The Informer and Texas Freeman (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 9, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 10, 1942 Page: 1 of 16
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AVIATION STUDENT
CADET SAMUEL KING, a junior
of Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee,
Ala., was home in Houston during
the Christmas holidays visiting his
relatives and friends. He announced
that he has been a student in the
C.’ A. A. Training Course at Tuske-
gee Institute for 9 months and says
he has 46 hours of solo fight to his
credit. He is the nephew of Mrs.
E. W. King, Mr. and Mrs. Graham
end Mrs. Minnie Harris ,all of House
- ton.
Newsie Buys
Defense Bond
From Earnings
Proof that the nue fellows can
do as much as the big fellows is
given in the initiative put forth by
Ralph Waldo Isaacs, Jr., 13, of
7 1615 Delano street.
"Ralph, a Houston Informer sales-
__z" man for two and one-half years,
got busy and determined to pur-
chase for himself a $25 Defense
Savings Bond.
Already having developed a busi-
ness attitude, Ralph, who gives
strict account of all monies coming
to him, started keeping an income
and expense account and turned it
over to his grandfather, R. L.
Isaacs.
Out of his earned profit, Ralph
has purchased clothes, bought pres-
ents for his parents at Christmas,
and paid for his Defense Bond.
He is contemplating purchasing a
second Bond as soon as possible.
Ralph attends Jack Yates High
school and is in the ninth grade. He
belongs to Boy Scout Troop No. 89,
likes ping-pong and basketball. He
attends Trinity East Methodist Sun-
day school and is set upon enter-
ing Tuskegee at the end of his
high school term.
His favorite hobby? Being busi-
ness-like, aviation, of course!
Colored Carnegie Library,
Frederick and Robin St:
Houston, Texas. ,
2=1
HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
HOUSTON, TENAS
Ml
ISI
CITY
EDITION
m
VOLUME 48, NUMBER 9-
• *
TEXAS
FREEMAN *
ring Cl
Harris
AOUSTON, TEXAS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1942 PRICE: 6 Cents Houston; 10 Cents Elsewhere
ADERS MEE
.AS SATURDAY
SME PICTURE, Pago *
HOUSTON.--Winter’s cold snap of four days wrought
havoc in three different sections of Harris County, beginning
last Friday morning with a destructive holocaust on the
city farm road.
Early on Friday evening,
Ed RUey, farm workers, were noti-
fied, while working in a field near
Tackle
n €
El
P
ion
DALLAS. — Announcement was
made Monday by A. Maceo Smith,
president of the Texas Negro Cham-
ber of Commerce, that invitations
had been sent out to seventy Texas
leaders to attend a meeting in Dal-
las, Saturday, January 10, to dis-
cuss' the problem of equalizing
educational opportunities In Texas;
the forming of a clearing house for
Texas Negro organizations; and for
a frank discussion of other cur-
rent problems affecting the lives
of Texas Negroes.
The decision to call this meeting
was reached after requests had come
into the Texas Negro Chamber of-
fice from fourteen state-wide or-
ganizations recommending clooser
cooperation and coordination among
Negro organizations and leaders
during these emergent times. Presi-
dents of the Texas NAACP, Pro- _
gressive Voters’ League, and the
State Chamber joined in issuing the -
call for this meeting. Representa-
tives from various state-wide or- ;
ganizations are expected to attend
along with representatives from
various colleges of the state.
The meeting will be open to all
Texas citizens interested in the
welfare of Negroes in the state.
It is reported that serious considera-
tion will be given to the plan to
equalize educational opportunities
and to take advantage of the recent *
Supreme Court decisions in favor
of Negroes. This will be the first
such meeting called in the state of
Texas to consider this problem since
the famous Gaines decision of the
United-States Supreme Court.
Because of the resources of the J
great state of Texas for educational
purposes, this meeting will be very
significant and it is expected that
the outcome will crystallize into
the launching of a state-wide pro-
gram to improve the facilities for
Negro education in every respect
in the state.
To Take Oath Of
Office-
New YORK.—Rev. Adam Clayton
Powell, Jr., pastor of Abyssinian
Baptist church, and the city’s first
Negro to be elected to the City
Council under proportional repre-
' sentation, will take the oath of office
on Monday, January 5, at noon with
Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia
1st Homicide
Is Via Traffic
HOUSTON.--First traffic fatality
and first homicide for the ‘42 year
was George Dusts, 47, 1911 Bastrop
street, who expired at Jefferson
Davis hospital Sunday from injuries
received Saturday when a ruthless
hit-run driver struck him in the
2300 block of Gray street.
Durst’s body was dragged ap-
proximately 100 feet from the scene
of the accident. Witnesses told po-
lice the driver of the car failed to
stop.
In connection with the incident,
Patrolmen W. W. Brown and H. N.
Martin, Wednesday, arrested, Char-
les Edward Grayson, 35, 702 Clin-
ton’ Park Drive who was charged
in Judge W. C. Ragan's court with
failure to stop at the scene of an
accident and negligent homicide.
Police records show that Grayson
made a statement concerning the
case.
Tornado Kills
Child In La. Town
DENHAM SPRINGS, La.—Den-
ham Springs was visited by an
early morning tornado Saturday
which injured several persons,
killed one Negro child and blew
— down a dozen or more homes.
Boy Hit By Car
In Front of Home
HOUSTON. — A seven-year-old
boy, Clotis Devens, 3403 Dowling,
was injured in front of his home
Saturday when an automobile
driven by W. J. Justice, 48, 202
North Ennis, knocked him down
| and bruished klip slightly.
PRAIRIE VIEW’S MAJOBETTES IN FULL SWING
the home, by neighbors that the
house was on fire. Rushing to be
of assistance they found the home
— in flames, both of James Riley’s
— children, Rebecca Riley, 3, and Bes-
“ sie May Riley, 3 being burned to
death. The mother Mrs. Marnie Ri-
- ley, 20 was severely burned, suf-
James Riley and his broths
Burnt To
Brittle
Highlight of the Kentucky State-Prairie View Classic is this photo of the Prairie View Majorettes leading the band
between halves of the game. —(Photo by Rabb).
INVESTS IN UNCLE SAM
Woman
e Trial In
fering for one day and then ex-
piring at 6.00 a.m., Saturday, at
Jefferson Davis hospital.
Sunday morning, at 2:20 a.m. the
residence of Mrs. Ida Jenkins, 3516
Nalle street, was completely de-
stroyed by a roaring fire, probably
caused by a defective flue. The
frame dwelling which recently had
an addition built on the rear, was
a blazing inferno before the fire
department arrived. Mr. and Mrs.
George Lymon, 3517 Nalle, the
family next door, were awakened
by their dog "Butch" who had to
climb in bed to attract their at-
tention.
Mrs. Jenkins told the Informer
reporter that she was awakened by
the strange popping noise made by
the burning shingles on the roof.
Upon awakening and realizing the
house was on fire, she immediately
called Mrs Minnie Harris with
whom she was sleeping and they
went to the other bedroom to
arouse Miss Corrine R. Branch,
teacher, of Liberty, Texas, who had
been visiting Mrs' Jenkins. Mrs.
Jenkins stated that she believed
the pipe that runs into the chim-
ney boecame overheated. Nothing
was saved, the fire damaging every-
thing beyond salvaging. The front
porch of her house caved in dur-
ing the blaze and the roof and
sides of Mr. Lymon's house at 3517
Nalle street were burned. Mrs.
Jenkins’ residence was not covered
by insurance. Mr. Lymon’s home
has partial fire coverage.
Monday morning, about 11:00 a.m.,
three fire trucks were dispatched
to a fire which threatened a row
of houses on Bell street in the
3700 block and a row of homes on
Flames
(See Picture on Page *
HOUSTON—Crawling in anevi
dently suffocated condition, in at
attempt to find oxygen to entail
life, an aged man, Abe Roberts, st
dwelling with his sister, Mrs. Ber
tina Jones at her residence 140
Jan., Feb. For Killings
“mousto..Reconveniy following Llay-onf, the miry e-om,N120S
ris County Grand Jury has arraigned three alleged murder bit names. Mr. Hodke informed
ers of the past year to appear before the bar of justice dur the Informer representative that she
ng January and February.4—4—4
Before the Honorable Langston G. King on January 19
appears Archie Lee Freeman, 21,
331012 McKinney, who on October
21, 1941, is alleged to have stabbed
Mack Simpson in the 3100 block of
Polk street near the corner of Palm-
Solo Street, in the fifth ward, was
burnt crisp and brittle Thursday,
morning, as a raging fire, result-
ing from an oilstove exploion, des-
troyed practically the entire Jones,
residence.
Mr. Roberta was found in the
room adjoining the one where the
.explosion took place, and accord-
ing to the Fire Chief, had been
in the hall groping t find a way,
out of the mass of flames enve-
loping his aged body.
About 11:30 am. Thursday the
explosion took place, according to
fire records, and the neighbors next
door at 1319 Slo’Street witnessed
the smoke pouring from all exits
but could not see any flames at the
time. They said that they had gone
to try to force the back door and al-
so attempt to drive a post through
the window but the smoke issuing
forth drove them back to safety.
Mrs. Bertina Joes tried to force
her way Into the house but she
could not reach the hallway where
Mr. Roberts was evidently, at that
time trying to find or wend
his way through to air and free-
dom. The flames enveloped her
as she went in thrush the front
door and the searing licks tongued.
Rice street in the 1500 block. The
residence where the fire began, 2702 __- -
Bell street, home of Mrs. Nellie their way through the frame
SAFE AT PEARL HARBOR
Little Ralph Waldo Isaacs believes in the future of his
County. To prove it he recently purchased a $25.00 defense
bond with money earned rrom sale of THE INFORMER.
Ralph is only 13 years old and is in the ninth grade at Jack
Yates high school. He belongs to Boy Scout Troop No. 83.
—(Photo by Rabb).
SAILOR TELLS OF SINKING
OF AFRICAN FREIGHTER
NEW YORK.—(ANP)—O. Henry, one of the 19 sur-
vivors of the torpedoed American-South Africa freighter,
Sagadohoo, told the story of the sinking of the freighter and
the rescue of crew members after days in open boats. The
survivors were brought here by an American vessel.
Henry, whose first name is Oliver, ----------------------------------
said that he learned that a German said ha gave out advice to fellow
submarine was only 50 miles away members to "keep your socks on,
on the evening of December 3, and your chin up and wait for a big
Defense Classes Study
Electric Welding, Gas
Burning And Cutting
HOUSTON.—In the National De- workers in Defense work
shown what the lack of vocational
fense Training program in Hous-
ton for Negroes three classes in
electric welding, gas burning and
cutting have begun. Each class has
20 students enrolled and run in
three six-hour shifts, from 6 a. m.
to 12 midnight. On Saturday, Jan.
10, the fourth shift will begin to
run from 12 midnight to 6 a. m.
This arrangement is for the con-
venience of a number of applicants
who are unable to attend the daily
classes.
All persons who are interested
in these classes should apply at the
United States Employment Service
Bureau, Louisiana and Bell Sts.
Two classes have also been be-
gun in Carpentry for out-of-
school youth, between the ages of
17 and 24. They were established
Wednesday, January 7. These class-
es are not yet filled and can serve
several more persons. AU young
men who are interested in learn-
ing Carpentry should apply at 1013
West Dallas Avenue for informa-
tion. Classes wiU run three hours,
from 8 to 11 a. m. and from 1:00
to 4:00 p. m.
As many young people as pos-
sible should avail themselves of
has
training has meant for Negroes
Even if called to work, in a num-
ber of instances they were not
qualified because of lack of train-
See DEFENSE, Page 8, Col 8
the oportunity to enroll in these
_ 1 clases. The recent call for skilled uary 18.
Ministers Again
Elect Rev. Scott
Rev. J. S. Scott was re-elected
president of the Interdenomination-
al Negro Ministers Alliance at a
meeting at Antioch Baptist church.
Rev. W. M. Sykes and Rev. L. S.
White were elected vice presidents. 1
Other officers elected are: Rev.
E. R. Green, secretary; Rev. J. H.
M. Boyce, treasurer and program
chairman; Rev. T. J. Clement,
chairman of the health committee;
Rev. John D. Moore, inter-racial
Rev. J. R. Burdette, civic; Rev, L.
B. Allen, educational; Rev. F W.
Logan, denominational, and Rev.
L B. Winfield, reporter.
Installation of officers will be
held at St. James Methodist church.
Andrew and Wilson Streets, Jan-
boom.”
. In the Examining trial on October
1 24, Judge Thomas Maes who had
held the inquest over Simpson’s
body stated that the stab wound
1 was in the neck at the point where
1 it joins the body and that the knife
| blade was still there at the time of
1 said inquest.
According to testimony by Charlie |
Orndorff, 20, 3112 Bell, who is list-
ed as a witness for the state, he
he knew both men. Orndorff said
he had been with Simpson all dur-
ing the day of the incident, had left
him for a while, and then had met
him again in the evening. He states !
that head Simpson saw Freeman |
crossing Polk Street's railroad;
tracks. Mack, according to his story,
is said to have taken a cigar out
of Freeman’s pocket. An argument
followed, wherein Orndorff stated
he tried to get Simpson to go home.
Simpson is then allegedly to have
struck Freeman with his fist, twice.
The witness then says that Freeman
stabbed Simpson. In obtaining help,
Orndorff stated that he asked a
When the torpedo struck the
freighter admidship, O. Henry
shouted, “That's the big boom. Let’s
go."
Three minutes later they were
on the sea, and then the submarine
came to the surface. "Out of that
conning tower pops four officers in
clean white uniforms. The leader
says in good English, with not much
German accent, ‘Please row close
to us.’ It’s pretty dark; almost 8
p.m.
"When we pull alongside, the
leader says, ‘You British?’ When we
tell him we all Americans, he says,
‘Why don’t you paint your Amer-
ican flags on right, stead of the
way they are.’ We didn’t argue, just
keep mum. The leader then tells us
he is sorry he’s got no room for us,
wishes us safe voyage and then the
sub disappears. Then we began to
row what might have been 1,800
miles to land.”
O. Henry recalled that for seven
days and eight nights they each
had only “three swallows of water
a day” in the small boat. On the
second day out, the rudder broke,
but they set up sail. For the rest of
the journey, they took turns steer-,
ing by oar.
Fellow colored members of the
crew survivors said that O. Henry
sang and cheered them repeatedly,
See SAILOR, Page 8, Col. 8
man to take Mack Simpson to the
hospital but the man said he was
afraid he would get into trouble so
he would not do.it. Simpson was
then placed on the ground where
Orndorff says he rolled over on
his face .living for a few minutes,
then expiring before aid could be
rendered.
Freeman’s bond for MURDER is
set at $500.
Kaffie To Appear
Before the Honorable Langston
G. King, on February 9, appears
Joe Kaffie, 23, 1505 Andrew street,
who on November 2, 1941 is accused
of murdering Carter Ray, Jr., in
See INDICT, Page 8, Col. 6
Hold Exams For
Teacher Aspirante
Two day examinations were held
at Jack Yates High School last Fri-
day and Saturday for aspirants to
teaching positions in the Houston
School system.
Of the 134 city-wide applicants
for teaching jobs 50 were Negroes,
five being male.
Examinations included a general
test for all and optional tests in
major fields.
READERS AND AGENTS NOTICE!
EFFECTIVE THIS WEEK—All news for the City
Edition must be in the office on Monday, not later than
Tuesday None received after that date will be published.
Pictures must be in Monday by 8:30 A. M. To assure
publication of their news reporters and correspondents
should mail a part of it to reach the office Saturday
and Sunday. The earlier you mail the more news will
be published..........
MAIL EARLY AND RECEIVE YOUR PAPERS
EARLIER /
had gone to visit at 2604 Bell street,
which is one-half block from her
home and had left her son, Wilbur,
four years of age, at home alone.
She had hardly stepped in the house
at 2604 Bell when she heard the
fire engines. Wilbur was standing
on the porch of the house by the
time the engines arrived. He would
not leave at the, request of the
neighbors who were intensely in-
terested in trying to get him out
of the house and in moving things
out of the homes nearby. Harvey
Johnson, 1319 Page street, who
was passing, went up on the blazing
porch and rescued Wilbur. Resi-
dences at 2704 and 2706 were not
damaged, but the home at 2704 was
seared on the side and on the
roof. The residence at 1505 Rice,
whose occupants were away, was
damaged by smoke and water.
Nothing was saved in the Hodge
home.
ling, encompassing the entire in-
terior, causing the varius sections,
roof, front porch, sides, and back,
as they became veritable shells,
to crumble and give way before the
onslaught of water poured on them
by the fire department. . 17
Mr. Roberts’ body could be view-
ed from Solo street through the
haze of dwindling smoke issuing
forth, lying in a small lump, gently
covered by the firemen with wet
sheets to protect it from the ravag-
ing flames.
The Fire Chief told the Informer
reporter that they had no idea that
there was a man inside of the
house when they began to fight
the fire, because as a general rule
there are many people milling a*
round a fire, crying and despon-
dent because they have lost valuable
belongings. But he said, when they
were finally informed that a man
was inside of the burning dwelling
somewhere, they were told he was
See BURNT, Page s. Con a.
Gain Youth Dies From
WILLIS JAMES EDWARDS, JR.,
4223 Marina street, son of Mr. and
Mrs. W. J. Edwards, Houston, who
is stationed at Pearl Harbor, is safe,
it was learned this week.
Prince Jackson
Must Face Trial
January 26th
HOUSTON.—Prince Jackson, 26,
who formerly resided with Com-
mercia Harris, 22, the girl he stab-
bed to death last week while she
was approaching the corner of Rob-
in and Buckner, in the Fourth
Ward, has his trial set for January
26, before the Honorable Langston
G. King in County Criminal District
Court.
According to police Jackson was
Gas Fumes; M
Visiting In C
HOUSTON.—Failure to attend
school, for some unknown reason,
probably caused young Matt (Jun-
ior) Anderson, 15, 929 Hoffman St.,
Trinity Gardens, Monday afternon,
or evening, to die from burner
fumes, while his mother was away
in California.
Brought to Jefferson Davis Hos-
pital by Mr. Shelton Carothers, 821
Hoffman Street, Matt Anderson
was pronounced dead from asphyx-
iation by gas.
The Anderson lad was living in
the home alone, his mother having
gone to California to visit. His
grandmother, Mrs. Ella King, Peach
Street, Trinity Gardens, made a
found in the bed following an -
intense search for him in the neigh- daily habit of going by her daugh-
borhood of the crime. ter’s house to inquire concerning
A s I
ext
of
Navy To Resign
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—(ANP)—Addressing state repre-
sentatives in the house here last Monday, State Rep. Charles
J. Jenkins, (Rep.), called for the resignation of Secretary
of the Navy Frank Knox for the disaster at Pearl Harbor.
His declaration that Knox should resign rather than take the
young Anderson. On Monday she
had inquired among the neighbors
and no one seemed to have seen
him. He was supposed to be in
town attending school. When the
time came for him- to be around
the Trinity Gardena addition, she
accompanied by her grandson, went
to Ward 12 to look for him.
Mrs. King had to pry the door
open, the young man having lock-
ed it from the inside. She inform-
ed the Informer reporter that their
was foam on his face and he was
lying on his back. She called to
him and received no answer. She
then tried to revive him with a
cold towel.
He was placed on the floor and
an attempt was made to bring him
back to life.
The gas stove was burning in the
house.
A doctor was summonded but
could not be reached in time.
Mr, Carothers brought Matt An-
-..............
See TOUTH, Page 8, Col 3
Pacific command from Admiral
(Husband E.) Kimmel was made
during consideration of a defense
bill to license handlers of germ
cultures.
Jenkins entered debate on the
germ control bill by envisioning
possible Axis attempts to spread
plague in the United States and
Illinois, replying to Democratic
charges that the measure under
consideration was essentially poli-
tical in nature since it will provide
802 new jobs within the state.
“They talk of politics," the repre-
sentative said. "The appointments
of Secretary - Knox and Secretary
Stimson to the cabinet were politi-
cal appointments. And furthermore,
none of the Axis powers would
keep a man in charge of their navy
or army who hadn’t been a navy or
army man substantially all his life.”
Last spring, Rep. Jenkins headed
a legislative commission to Wash-
ington to seek more jobs for Ne-
groes in defense industries and also
their entrance into the navy. He re-
called that Secretary Knox told
him at that time that it would be
impossible to admit colored men
into general navy service at pres-
ent. '
Auxiliary Police
Applicants Hear
Chief Ashworth
HOUSTON —Applicants for the
Civilian Auxiliary police force met
Thursday at 8 p. m. in the Corpo-
ration court room to ear Asssistant
Police Chief Cecil Priest describe
workings n the force.
Captain L. D. Morrison, who with
assistant Chief Priest will train the
grup, stated Wednesday they would
be approximately 60 members.
Captain Morrison has rceived
numerous names of applicants who
have filed to guard their section
during the emergency if it arises.
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The Informer and Texas Freeman (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 9, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 10, 1942, newspaper, January 10, 1942; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1626681/m1/1/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.