New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 13

pttts that on April 12 a coloredJgee with their own eyes that Lonnie Ui aid to her er Second lnttaRmnt if isvi! with. a more civilized the ineradfcable savagery and 1 the ufcreasonttg Ipve of torture in twentieth: ii century man than that presented in little Rock's ujtode toward Lonnie, I not heard of it; His crime; he did it, terrible and no one in little Rock can dmore deeply shocKed by it than whose own little danh. iris neariy the sanie jji Ut analysis, the resUitof improper environment and im pper training But the men who are preparinsrto take part Annie's legalized Jynchmsr consider themselves the cream4 the South. The line between them and the man who killed join Carter is so fine that One can scarcely distinguish it, rrt even the farce 01 trial, xor nmor had' been circulated In yfa Rock and not" so seeretl 2ser that from 500 to 1,000 clti pledged under leaiership of men who bad been Znun, to take Lonnie tag fig police and sheriff when they writ him back on Jtf 19, and ogi him "teach all th other Xitrt of Arkansas a lesson they'll jtr forret. (One heard this to the point of ludicrously Ztit People said free T.i.

A ttal IX Wiiei XMlvcnorrry wen itUje and given a free hand, the jok would be handled. For he is a iiries ancl capable man' who. has its not more than once in the per of his duty. The general ginion in Little Rock is that it was jrouh no fault of his, own that he bH permitted to deal properly Jie situation there. (People ei indeed very bitter toward him teats of his successful transfer of yaM But unfortunately it is Siyor Moyer who officially is the bed nf the police force, and he has tbotmly protested that he approves I retrospect his whole program jith resulted in such disgraceful iikn.

However, the Governor of himself told me that he ittneed to be at his post in Little lack on that day and to see to it iit there was no. rioting. John is a strong, and forceful Iijj, who feels deeply the disgrace lanrml by his State through the Kenes of early May, and all who bo him were confident that under ss ruular.ee order would indeed pre It was on April 12 that Floella The day before, a little Lonnie White, had also diaan wcd. His body was subsequently and in the river ort May 7rbut at the two disappearances pc sired they, naturaHy ftxQ sueeted in tbe minels of the petrpfef Very close to $1,500 Was offered; In jwirds for their return Circulars, Awt the missing children 'were ia ee4 by mail and dropped front air pbr.es even in the 'surroonding fates, and the police "combed every Kfltr of the city. It is during this iaethat 1 think it not in the least awobable that the little girl's book Bid h3t may have been found.

But it dys pa.s.sedt and the double mys fcy was unsolved. Tken, oo Saturday afternoon; April 1, the janitor of the First Presby thu Church. Lonnie Dixon's father, jk he decided to investigate a snch he had been noticing for sev ail days. The result was that he tiormed the police of the presence the dead body, but the impression fer rot was that it was a man's. ft officers and the coroner, Dr.

aauel Boyce, with whom I disused the case fully, went at. once a the scena Dr. Boyce, who was rreon forHhe 2nd battalion, 1 37th tfwtry, of the Rainbow Division ed repeatedly wounded overseas, aid not of it without deep otion. Floella had. to nut it plain 7.

been dead so Inner that it was onlv her clothing that she coull be identified. iich is cne of the most fashionable the city. (On two Sundays, April and large congregations had Membled as usual and Braised God 1 .11 uu guouness, ail unaware 01 me 5tbetic. gruesome object that, far we them, lay half hidden under ery chimes that summoned the ple to prayer.) The litt lp Knrlv vac vrramrMBwl in A 'osket and lowered to the outside of church. Lonnie and seven other 'bo were known to frequent neighborhood were arrested as "Pects and othpra nupntinned.

A Ifirl of eight years had told her that if she would Twas not there. Sometimes, in npaia to the church at 5 o'clock she JW be given a toy. They informed ponce and, brought, she pointed Lonnie as the boy who had said ner. or hours and hours, the most determined grilling, Lonnie and his father protested Fseence of the whole affair. Lack Frank Dixon he had been tt the ball game on the 'after ",01 the tragedy.

But the com r1. icts that it was alleged that na.i been at the Little Club at the time (the janitor was a friend of his father's); lift'o crii Vtn, IX (.41 I UUllibGU 1UUI t.ie one who hart nropd hr ttaie to the church; and that on Wholn V. 1 tv. nuum UCCii fcllC 17 Person to have been about rI most itinrnnl suspicion center on Mm mood in which the people of r4? ock were, aomeone had to be r5ar'd that quickly upon whom resentment could be fastened. Ponce fully realised.

In id father and mother selves in the place of loehas parents, The town an uproar. afternoon. May we. was held. All riav tW Vni Permitted to visit ang rooms in which, Jn chemically treated sheet, she lay in a closed coffin.

It was that same aftersoon that Lonnie is pd a feased and to have led the police to the garaee where ha YimA vhMfn Floelia'a hat and WV. lowed waa to Chief Ratenber'B everlasting credit. He took the boy vaauana cemetery, where he was joined, by officer in a high powered car, who, atartiny with Lonnie some minutes after an express train, overtook it and delivered him into the hands of a sheriff who had been notified of his At the same time realising that in the state of mind in which the people were Uiey were likely to wreak their vengeance oh Lonnie'a father if they could not get hold of the boy, Roten berry had Frank Dixon conveyed to another town. On one point only the chief may or may. not have made a mistake.

Many people in Little Rock feel that the identity of Floelia'a slayer should have been kent secret until his triaL But who is to aay that in the mean while rumor might not have settled on some whollyinnocent party who might have paid the price of the error by death and even torture? At any rate the chief let the newspapers know the facts as we are understand he" believed them. Then the storm broke. A mob of. some thousands of people (estimates vary from 3,000 to 5,000) surrounded the city hall, In the basement of which the city jail is located, and demanded Lonnie. When the mayor addressed the hysterical people tbey hooted him down.

When, the police spoke to them; they hooted them.ldown. A minister attempted to calm them and he also was jeered, as was a justice of the Supreme Court. Right here, of course, was where occurred the first big mistake, the logical result of which was the lynching of. John. Carter and the wild rtolwhich; cAkrwett'it; "hat first mob 'should Have been summarily and peremptorily dispersed.

Governor Maruneau earnestly advised the iriayor and 'chief of police to do so. He urged that they use the hose and even tear bombs if "necessary, point ing out to them that whether or not jjonnie ws actually xii ui ji maa irrelevant! the neonle had 'no right to assemble in such disorderly fash ion before it. To permit, them to do so was to court violence. (For years John E. Maruneau, now in later middle life, was Judge of the Chancery Court, where he was known as a man fair in consideration of evidence, just jn his decisions, and immovable when he.

considered him self right. Through Mrs. Bernle Babcock best known for her series of popular books on Lincoln who has lived nearly 50 years in Arkansas, I met the governor and his wife. Both are cultivated, charming people of whom any State might well De proud. In their own pleasant home we discussed, informally, the situa tion.) Mayor Moyer insisted to the governor, on that Sunday evening, that he had matters in nana, om codhobw to pursue a wholly mollifying and ineffective policy, absolutely refusing to allow any show of force.

(It is interesting at mis poms conjecture what his attitude would have been had three to five thousand snrrnnnded the citv hall de manding an alleged white slayer of a Negro girl!) The police did make some abortive attempts to eep uw crowd moving and even arrested some 18 of the most nagrant of fenders. But the people, quiciuy realizing that they were not going to be firmly dealt with, grew more and more demanding. Committee after committee was sent by the mob through the building that they mfeht fashion, the maob, hooting, would re pudiate tne lwormasion oj. iw mittee and immediately another would be formed. As the crowd grew a rumor rippled through it that Lonnie had "been taken to the penitentiary at the edge of town and about 2,000 or more (so Warden Todhunter told me) rushed out to the institution.

The wans around feet high. To the left of. it. as one approaches, is the office and warden's residence. Many of.

the people were armed and a few amused themselves Dy snwung. shot went through the screen door of the office.) Some of the prisoners had been working on the road that day and had left their picks in front of the gate. As the hysterical men and women came storming up the hillside to it' one of. the mob members grabbed up a pick and with it broke open the padlock on the big iron gate. Into the grstands they streamed about 150 of them.

TAiiknnt i no toward. A tail man of about 4S, he has cold eyes very brown they art and a level lnnei. He is ouiet SDoken, is Tod hunter, and can be gentle enough at times. Even as he led me around to show me just "who Stood where" his little grandson came to him with a baby sparrow that had fallen out nf rt wRt The fashion in whieh his big linger stroked the little bird's head was the essence ox, genueness. iiuDu Hi ludJ fcy 1 i'" TTlTl fH rfi 1..

I Ml 5 Hi 5 r. tv ZmJ I I 1.1' 'v: But underneath that kindness he is all steel. 1 was told that while he is not a man that the prisoners love, they do have for him genuine respect; 'S Certainly, in this emergency, he acted with decision. He stepped at once from the door cf the ofnee into the grounds, making a half circle that brought him faca to facs with the crowd. A3 he went he pullad out his six shooter and calmly pointed it at them.

he aid was and to the point out!" They went. As they went he strode after them and down the mil they scam 1 pered (which all tjoes to show what i one determined man can do). As they however, more shots rang out. He followed them to a distance of about 50 feet outside the gate. But when they reached a big tree, partly down the hill, he got to thinking as he explained to me "WelL that boy isn't in here and they might as well know it." So he called to them to wait and as they listened he said; "Now, folks, you can't come in here this way.

But if you'll pick out a committee of five, I'll take it through." It was quickly selected. They were thoroughly and completely Understand, the city was in a turmoil. Crowds were milling around here and there. Soma hundred odd, at last convinced that yLonnie was not in Little Rock, even motored to Benton; others went loMelvern. Those who had been at the jail would go out to the penitentiary walls and those who had been at the peniten tiary would go back to the city hall.

And through it all, the mayor, backed by the city council, insisted that there be no show of positive authority. Meanwhile, a little group, perhaps 100 in all, had held a conclave of its own, and had sent its spokesman to the prosecuting attorney to sret his assurance that there would be no chance of Lonnie's escaping the electric chair. Their minds set at rest on this point, they then and only then! these noble citizens, gave their moral support to the idea of the boy being permitted to pass through the form of a triaL It was 2 o'clock before the crowd dispersed. The last ones left mut tering threats against the and the chief of police for having them of what they felt was their just prey Lonnie Dixon. Nor did the excitement by any means abate during Monday.

"He ought to be lynched, the damned nig ger! Burnings too good for him! Over and over they made these state ments to each other and detailed stories absolutely unprintable and without any foundation of what happened in the belfry (as if the bare facts were not gruesome and terrible enough!) ran through the usts ft imm 1 3FJ if mm 1. i I 2 The National Association of Teacher Colored Schools in its 24th annual conference, Nashville, Tennessee, recently brought hundreds of teachers from all over the south ta the sessions which were held at the A. and T. College and Fisk university. city.

I was repeatedly told some of the stories as. positive facts in minutiae by women, and in more or less openly veiled fashion by. men. "Why, they say the story would bezin, to be finished in a stage whis per behind hand held close to cheek. As I had talked to the coroner, I knew, of course, all that was to be known, and by this could realize how everything had been Actionized.

But the point is that these people who told me these stories absolutely believed them. They wanted to be lieve them. By Monday night the crowd had again worked itself to the point of hysteria. Again they surrounded the city hall; again they went out to the penitentiary. This time the warden bad ten men with guns just inside the.

walls and, standing on the porch of his house, made, a talk to the people. It is significant' thai they, listened to hhn respectfully. But ar" the city hall the same weak kneed policy prevailed, although, as on Sunday night, individuals who became particularly obstreperous in the crowd worts arrested, some 30 odd in all, a number of whom were women. Mayor Moyer point was, of course, that the dangerous inten sity of the crowd had passed and that if not antagonized it would subside from sheer inertia. Presently animosity began to cen ter on Chief Rotenberry.

He has two children: a lovely daughter of 18 and a boy of 11. Decidedly he is a family man of the sort who likes to take his wife and children witV him on his various irood times. His devotion to his family is well known in Little Rock. "Let's take his kids out, and thene'U tell where the nigger is!" the murmurrah. "When we get through with them perhaps hell not be such a 'nigger lover'!" All sorts ofthreats and suggestions oi wcat mignt make him tell Lonnie whereabouts flew thick, but nothing came of them that a detachment went out to Rotenberry's home.

They found no one there, for, by the mayors orders, he had taken his family elsewhere. The rouehnecks contented themselves with searching his house in no ceremonious fashion. Another detachment, similar but milder, paid a visit to Mayor Moyer's home, and a few even went out to Chief of Detectives Pinocle's. There their intentions evaporated into a few hoots, for the character of that doughty officer is well known. When he was sheriff of Crawford County, Arkansas, a mob attempted to take a Negro from the jaiL Pit cock stood at an upstairs window and said; "Folks, you're all my friends and.

neighbors, but this rugger 'is under my protection. Ill kill the first man that takes a step forward, and IH kill everyone that follows if I have to pile the doorway full of you." They knew he meant it, and the mob dispersed. Not one drop of blood was shed. It was while he was sheriff of that county that it oc casionally 'became 'his grim duty to become hangman. Hard as runt is Pitcock and I should not like to be the prisoner sweated by him.

But he is utterly fearless; wholly capable of dealing with the most dangerous people. For years he was superintendent of the State penitentiary. (Todhunter was trained under him.) And to this day people tell of a desperate mutiny of 150 convicts he quelled on Cummins (convict) farm. It was he who, when 1 o'clock came on Monday night (and a crowd was still in front of the city hall), on his own initiative, went to the steps, pulled out his watch and, said: "111 give you ten minutes to get away from here, everyone of you and three of the ten minutes are gone." In less than another five no one was left (Which goes to show how effectual this attitude all along the line would have been.) But during the uproar Sunday and Monday evenings this capable officer (who, incidentally, has often been wounded) was forbidden, even as Rotenberry was forbidden, to take the matter in (Either of these two men I am convinced, ff permitted a proper show of authority, could have handled that mob without serious consequence to anyone.) Be that as it may, when on Tues HowMiichDoY ou Know About Your. Own Race? (Answers On Editorial Page) 1.

3. 4. a. 6. 7.

8. 10. 11. 12. 13.

14. 15. A Weekly Questionnaire of Historical and Current Happenings of the Negro Race Compiled by CHESTER L. WASHINGTON Who is the Editor of the Journal of Negro History? vno is vt. unoert ones 7 What two colbred persons won the last Harmon Award? Who is Dr.

Tobias? Who is Oscar Charleston? About how many Negroes were there in America in What form of government exists in Liberia? Who wrote The Progress and Achievements of the 20th Century Neero?" What colored collegiate football team is designated by ne term uoos: Who is Principal of Tuskegee Institute? Who is Harry T. Burleieh? Who was the first woman (white or black) to attain literary distinction in America? are two of the most famous Negro band masters or musical Where was Paul Lawrence Dunbar born? Where is the home of tha "Black Barons' baseball i day the city seemed to have relaxed into some state of calm, praises buzzed about the mayor. He felt. and rus iriends felt, that, his course had been more than justified, Evin those who deplored the fact that Little Rock, to all intents and purposes, had been turned over to the cabbie to be trampled on and jeered at for two nights, still congratulated Aioyer because there had been no bloodshed, and the chief on the fact that. Lonnie Dixon, safely protected, wouia oe orougnc to trial.

At the same time the seethlnr un dercurrent of bitterness and hatred toward the chief of police and the mayor, because they had succeeded in getting the boy away, continued. cut tne authorities were convinced, and, I rather beliave. were Instified in their feeling, that the mass hysteria was subsiding; that it had spent us ioree. rne governor, who all this disapproving the policy followed by Moyer, had held himself in readiness to takei the situation in hand, now considered the crisis over and left for Van. Buren to be the guest of honor on Wednesday, May 4, at that town's annual strawberry festival.

Tuesday night Little Rock seemed indeed, except for mutterings ana more or less hysterical talk, to have returned to normal. For the first time in three days the city was quiet. The Lynching Fourteen miles from Little SnrV In the foothills of the Ozark Mountains and the very heart of the wild timber is a little clearing of 18 acres. Something like a mile from there the rocky, steam crossed, little trav eled wagon road became impassable xor our automobile at least in the opinion of the man driving it. So went tne rest or the way afoot.

The silence and denseness of the woods made one feel as remote as if in a forest primeval. Under the oak and hickory trees blazed the scarlet Mowers of the buckeye brush. Needles lay thick and soft beneath the pines. The little glens were pools of sunlight, but everywhere else were spilled shadows of blue and tawny brown. Moss covered many of the fallen logs and stones, among which supped the clear shallow streamlet.

Into the profound quiet the sudden haunting songs of bright birds splashed and sank. "Once where there were no stepping stones I was compelled to wade and at last, in the late afternoon, I saw before me On a hill a neat repainted house, surrounded by rolling, cultivated farmland. Around the whole place ran a mixed paling and split rail fence which had been beaten to gray satin by the weather. Inside the first enclosure, immediately around the house, was a small yard. As I came through the gate a man, a boy, a vociferously barking bird dog.

and a more nondescript mongrel simultaneously emerged and came to meet roe. The man was B. E. Stewart, husband and father of the two women who had been attacked Wednesday morning by a Negro, John Carter, who later that same day was lynched. "Are Glennie and her mother home?" I asked.

Stewart explained that his wife was still unable to leave the Re search Hospital, to which she had been taken, and that Glennie was ia town with her. But he verr hostri Itably after a swift, nooalrindlr. i I7EUII3KEILY; AE)VI(SE3 Readers: me ana at otner times no is By MARY STRONG 1 have numerous letters that ask for advice and addresses wttaeat either stamps er addresses em closed. 'Many letters are not ssf bcieatly interesting to be ased la Tne Courier, 1 answer ail personally, however, I nave im address oi sender and stamps. Again, some letters are greatly delayed in appearing in Um paper as tney stake a coupto of trips De tore tney are ready to be set ap.

Someumes 1 receive cenplaiats that yoa do not receive answers trom those to whoa yoa write, i will aay that often year own address is not written plainly eaeagk or poor penmanship and etiea careeas stationery. Again, yoa may not make the correct imores sien ia the personality of year letter. Dear Mrs. Strong: I beg to be heard and' helped. 1 have been married eight years.

It seems to me he has changed. Some days be acts like he is crazy about and gets drunk. Wont bring any money no me and stays out zuzntss 1 hate to see him come home, ho never gives me a pleasant answer, I work nard every cay. Please tell me what you think 1 should do or do yoa uuns: ne aoesn want me I only dream and hope. I am sc sorry we cant get along.

Sincerely and respectfully, C. A. My Dear If it will rive yon any comfort. know this, there are thorns a ads and thousands of people who have cosse to the place ia their varual affairs where there seesaa to bo ao wsy oat to aeace and happiness. Soaio wise folks have sset their pro hies, atadied Uenuelves sad their perplexities, and aaaQy worfcea it oat satisfactorily, others have boea drastic and sport Uo tilting boat of aoeso.

There is always a esaso for every It sasy ho that yoa are ia ao ways to Uasse and agaia 7 sasy not U.rmrim of mm shortcosalag. Stady last Urst. Then stady year a bond. Ho may be temporarily faeciaaied by moi siren whose sway will bo brief. Since yoa seem to love kiss, I weald advise a loafer period of paw Ueaeo ia the sssaatiis try lag wia hiss back to yoa if hrst ceea plaiat and faalt fiadiag.

but wholly, effect! to kick at the dogs led me to a high porch, the roof of which was supported by enplaned poles made Xrom sapliara. Fetch a chair for the Udj," commanded the tow hsadtd. hlso eyed. lS year oid youngster in patched overalls Leo by name. Stewart Is a man of medium heir hi somewhere In his fifties I took to be yellow haired, bloe eyed, and wears a drooping yellow moostaeh.

Like his wife (a woman of 47) he was born' and reared in the lower part of. Arkansas, "right ext to Louisiana. A kindly, friendly backwoodsman, by trade a carpenter, he Are yea as altrsctivo tn appearance now as ferzshrlj? Are These two assets weJgn jut as; grestiy after saarrisge sa tie kTed yoa whea ho starrisd ywe withoat doabt; ho loves yoa yet or ho would net. linger perhaps ho needs not. So take Coara rev Learn to smile stain ao sasttar how yoa feel and see what pens.

Tears, M. Stroeg. To I am Still listening fnr mWU' letter writers with big hearts full af, sympathy to write to certain prboa B.A.U. Please write and let zoc know if you have found what sought. To Readers Kindly send stamper fox personal replies, and your fui name and address.

ji bs To Readers: I I have a number of letters fri: (named woman asking my advioa' about (leaving their husbands. I want to ssy that I do not care tor advise separations for many Thiak that out for yourself. So an derstand, when I am silent on thsL son. Often 1 receiveletters asking for advice of a personal nature 'with' oat the name and only a partial ad dress given. Please remember sign in fun.

"Young ladies who wCil be willing to write to prisoners wia" be welcomed. ir Dear Mrs. Strong: I have fort found eat tkst the consumption and 1 am enraged to a fine man. Shall I marry Ha and, so take, a liule hsppineis from LfsJ er refuse to do so. Ha das ivrt know ret I dreadfully trpeet ever thixP Years.

Dear F. uww caa i say jest what to ao I thiak, awwwoer. the yoa shoakt' ten hiss aaywsy sad abide by him dscioiaa. Ho stay have it esse. Yea aat tefl.

Is the osatlsso. i Tears. 71 I 3Tv has worked hard to own this wwodV land place of ICO acres which ha bought tea years sro and on wti fer the last niae ho haa lived i reared his Moch ef the ttsxs ho Is kep bsy at his. trdo towrv and" when be. ia sway Loo sad eva Ue rather hitch wp orfV or both of thtr nvouse eoLered real sod with them pi aw jmd little crop of rwr tand Irish poto toes, pearstv straw tarries, eschar snd corn, Also leek after garden, their five cows, the pigs of coarse the clickers "(Contixard Next Week).