The Informer (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 21, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 1, 1939 Page: 1 of 12
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Houston Informer and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Rice University Woodson Research Center.
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Frederick and Robin se.,
Houston, Texas. ,
Z-1 3
PUSTONPUBUG LIBRA
LS UNDER
SHOP WITH ASSURANCE OF
COURTEOUS TREATMENT BY
ACCEPTING
Weingarten's and Mading’s Invi-
Stations on Pages 3 and 6 Respec-
lively .. .
OWNED AND PRINTED
VOL. 45, ^0. 21
LIGHT FORTHEC NEOHOES oroune
HOUSTON, TEXAS, SATURDAY, APRIL 1,1939
WEST
DY TEXAS NEGROES
6 Cents Houston; 7 Cents Elsewhere
MJ
IN VIRGIN ISLANDS
By J. DON DAVI8
Informer Managing Editor
, Word was received in Houston this week that Carter
W. Wesley, INFORMER editor, has been added to the list
of possible successors of Federal Judge William H. Hastie in
the Virgin Islands. Mr. Wesley’ first knowledge of the con-
ideration being given his name for the appointment was re-
ceived in a letter from a friend in
Washington Monday.
When asked for his reaction to
the matter, he said: "I have never
had any political ambitions and
have made no effort to secure the
Virgin Island appointment. He in-
sisted that he would make no effort
to secure the post, but it stood pos-
sible that the militant editor might
change his attitude when a stream
of letters flowed in from the east,
urging him to announce an interest
in the post. ' 1
Most of the letters carried the
tone of “if Texas can afford to lose
you at this time, we urge you to
accept the mention." Assurance that
eastern forces would rally to his
appointment has been given from
several national sources, but just
how far Mr. Wesley's name will get,
depends upon the support given by
his native Texas.
Experienced political observers
have opined that Mr. Wesley stands
a good chance of securing the post,
inasmuch as Texas occupies a super- ,
prominent place in national affairs
at-this time. The mention of Mt
Wales toumraletinatiatis
or southern Negro in recent
- years. ..
Houston hailed the news as being
phenomenal in the city's march -of
progress. i ;
Announcement of Mr. Wesley's
being mentioned was carried in a
liberal Pennsylvania weekly, which
has a large circulation in Houston,
and at press time the phone was
busy buzzing with Houstonians urg-
ing Mr. Wesley to mske a bid for
the post
Toi - Well Prepared
SAYS $1.50
RING COST
HER $12.50
Mr.' Wesley is well prepared to
serve should he secure the post,
having graduated from Fisk Univer-
sity with Magna Cum Laude honors
and at the head of his class. He
studied law at Northwestern Uni-
versity, Evanston, Ill., and gradu- ruranuc, ..... — --- —
ated with the Doctor of Laws de- one) and that it also stated in very
F HOUSTON. — A ring purchased ■
from the Neches Jewelry company, ■
415 Travis street ,that alelgedly ■
turned black a couple of days after ■
it was purchased, was the cause of ■
a controversy that required the ■
service of a lawyer to settle. I
According to statements received ■
from the people involved, the ring ■
was purchased by Miss Zelma Log- ■
gins and she also purchased a watch ■
from the company. After the ring ■
turned black, according to state- ■
ments obtained by reporters, she ■
returned it and told them that it ■
was an inferior product and that ■
she wanted her money that she had ■
paid on it applied to the account
refused to accept a return of the
ring. She says she then went to the
woman for whom she worked and -------—-=* ,—— T—— — ------
the woman sent her to Mrs. Billie ingiton high school, Dallas.
Russel an attorney, who interceded.---------------------------------------------------
for her and forced the company to
accept the ring and apply the money
paid to the young woman’s. account.
During the investigation, accord-
ing to her arid the lawyer’s story,
it developed r that the ring was
valued at $1.50 and was sold to the
girl for $12.50, and. the watch was
also sold at a higher price than it
was worth. They also say it was
discovered that the mortgage signed
by the young woman when the , u
purchase was made gave- the-com- months. Mr. Dudley had established
pany an assignment on her wages, his residence in Galveston and the
furniture, her car (if she owned
tee of the Beta Delta chapter. Delta Sigma Theta sorority,
who just presented their third Annual Jabberwock with
much success. Miss King is instructor at Booker Wash-
-I % a.
Dudleys Granted
Divorce Decree'
HOUSTON.—The Newman Dud-
leys, Jr., were’divorced in Galves-
ton, Tuesday. The decree was grant-’
ed by the civil district court in
Galveston county, after it had been
on the court’s docket for several.
1
gree.
After graduetion he began the
practice of law in Muskogee, Okla-
homa and later, came to. Houston,
his native home. In both cities he
was generally rated as one of the
best trial lawyers in the entire
Southwest.
40 YEARS
' HOUSTON—Sterling Harris, age for libelr”
38, was given a 40-year prison term
Monday by a jury in Judge Whit
Boyd’s court on a charge of murder.
Harris was charged with killing
his estranged wife early on the
morning of February 5, while his
% five children looked on. Testimony
1 showed that he- went to the place
* where the woman, and children were
living and shot her with a shotgun.
He later surrendered to the sheriff.
Harris “pleaded guilty before, the
fine print that the purchaser agreed
not to question the property. Accord-
ing to the terms of the mortgage,
if the product was found to be
inferior, the purchaser did not have
the' right' to question the property
or ask for a refund of the money
paid on it, they say. *
An Informer reporter, who went
to the store, was first denied an
interview concerning the matter,
and, amid a number of vile epithets,
were heard the words, “If you write
that in your paper, I will sue you
suit was filed in that county.
The petition gave no reasons for
the divorce and it is stated that
Mr. Dudley said that only he and
his divorced wife know the reason
for the divorce and the secret would
go to, the grave with them,
The Dudleys, formely lived on i
Live Oak and Tuam. Mr. Dudley J
is an officials of the Atlanta Life
Insurance company, and Mrs. Dud-
ley is a teacher in the city schools
of Houston. Since their separation,
Mr. Dudley has lived in Galveston
and Mrs. Dudley remained in Hous-
HOUSTON. — A faction of the
members of the Hughes Tool club
are up in arms against the officials
of the club and their management
of the affairs of the club. The late
est outbreak came when Howard
Wells, one of the members of the
- club was temporarily denied/ admis-
i sion to the Houston Negro hospital.
, According to members of the club,
, they have an account with the Hous-
/ ton Negro hospital, where members
t. of the club can go, when 111. and
: the club will pay the bill to the
hospital and the members pay the
club after they have recovered. Mr.
Wells, the members state, took
r deathly ill and was rushed to the
A hospital, his family and friends be-
t lieving that he would be admitted
* to the hospital under the club agree-
1 On arrival at the hospital, the
, members state that Mrs. M. H.
i Bright, the superintendent of the
hospital, refused to admit Mr. Wells
on account of the Hughes Tool club,
stating that the club owed the
y hospital a large bill and she could
f not accept him on that account. The
■ • members stated that, Mrs. Bright._______ ,
informed them that the only wayishedavin Ulmer, of the board of
cosid tonirasim-would be for some rectors, wrote Dr. W. Ma Dr
responsible people to vouch for general ch
payment of the hspital bill. Mean-
while, the members said, Mr. Wells
was suffering and they had to go
out and get men satisfactory to
Mrs. Bright who would guarantee
the payment of the bill.
. The news of the bill owed the
hospital by the club, the difficulties
I and embarrassment suffered by Mr.
Wells and his family in gaining
"entrance to the hospital spread like
wild-fire amnog the members and
J various groups started protesting.
"George Duncan, a member of the
[club and anti-administration leader,
1 went to the hospital and secured
4 from Mrs. Bright a statement show-
ing that the club owed the hospital
a balance of $524.86, According to
4 Mr. Duncan, Mrs. Bright stated that
. her reason for not admitting Mr.
Wells on the Hughes Tool club ac-
count was because of the balance
"owed the hospital by the club.
Mr. Duncan declares that the af-
fairs of the club are being mis-
managed and this mismanagement is
W. L. DAVIS. Chairman of
Church Co-Operation in the "Y"
Drive. '
A few hours later the officials
called the office of The Inormer and
asked for a reporter to come up
and get the facts in the, matter.
They stated that the purchaser, Miss
Loggins, was perfectly satisfied and
the only reason Miss Russel came
into the case was to assit the girl
in selecting the watch as she knew
jewelry better than the gift
They denied that the ring turned
black, declaring that the ring was
(see SAYS, Page 2.)
ton. 1
PROVE You VALUE THE VOTE:
• USE IT!
"CAU
19
For
HOUSTON.—"! heard two shots,
then I heard Ernestine screati
while she was screaming I heard
three more shote; .then she ran to
the door and foil.” were the dra-
matic words of "Mama Sallie" as she
testified in the trial of Luther
Lewis, charged with murdering his
wife. Lewis was given a two-JIN
sentence by the jury in Judge wait
Boyd's court Tuesday as they re-
turned i verdict, finding Lewis
guilty of murder without malice.
1 a The jury in its deliberations want-
ed to suspend the sentence and
asked the judge if it would be pos-
sble to do so. The judge informed
them that on account of a previous
conviction. Lewis was not eligible
for a suspended sentence. Lewis
was represented by Attorney Bob
Peden and a plea of not guilty by
Gets
SHOT IN BACK
HOUSTON. — Leon Orndoff, age
43, of 2005 Nagle, was shot and in-
stantly kiUed Sunday at the Ajax
Liquor company warehouse, 700
North San Jacinto by J. P. Tuff-
Mr. Peden.
The state attempted to show that
the killing was premeditated and
the outgrowth of a state of jealousy
on the part of Lewis. Attorney
Peden presented evidence to show
that the woman was high-tempered
and dangerous. One witness testi-
fied that two days prior to the kill-
ing, Mrs. Lewis told him that she
was going to get rid of her hus-
band one way or the other. Other
witnesses testified that Mrs. Lewis
was high-tampered and determined
and would fight quickly.
Lewis took the stand in his own
defense and stated that on the day
of the killing, she tried to force him
to go to the Social Security board
and get some compensation that he
was not entitled to, and as he
looked around she was getting out
ly, an official of the company.
According to a statement made
to police by Tuffly, he remained
in the warehouse Sunday, suspecting
a thief and when he saw Orndoff
: in the warehouse loading whiskey on
a warehouse truck, he called T. W.
Foreman, an employee of the Hous-
ton Terminal Warehouse and Cold
Storage company, and they made
Orndoff walk ahead of them toward
the office. •
While going to the office, Tuffly
said that Orndoff raised his hand
and when he did he thought the
latter was going to hit him, and
he shot him with the gun. The gun^
used was a sawed-off shotgun, load-
ed with buckshot Orndoff was killed
.instantly by the blast
His body was turned over to John-
son Funeral home for burial and
funeral services were held Wednes-
day. Burial was in the Oak Park
cemetery.
Tuffly was not arrested. /
m u .. -... of bed ==================
of self-defense was entered (See LUTHER LEWIS, rare %)
mend making PROVE YOU VALUE THE VOTE;
WA H A ==" USE IT!
OSS BURNING
• President Promises
To Vote For Grigsby;
Scores Cowardly Act
---------------—------HOUSTON.—The white Methodist
Ministerial Alliance of Houston in
its meeting Monday at the First
Methodist church. Main and Clay,
passed a resolution condemning the
burning of the fiery cross in
the yard of J. B. Grigsby, can-
didate for a position on the Houston
board last Friday night The strongly
worded resolution was passed after
members of the alliance had on-
pressed their indignation over the
cowardly act. The resolution, accord-
ing to Rev. S. L. White, pastor of
the Beebe Tabernacle Methodist %
church, who was present in the a
meeting. Was passed unanimously )
DR. JACOBS TO
SPEAK AT BEBEE
F. L. LANE, Chairman of Organi-
zations in the “Y” Drive.
——.--------------1
“Y” DRIVE
FO
HOUSTON.—Dr. William States
Jacobs .prominent independent min-
ister of Houston, will be the guest
speaker in the pulpit of the Beebe
Tabernacle, West Dallas at Arthur
at 7 p.m.. Sunday night Dr. Jacobs
Is well known throughout the state
as a minister who denounces in-
justices that are thrust upon min-
ority groups. According to Reverend . -____
White, pastor of Beebe Tabernacle, by members,
there will be a large audience on
hand and the public is invited to
hear Dr. Jacoba.
$ CHARGES ERROR
HOUSTON. — Dornell Body,
charged with robbery before Jus-
1 D tice of the Peace Thomas M. Maes,
I in together with Sweedie Fuller, stated
that he was arrested and carried
to the police station and marked
“hold for invesigation.” When he
was put in the police show-up room,
he was identified by the complain-
#2corawool Doswear ^■iX’Xto maim ~»S
I chairman or the-Negro di-eante. nne th the examining trint
vision of the campaign, the follow- “ J222R
ing: "I write to express my pleasure
and to congratulate you on the op-
portunity your acceptance gives
you to serve in a lasting manner
colored youth of Houston. You are
no doubt aware of the fact that if
this campaign is successful, a build-
ing costing $185,000 will be con-
structed for the colored people. This
fact in itself ought to challenge the
loyal support and the best leader-
ship of your group. Where in all
the country is there greater need
for adequate Association equipment
to serve colored men and boys than
After the passing of the resolution,
according to Rev. White, Rev. W.
H. Whaley, president of the alliance
and presiding elder of the district,
stated from the chair that he was
going to vote for Mr. Grigsby as
a member of the board because the
felt that there should be a member
of the Negro race on the board to
represent the large Negro popular
HOUSTON.—In speaking of the
challenge to the colored people of
the city of Houston that a modern
YMCA building presents. President
the cause of the large bill owed the
hospital. He stated that the officials
allow their favorite members to use
the hospital for their friends and
have the bill charged to the club.
(See GROUPS, Page 2.)
HOW TO VOTE
AN EDITORIAL
There is considerable discussion as to how one should
vote in a school election, in order to insure the success of his
particular candidate,—The Informer is advocating the sup-
port of the first three candidates on the official ballot, but
we desire here tu explain to the readers how they may vote,
whomever they support. We also desire to put at rest some
of the misinformation that is being scattered about.
Anyone voting can vote for one candidate alone, strike a
line through all the other candidates, and have his ballot
counted. Or anyone can vote for any three candidates on
the ticket and have his ballot counted. "In order to vote for
any three candidates .one need only draw a line through the
other fourteen candidates—there are seventeen candidates
he was pointed out by the complain-
ing witness as the one who was at
the house where the alleged robbery
occurred and not the one who met
the man at the station and carried
him to the house as previously
stated in The Informer.
here in Houston?”
Dr. Drake has chosen as his as-
sociates, Chas. A. Shaw, to head up
the special gifts committee, and
F. L. Lane, to direct the organiza-
tion features.
Other associates announced by
General Chairman Drake are Church
cooperation committee, W. L. Davis,
chairman, Rev. J, S. scott, associate
chairman; Prospect committee, J. C.
Sanderson, chairman; Public rela-
tions committee, J. E. Armstead,
chairman, Solon Brandon, associate
chairman; Industrial groups, M. W.
Jordan and R. H. Guess, co-chair-
men; Arrangements, J. H. Jemison,
chairman, R .A. Williams, associate
chairman; Group contacts, E. L.
(See “Y" DRIVE, Page 2.)
C. A. SHAW, Chairman of Special
Gifts, in the “Y” Drive.
tion. ’ 1
After Rev. Whaley had made this
statement, Rev. White said that af
number of the members of the al- a
liance spoke favorably of Mr. Grigs-
by's candidacy and quite a number
of the group expressed a desire that
Mr.C." MAM M a
exentative of the rocs on “ey
(See SAMPLE, BALLOT, Page & ‘
Prisoner's Pled
For Removal From -
Conroe Granted
HOUSTON.—Robert Fletcher, a
40-year-old Houstonian who was
convicted on a charge of theft from
an interstate shipment in federal
court, sent a plea to Judge Allred
to allow him to get out of the Con-
roe jail where he is serving a year ,
and a day for the offense.
Judge Allred granted the request
after it was made known that
Fletcher was tubercular. Fletcher
will be sent to the Federal peni-
tentiary at Leavenworth.
STUDENTS WIN FIGHT
FLASH,—Allen University student 1
strike ended Monday ith Dent's
resignation after arbitration by ex
ecutive board trustees and student
council. Students won all points
with expelled and suspended reins
stated. Dean Thurman B. O'Danie!
electd acting President until June.
O’Daniel A. B. Lincoln, Penneyl-
vania; A. M. Pennsylvania Univer-
sity; further study Harvard and
Chicago. All classes resumed.
Missouri Attempts .
Evade Gaines Decisi
on the official ballot
If one decides to vote for three candidates, he will be
giving to all three of the candidates one first place. But
if one decides that he only wants to support one candidate,
he can give to the one candidate an advantage over any other
candidate by casting one vote for that candidate. That
means that the particular candidate will get a vote that no
other candidate will get, and therefore be preferred to that
extent. There may be some who decide to support Grigsby
and Grigsby alone, because he is a Negro. This group can
help him by voting for him and striking all others. There
will be many who will decide to vote for three candidates.
These will not only be giving Grisa-xper met Tia
ter of choice as to whether or not one wants to try to do
everything possible to elect Mr. Grigsby alone, or whether
one wants to strive to elect the three people who are-to serve
on the board, including Mr. Grigsby.
Now that we have given the explanation on how one
can vote to express his views, may we again suggest that
Negroes vote for the first three candidate on the ballot?
LINCOLN U.ASKS
FOR $900,000;
GETS $75,000
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.—(ANP)
—The marked disparity between
what Negroes think they need for
education and what whites believe
is good enough for them was amply
demonstrated here last Tuesday
when Lincoln university curators
asked the House Appropriations
committee for $900,000 for develop-
ment of the school program-and
got exactly $75,000.
The #75,000 given to Lincoln for
new buildings and rehabilitation of
old structures in 1938-40 was the
only change made by the commit-
tee in approving for passage a bill
carrying about nine million dollars
for the state's educational institu-
tions for the two-year period.
Prizes Offered For Clean Ya
The second meeting of the Beauti----------------------------------
fication Committee met Saturdaj
in the office of the Houston Negro
Chamber of Commerce, with Mrs.
M. J. Davis, chairman. The follow-
ing members of the committee were
present: Dean J. D. Bowles, chair
man of the educational committee
of the Houston Negro Chamber of
Commerce; Mrs. Willie H. Chest
nutt, secretary; Mrs. R. L. Easter
Mrs. Van H. McKinney and Mrs
Lee H. Grigsby, as chairman and
co-chairman, fifth ward; Mrs. Mary
Carter Jones, chairman, first ward:
Mrs S. G. Kay, chairman, Harris-
burg; Dr. W. M. Drake, president.
Houston Negro Chamber of Com-
merce; Prof. P. H. Holden, treasur-
er, and 0. K. Manning, executive
secretary.
Rates for Judging
once. We hope to have ‘at least
100 participants to register before
May 1, 1839 (deadline for registra-
tion). Remember this contort closes
between June 7 and June 14, 1939.
Our next meeting will be Saturr
day, April 1, at 1 p.m., in the
office of the Houston Negro Chamber
of Commerce, 30S Odd Fellows
building. Don't miss this very' im-
portant meeting r 1:3,5
SEATED W
SENT TO I
HOUSTON. —
INODITALE
S«n Sputteds
Delegation members who appear-
ed before the House committee on
behalf of the school program were
President Sherman D. Scruggs of
Lincoln U.; C. C. Daniel, St Joseph,
president State Teachers associa-
AVEEIven vuvo ava wary —----7 g---1 € | tion; H. L. Drew, Bunceton, presi-
As indicated above, to do this effectively, one only needs to, dent Parent-Teachers association,
(See Editorial, Page 3) (See MISSOURI, Page 2)
Gurano court, was carried
Jefferson Davis hospital,
with severe abrasions and a
fracture of the skull last
after he was allegedly bes
a rock by Willie Meson. Th
beating occurred in an
Victor street. Mason was
and charged with aggrat
A motion prevailed that 50 per
cent would be given on arrangements
and cleanliness of the yard and sur-
roundings, 25 per cent on flowers
and shrubs, and 25 per cent on green
grass. At this time more than 36
participants have registered. Phone
your chairman or the Houston Negro
Chamber of Commerce for informa- --men—
tion, and get your registration in at sault in connection
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The Informer (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 21, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 1, 1939, newspaper, April 1, 1939; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1655455/m1/1/?q=%22Houston+%28Tex.%29+--+Newspapers.%22: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.