFICIAL SLAYER”
DECLARED INSANE
Dtroit, Mich. (CNS) Robert Har.
ris, the leader at a Negro cult, who
admitted the slaying on a “sacrific.
ial altar” of James Smith, colored
has been declared insane by a com
mission of three physicians and or.
dered committed to a State hospital.
Member of the Sanity Commission
said it was “extremely doubtful”
whether Harris would recover.
Harris was arrested three weeks a
go fo the slaying of Smith, which oc
curred, he said, in the process of the
strange rites of the organization.
Smith’s skull was crushed by a blow
from an automobile axle, and later
he was stabbed through the heart as
his body lay across an improvised al
tar.
*
FUND DRIVE FOR HOME FOR
. AGED NEGROES
Atlanta, Ga. (CNS) A campaign to
raise funds to purchase 481 acres of
land near Stone Mountain for $33_
712.50, on which to build a perman
ent home for the aged Negroes of
Fulton and Dekalh counties, is under
way.
First efforts will be directed to
raising $5,000 for possession pay.
ment, of which sum $1,500 will be us
ed for repairs on buildings now on
the site. Immediately after posses
sion the home will begin to receive
inmates for keeping during the pres,
ent winter.
The board of directors of the Aged
and Orphans’ Industrial Home of A
merica will seek to raise $35,000 dur.
ing the next year.
Dr. Lennox On the Job
- T . ' --
WHITES O’CONNOR— =
December 12, 1932
Mr. T. J. O’Connor,
Register of Deeds
Douglas County Court House
Omaha, Nebraska.
Dear Mr. O’Connor:
Perhaps this letter will be a sur
prise, but after talking to you of the
appointment that is to be made rela
tive to our group, I left without a
definite understanding of same.
I am sure you had not realize how
important it is for an appointment
to be made at this time of a member
of our group, and we are wondering
why a representative was not appoint,
ed in the beginning or some time ago.
We comprise 5^i9c of Omaha's
population. We are hVt°/c supporters
of all city enterprises. We are 5bi%
of the tax payers, and cast <7r of
the votes, deserving consideration in
your office as well as others, but so
far have been denied the amount of
support to which we are entitled.
Relative to my conversation with
you, in your expression you are fair,
but your actions are somewhat hes
itating. We were entitled to an ap
pointment in the beginning, although
I realize same is not compulsory, but
as we have supported you, an appoint,
mnt is due us.
I am sure you will keep year prom
ise. as you stated when I was leaving
you were sure an appointment was to
be made, but could not say just when,
whether in a few weeks, months or
a year. We feel as we have support
ed you an appointment should be giv
en at this time.
I also do not understand the state,
ment that you do not know how long
this appointment will last. We feel
our appointment should last as long
as any other that has been made.
I realize you are burdened with
many other transactions, and I am
writing you in order to receive the
proper information relative to same.
I hope that you will not misinter
pret my meaning.
Thanking you very much for your
courtesy and future consideration, I
am
Respectfully yours,
Dr. G. B. Lennox, Pres.,
Working Men’s Commissioners
1602 Vi N. 24th St.
i TELEPHONE COMPANY
ANSWERS—
December 12, 1932
Dr. G. B. Lennox,
2418.20 Grant Street,
Omaha, Nebraska,
Dear Dr. Lennox:
I am in receipt of your letter of the
7th which reviews the matter you and
I discussed about a year ago which
you have written me on one or two
different occasions sending desirable
applicants to our Employment office.
I am indeed sorry that you took
this matter up with me at a time
most inopportune for our employing
any additional people, as, since I saw
you, I do not believe we have em.
ployed one man or any kind for tele
phone work. Doctor, we are merely
trying to keep in our employ the peo
ple we now have, providing work for
them to the extent of our ability. You
may be interested to know that we
have had to divide time to such an
extent that we now have over 1200
people in our Company working part
time who could be dispensed with to_
morrow. This part-time helps them
to earn a-livelihood and keeps them
off of charity.
As soon as conditions improve which
I hope, as you do, will be in the near
future, and we can again begin to
employ young men and women, I am
going to see to it then that some of
our good friends in the Colored pop
ulation of this City are given an op_
portunity wherever it is practicable
to use them.
Sincerely yours,
W. A. COZAD,
General Manager.
EXCLUSIVE CHICAGO SOCIETY
MATRON SLAPS FACE OF
MRS. ROBERT ABBOTT
The social circles were shocked to
hear of the scandal attached to the
“society war” staged at the home of
Mrs. Helen Abbott, 4742 South Park
way, Chicago, last week at the meet,
ing of the most exclusive club of
Chicago, the Century Club.
The slapping occurred at the con.
elusion of the meeting when it is al
leged that Mrs. Abbott accused Mrs.
Church’s sister, Jimmie Yerby Tyler,
as gossiping about her personal af_
fairs. She was slapped by Edwina
Church, wife of Dr. Robert R. Church
dental surgeon.
Mrs. Church is the daughter of Con
sul W. J. Yerby, who has just return
ed to this country after twenty-five
years in foreign service of the Unit,
ed States.
JOE LACOUR AGREES TO PAY
WIFE ALL ALIMONY DUE
Mrs. Alice Hunter LaCour, divorc
ed wife of Joseph LaCour, having not
received her alimony appeared Dec
ember 10th. before Judge Allen South
ern for the third time and petitioned
the court for a modification of the
orignal decree as to make the almony
collectible.
Mr. LaCour promised at the hearing
to pay alimony up to date and make
future payments as due.
In the hearing two weeks before,
LaCour testified that the Kansas City
Call stock, of which he is to make his
payments, were not in his possession
having been given to a man in Omaha
as security for a loan of $800.00.
SECRETARY WILBUR DECLARES
HAWAII FREE FROM ORGANIZED
GRAFT
Washington, (CNS) Secretary Ly
man Wilbur in his annual report to
President Hoover states that Hawaii
is “one of the most peaceful com
munities of the world” and “free from
organized graft and corruption.”
Mr. Wilbur also said the islands
has “suffered during the past year
from the notoriety attracted by one
criminal case, and its aftermath, a
lynching,” but that good had resulted
from this, explaining:
“One benefit which the Territory
had derived from the notoriety of the
past year is the local support drawn
to the governor’s program, which he
has urged for several years, for re
modeling of the police and prison sys
tem and the method of selecting- jur
ies.”
“In Honolulu,” Wilbur continued,
“the proportion of crimes of violence
is distinctly lower than in a majority
of mainland cities.”
The principal problem of the Ter_
ritory now, the Secretary said, “is
the counteracting of the influence of
a chain of mainland newspapers
which have done their best to pro.
mote racial controversy within the is
lands and prejudice from without.”
“We propose to continue to insist
upon the American policy of local
self-government and to hold the local
government responsible for the re
sults,” Wilbur concluded.
EDUCATOR CONVICTED OF EM
BEZZLEMENT OF NEGRO
SCHOOL FUNDS
Jackson, Miss. (CNS) Bura Hilbun
the former State supervisor of Ne
gro education, charged with embezzl.
ing more than $50,000 of the Rosen,
wald Foundation Funds appropriated
for Negro schools in the State of
Mississippi, was found guilty of a
Hind’s County circuit court last week.
Several county superintendents
testified to the non-existence of
schools reputedly reported as con
structed under Mr. Hilbun’s tenure as
an employe of the State.
Coincident with the introduction of
the county superintendents, the dis
trict attorney offered alleged check
stubs purporting to show that Mr.
Hilbun had mailed funds for the as
serted “ghost” schools to the county
superintendents.
Conviction came after two previous
attempts of the State to prove the
former supervisor had embezzled Ro
senwald funds had failed, on each oc_
casion the jury feeing unable to reach
a verdict.
Sentence was deferred.
GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY RE
VOKES PARDON REFUSED
BY PRISONERS
Frankefort, Ky, (CNS) Gov. Ruby
Laffon today revoked a pardon he
granted December 1, to Russell Geo
rge, Negro, serving a life term in the
reformatory here for murder. The
Govenor said George had refused to
accept the pardon. George was con.
victed at the October, 1927, term of
Jefferson Circuit Court.
The Governor said the pardon was
granted on the understanding that
George would accompany his father
back to Knoxville, Tenn., but George
refused to do this. He remarked the
prisoner showed evidence of an un
sound mind and was not in condition
to be at large.
EMBEZZLER OF NEGRO VETER
AN’S FUNDS OUT ON BAIL
Kinston, N. C. (CNS) P. D. Croom,
white, former recorder here who was
jailed last week after confessing, ac
cording to authorities, that he em
bezzled more than $12,000 from a
mentally in competent Negro war vet
eran for whom he served as guardian
has yielded to the importunings of
his friends and accepted bail.
He was at liberty today under a
$3,500 bond. He resigned as judge
of the recorder’s court before being
committed to a cell on the embezzle,
ment charge.
L. C. CAREY OPENS COAL AND
ICE COMPANY
L. C. Carey, formerly of Kansas
City, announces the opening of the
Carey Ice and Coal Co., Coal prices
that are right:
CheTokee nut per ton, $6.00; Illin
ois Lump, $t.00; Basket -Coal at 25c.
Delivered anywhere. Just Call WE.
6089.
COUNCIL RE-INSTATES
BUFORD AS PATROLMAN
Harry Buford, former lieutenant of
Police was re.instated to the Police
Department of the City of Omaha
Tuesday, December 20th by the City
Commissioners and demoted to the
rank of patrolman by Mr. Hopkins
Commissioner of Police. Buford was
suspended by the Council owing to in
dictment charges filed by the Gov’t.
He was recently exonerated from the
liquor conspiracy charges by Judge
Woodrough.
No Back Pay
Officer Buford applied for back pay
after being freed from the liquor con.
spiracy, but was der ied by a motion
handed down by Judge Wright.
Hopkins in his motion for Buford’s
re-instatment and demotion said
that Buford’s services had been great
ly impaired as an officer of the po
lice department and had caused undue
publicity. Buford’s new beat assign
ment is reported to be; Harney to
Leavenworth Sts. and 16th to 19th Sts
WANT TO RESTORE FULL FIGHT.
ING STATUS TO NEGRO TROOPS
Washington (CNS) The Civil Lib
erities Bureau of the IBPOE. of the
World, J. Finley Wilson, Grand Ex
alted Ruler, is making a strong ef
fort seeking restoration of the Negro
troopers to the same status as they
had before retailed to Fort Meyer.
The matter was originally brought
up in the grand lodge at its Philadel
phia session, following which a dele
gation called on Secetary Hurley and
Gen. Douglas MacArthur. An ex.
tended report was made to President
Hoover by Gen. MacArthur, on re.
quest of Representative DePriest, and
referred to the Elk committee. This
committe conducted its own investi
gation, however, and took issue with
the general report.
The matter of colored troopers be
ing reduced to subalterns and host
iers, the Grand Exalted Ruler stated
had a wider influence in swinging the
Negro vote away from the party in
power in the late election. The Elk
committee will seek the support of
William J. Thompkins, of Kansas City
and Ferdinand R. Morton, or New
York, Negro Democratic leaders, in
restoring all colored Army units to
regular status.
NEGRO PRISONER DECORATES
WALLS OF PRISON CHAPEL
Ossining, N. Y. (CNS) Sing Sing
prison authorities are loud in praise
of the work of decorating the walls,
windows and tapestries recently com
pleted in the prison chapel by Walter
Brown, a Negro prisoner serving a
term of twenty years to life.
Brown, 49 years old, was conicted
in Erie County seven years ago, of
second degree murder.
He has painted stage scenery and
has done considerable mural decorat
ing in the prison, but his talent is
said to be demonstrated best by the
task just finished in the chapel.
DAILY NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEE
DIES
Washington (CNS) Hary G. Simms
colored, a machinist's helper in the
composing room of The Evening Star
37 years, died at Gallinger Hospital
Friday.
Simms was born in Georgetown and
had lived in the Capital all his life.
He is survived by his widow. Mrs.
Mamie Simms.