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About Portland inquirer. (Portland, Or.) 1944-194? | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 1945)
Grand Jury Investigating Guilds Lake Murder of Erwin Jones An Associated Negro Press Publication pnrtlanì» inquirer Serving the Pacific Northwest Oregon’s 'I'legro H'eekly PORTLAND, OREGON, OCTOBER 19, 1945 VOLUME 2 PRICE 10c NUMBER 15 Break Ground for Meharry Alum ni Hall;a Witnesses Heard Wednesday And $100,000 Mark Passed on Contributions Thursday on Guilds Lake Tragedy In response to a request sent to Governor Earl nell last week by the committee rep resenting the family of the mudered Erwin Jones, the case was sent to the Grand Jury on Wednesday of this week. Following a Coroner’s Inquest that was nothing more or less than a whitewash of the case, the committee sent the following letter to the governor: Portland, Oregon, October 12, 1945 Nashville alum ni, and former students of Meharry Medical college, Nash ville, are in the midst of a nationwide drive to raise funds for the erection and equipment of Alumni hall, ground for which was recently broken in cere monies on the campus. The photographs show groups and activities identified with the event. Picture No. 1 shows the dental class of 1920 which won the com petition of graduating classes for honors in the building campaign. Left to right, front row, are: Dr. E. A. Goodloe, E. Chicago, Ind.; Dr. R. B. Taylor, Okmulgee, Okla.; Dr. C. O. Henry, Tyler, Tex.; Dr. T. M. Johnson, Shreveport, La.; Dr. C. E. Bomar, Orange, N. J.; Dr. W. R. Henry, Philadelphia and Dr. J. P. Gipson, Fulton, Mo. Second row: Dr. M. E. Dysart, Leavenworth, Kan.; E. A. Young, Joplin, Mo.; Dr. Henry Goss, Chicago; Dr. D. K. Jenkins, Columbia, S. C.; Dr. P. A. Ervin, Tampa, Fla,; Dr. W. P. Dowell, Birmingham, Dr. J. C. Cashin, Huntsville, Ala. Third row: Dr. L. A. Hayward, Chicago; Dr. B. H. Atkinson, Griffin, Ga.; Dr. J. O. Young, Chattanooga; Dr. E. M. Gilmer, Bessemer, Ala.; Dr. S. F. Riley, Philadelphia; Dr. B. D. Donatto, Opelousas, La.; Dr. J. C.White, Anniston, Ala. Shown in picture No. 2 are principals in the ground breaking ceremonies for Alumni hall to be erected in 1946. Left to right: Dr. M. Don Clawson, president Moharry; Dr. D. T. Rolfe, executive secretary, alumni association and Dr. J. W. Anderson, president, alumni. ___ In No. 3 are members of the alumni association who brought their wives to the 69th annual commencement. Left to right, front row: Dr. and Mrs. ,W. R. Henry, Philadelphia; Dr. and Mrs. T. M. Johnson, Shreveport, La.; Dr. and Mrs. Truman Slow On Clearing Status By Ernest E. Johnson WASHINGTON, (ANP)—It has taken 23 days for Presi dent Truman to transmit a memorandum to his attorney general in which the FEPC has asked for a clarification of its position and its future, the Assosicated Negro Press learns exclusively. The memorandum prepared by the committee as a fol low-up of previous discussions held with the chief executive late in August was sent to the W’hite House on Sept. 17. This letter asked for a redefinition of function in light of changed circumstances and the sharp and obvious cut back in the committee’s jurisdiction since the Japanese surrender. Reportedly there had been some quibbling in high ad ministration levels as to whether this letter should have gone to the President or rather directly to the Attorney General. Whether or not the argument was ever reconciled is not certain. The fact is that the memo was sent to the White House. According to a well-informed source, this letter did not arrive from the White House at the of fice of the attorney general until Wednesday, Oct. 10. Leaning over backwards in a cautious attitude, the FEPC has refrained from making any state ments, public or private, on the situation. It has obviously kept out of the news for fear that to do otherwise might jeopardize the case. The deduction that is being put upon the current trend of events by outsiders is that “the relation ship between the committee and the White House is not too good.” Evidence being cited by these observers is that the President fully aware of the precarious po sition that "his” committee finds itself in, has done little more than give “lip service” to its plight, and this in his message to congress. Asked what the committee is doing in the way of processing cases, Chairman Malcolm Ross said that he hoped to present a report in about > 10 days based upon the experiences of his re gional offices. He said complaints are still being “received and in vestigated." He added that “em ployers generally throughout the regions accept the fact that the FEPC is still on the job.” :o by Associate^Negro Press Staff Photographer Photo D. K. Jenkins, Columbia, S. <£.. Reai. row, Dft and Mrs. P. A. Goodlee, E. Chicago, Ind.; Dr. and Mrs. L. A. Haywood, Chicago; Dr. and Mrs. H. B. Atkinson, Griffin, Ga.; Dr. and Mrs. C. E. Bomar, Orange, N. J. No. 4: The class of 1920 celebrating its 25th anniversarl by a banquet dur ing the commencement exercises at Nashville, Sept. 14-17. No. 5: The line of march of the commencement, left to right, Miss A. E. Gault, dean of the school of nursing; Lt. Col. J. V. Sims, commandant, ASTP; Lt. G. Overby, adjutant, ASTP; Dr. C. O. Dummot, dean of dental school. No. 6: Members of the alumni association who met during the 69th commence ment. Officers on front row: Dr. J. H. Holman, Nashville, honorary life member; Dr. D. K. Jenkins, Columbia, S. C., vice-president; Dr. C. C. Machen, Chicago, executive committee; Dr. S. W. Smith, Chicago, chairman executive committee; Dr. J. W. Anderson, Dallas, president; Dr. E. S. Lee, Nashville, recording secre tary; Dr. M. J. Bent, Nashville, treasurer; Mrs. T. A. LaSaine, Nashville, executive committee; Dr. H. H. Walker, Nashville, executive committee; Dr. D. T. Rolfe, Nashville, eecutive secretary. No. 7: The procession leaving the administration building is headed by pathology professor W. S. Quinlan, M. D., the parade marshal. He is followed j by President Clawson and Father Schwitalla of St. Louis, commencement speaker. No. 8: Fellow medics look on as Dr. M. E. Gilmer, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., first to spade the ground for the new Meharry Alumni hall, poses for the camera. No. 9: Students in line of march for the commencement are J. W. Coleman, Eugene Sims, Oliver W. Crawford, Natalia Tanner, and W. A. Taylor. Protesi Organization Bias to State Senator COLUMBIA, S. C. (ANP)—A vigorous protest against prac tices of the registration board in Marion county was filed here Tuesday with State Sen. Earle R. Ellerbe at Marion. Hon. Earl Snell, Goernor, Salem, Oregon. Dear Governor Snell: We are addressing this letter to you as members of a Committee representing the family of Edwin Jones, deceased. You have undoubtedly read in the news papers that Mr. Jones, an innocent Negro, was shot and killed in his home by a Port land police detective while in company with two other detectives and a Multnomah County deputy district attorney. The de ceased left a widow, five little children be tween the ages of two and eleven years, and three brothers in the United States army, two of whom are overseas. Elva Jones, the widow, and Susie and Zandaree Rambo, her two sisters, returned from Louisiana, where they went to bury Mr. Jones, to testify at a coroner’s inquest held on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. A jury of six white citizens, selected by the coroner himself, exonerated the offi- Ruth Haefner, Chairman of the Legal Redress Committee of the Portland Branch N.A.A.C.P. Re. James J. Clow, President of the Portland Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Nels Peterson, Attorney. Nancy Honeyman Robinson, Democratic Natiot^l « N w t i t u t a a a a a - • n e v . S ^ s ^ ^ k ^ ‘ i'nstor ^iOard Ave. Pi l i mitation to lawlessness, a serious threat to the security of all persons in their own homes, and a grave miscarriage of justice. As citizens of a democracy, and as rep resentatives of several organizations, we be lieve an immediate Multnomah County grand jury investigation of this case should be made. For instance the grand jury would have the legal authority to compel a police sergeant to produce his official record of the killing, his refusal to produce it at the non-judicial inquest having been sustained by the coroner. Now the purpose of this letter is to request that you immediately direct the At- Navy Medic Visits Here Plot to Conceal Rape-Murder Facts in Girl's Death Quelled CONWAY, S. C. (ANP) — A [ commonly suspected. For this plan to conceal facts mehind the threat he has been jailed by coun- raping and killing of 16-year-old ty officers who seem unable to Lila Bell Carter of Pine island question even the man suspected, by listing “drowning” as the ------------------------- cause of her death on Aug. 15, 1 Tn v P S l i n a i i o n The protest was made by the was smashed Monday of this A SK S m V B S Iig a ilO U Progressive Democratic party week when a persistant reporter TnJo Gil^S Rape Death p H th se O open. D en. * whose chairman John H. McCray finally cracked the e ca case COLUMBIA, S. C. (ANP)—A Officials had variously denied cited from affidavits gathered after the board filed from more the rape-murder charge during state investigation into the rape than 100 applicants. The letter efforts to verify charges of the and death of 16 year old Lila said F. M. Boatright, registration girl's relatives and leaders here Bell Carter of Pine island on officer, evaded his responsibility that she had been criminally as- August 15 was asked by the state under the law, maintaining a suited, allegedly by a white in conference of NAACP Wednes practice begun last year when a surance agent who washed blood day. James M. Hinton, state NAACP series of scheme effectively pre from his hands and person about vented a single Negro from ob the time she is believed to have president, requested Gov. Ran- met death. Monday, from unim some J. Williams to investigate taining a certificate. peachable sources which must be circumstances surrounding her McCray disclosed that unless guarded for the present, a story death after county officers have the matter is corrected by Nov. more brutal than was at first sus failed in two months to dispose 5 court action would be brought pected, broke as to her death. of it. against the board. Jaw and Neck Broken Miss Carter, a high school stu The left jaw and neck of the dent, was first reported as having girl were broken, it was learned died as a result of drowning but a —Photo by Margaret C. Robinson upon inspecting her body, the newspaper reporter has since dug fact being sufficient to cause up facts proving the girl was Lt. (j.g.) Colbert S. Davis, M.C.. death. Struck a powerful blow by criminally assaulted and had i USNR, spent the week end visit - her assailant, apparently for the both her left jaw and neck brok- ing friends in Portland. He is WASHINGTON (ANP) Other purpose of forcing her into sub en by her assailant, believed to stationed at the Bremerton Naval business is keeping the govern mission, she was then ravished, have been a white insurance | Base, Bremerton, Washington, Lt. Davis studied pre-medics at ment of Ethiopia from participat then dragged several feet away agent, neighbors sav, washed ing in the aviation conference and her head placed face down blood from his hands and person Northwestern University, Chica- now in process at Quebec and the ward in a pool of water. There the afternoon the girl’s body was S°> Illinois, and is a graduate organization meeting of the Uni were patches of blood on her found with the head placed down of Meharry Medical College, Nashville, . Tenn., class of 43, ted Nations Food and Agricul clothing and a semen discharge in a pool of water. The girl’s father has been where he was a classmate of a tural conference, which opens at within her person as well as on Montreal later this month, ac the underside of her clothing. jailed by county authorities for local physician, Dr. Robert N. cording to Getahoun Tessema, The young woman was virginal. allegedly announcing his inten- Joyner Jr. He successfully com- Traced some four hours after tion to avenge her death on the pleted nine months internship charge d’affaires of the Ethiopi and nine months residence at she had gone to a store to pur suspected man. an legation here. ___________________Provident hospital, Chicago. chase rice for supper, the girl’s Blotta Ephren T. Medhen, the body was discovered by her fath The wish for twins is twice as Before coming to Bremerton, minister, is still either in London er and neighbors who had joined often fulfilled in Northern coun Lt. Davis was stationed at Great or Paris, it was said, and is not j in the search. Told for better tries as in Southern climates, but Lakes, Chicago, 111., and has a expected to return soon. Nor *s than two weeks the guilty man there are only 10 triplets born to charming wife and son living the government sending other would be apprehended, the father every 1365 sets of twins.—H. G. there now. He is the son of the representatives to attend these j is said to have vowed to take Re ¡gel. Marriage Fables, Facts late Dr. Colbert Davis of Rock Island, 111. conferences. I vengeance out on the white man and Figures. Ethiopia Misses Conference torney General pursuant to your authority under OCLA, Vol. 6, Sec. 90-105, to con duct the grand jury investigation. This for the reason that one of the deputy district attorneys of this county was present at the time of the killing of Ervin Jones and at the coroners inquest publicly condoned the kill ing as an act of Justifiable Homicide. That office, therefore, should not direct the grand jury investigation of this case. We Shall call upon the district attorney Saturday morning (October 13th, 1945) and request that the grand jury investigation begin next Monday so that Mrs. Jones and her two sisters will be present to testify. Copies of this letter are being forwarded to: Hon. George Neuner, Attorney General, Mr. Thomas B. Handley, District Attorney and to the press. Cordially yours, byterian Church. Elizabeth Genne, Social Education and Action Committee Portland PresbyteriaL Mr. George Thomas, Director Race Relations, Portland Council of Churches. Fern S. Gage, Chr. Fellowship of Reconciliation (Portland Branch). Rev. George W. Brown, Pastor Gona Street Com munity Church. Rev. F. L. Shoemaker, Pastor Millard Ave. Pres byterian Church. Mrs. Frank M. Phelps. Mrs. George H. Bendshadler, President Portland Council of Church women. Irvin Goodman, Attorney for Jones family. By (Signed) RUTH HAEFNER, 4242 N. E. Failing St., Portland, Oregon. Governor Snell’s answer was to order the case sent to the Mult nomah County Grand Jury. Jones was killed on the night of August 21st by Detective Bard Purcell of the Police Bureau under circum stances that were questionable to The returned veterans who say the least. His commanding were responsible for a near riot officer, Cpt. J. J. Fleming of the at the Club Acme last week have Detective Bureau exonerated him been turned over to military on the grounds of “justifiable authorities by the Portland po (Continued on page 2) lice. This followed a serious out break which resulted in the ar rest of five soldiers and one civil ian, a woman. All were charged with carrying concealed deadly weapons and held for police court. Three of the soldiers were given sentences of thirty days GRAND JURY LATE and the remaining two were to THURSDAY NIGHT EX be tried for more serious charges in criminal court. The sentences ONERATED PORTLAND of the three were suspended DETECTIVE IN GUILD'S when all of the defendants were turned over to the military au LAKE KILLING OF ERWIN thorities. The soldiers had taken a sum of money from the check JONES. room attendant at Club Acme and later assaulted several civil- | ians and were said to have taken j two diamond rings from civilians during the night of debauchery. GI Sentences Suspended in Riot FLASH! Colored and While Workers Demonstrate On Coast for Jobs LOS ANGELES (ANP)—Thou sands of workers, colored and white, men and women, turned out for the CIO sponsored jobs- for-all demonstration held last Wednesday in front of City hall. Speakers were virtually unan imous in emphasizing that the country faces two alternatives: either full employment—or apple selling and a depression far mors catastrophic than the one ex perienced during the worst days of the early ’30s. Notable aspect of the demon stration, estimated at its peak to number approximately 10,000 people, was the largest percent age of Negroes who participated. Nearly a fourth were colored. Negro Group Meet to Launch Business Venture A score or more of Negroes of Portland met Sunday, October 14, at Masonic Hall, 116 N. E. Russell street, to form the nucleus for a company to promote business en terprises financed and conducted solely by Negroes. The meeting called at the suggestion of Mr. B. D. Robinson, 310 N. E. Sac ramento street, promises to be the most important happenings in the life of Negro business in this area. A Study Committee was formed to investigate Ore gon laws and requirements in establishing a legitimate business venture in the near future. Plans for the yet unnamed or ganization call for participation of more than one hundred Ne groes of this area in a proposed business that will be announced to the public soon, said a spokes man.