JL Dept
r1ate~ror
Murderer Says Victim Menaced
Him With Knife In Argument
“I don’t like a South Carolina Negro.”
These are reportedly the last words of a man who was
shot through the temple here early last Sunday morning
as the climax to a brief argument.
Felder Davis, 27-year old resident of Proctor Street,
has been formally charged with the murder of Merman C.
Lyons, 33-year-old resident of Verbena Streets whose re
ported dislike for South Carolina Negroes, coupled with
his alleged threatening of Davis with a knife, cost him his
life.
Negro”J(ills Man
Davis, arrested a few minutes
after and two blocks away from
the scene of the murder, 1415
South Street, admitted shooting
Lyons in an argument during
which Davis said Lyons advanc
ed on him with a knife.
Lyons died instantly of a .32
canbre bullet wound through his
left forehead. When officers C.
W. Webb and D. R. Exum ar
rived on the scene to investi
gate, they found Lyons’ body
sltimped against a door inside
the house of Miss Emma Powell,
scene of the shooting.
Davis was nabbed by Police
Lt. J. H. Whitfield, who, while
on his way to the scene of the
shooting, saw Davis running
down the street. He placed him
in custody and later Davis admit
ted he fired the shot.
According to police, Davis
said that he and Lyo^s had got
ten into an argument, during
which Lyons blurted, “I don’t
like a South Carolina Negro,”
and advanced on Davis with a
knile. Davis whipped out his
pitsoi and fired one shot at
Lyons and then lied.
It was not clear what the argu
ment was al>out or that Lyons
ever lived in South Carolina.
Officers reported that an un
identified witness si>otted Dav
is “backing out the house” sbori-
ly after the shooting "with a
black pistol in his hand.” -
The murder weapon, a .32
calibre pistol, was found in a
ditch in front of the Powell
hQuse by Officer Exum.
Trophies were presented to
Winston-Salem's two champions
at a banquet given by gratefitl
Twin-City dtizenr honoring the
Winston-Salem Teachers Col
lege and Atkins high school bas
ketball teams last Saturday.
The W. S. T. C. cagert won the
CIAA Tournament croum while
the Atkins high team won the
scholastic cage title. Left to
right above are Willis Jofcnson^
Winston-Salem Teachers Col
lege captain; Dr. Thomas A.
Henderson, Union Ui^vertity
dean and Preside of the CiAa
who spoke at the banquet; Dr.
W. T. Armstrong, Commissioner
of Athletic* for the North Caro.
Una High School Athletic AS'
sociation; and James SUgh, and
Donald Young, co-captains of
Atkins team.—Photo by Wither'
•poop.
CIAA, TRIPLE A WINNERS
Winston-Salem Honors Its Two
Champs With Banquet, Gifts
BY L. T. WALKER
WINSTON-SALSM
A pair of champions were
honored here last Saturday
night at a banquet sponsored
at Winston-Salem Teachers Col
lege by a citizens’ committee.
The two champion honorees
were the basketball teams of
Winston-Salem Teachers Col>
lege and Atkins high school.
The Winston-Salem team won
the CIAA basketball tournament
and finished in the top qxtt in
the conference and the Atkins
high team won the triple A in
terscholastic crown.
Principal speaker ^or the
occasion was Virginia Union’s
Dr. Thomas Henderson, ipresi-
dent of the CIAA, who reminded
the audience of moral, social,
emotional and physical develop
ments which result from parti
cipation in athletics.
Denby Hobson, principal of
the Skyland school here, head,
ed the group of citizens which
developed the very fine and
thoughtful program. A. H. An
derson, principal of the Kim-
berely Park elementary school
here, served as toastmaster for
the banquet, '
Others who paid tribute to
the two ctiampion teams inclnd-
ed W. T. Armstrong, Com
missioner of the North Carolina
Negro High School Athletic
Association and heads of the
two schools from which the
champions came, Principal Car
ter of Atkins and President J.
L. Atkins of Wintson-Salem
Teachers College.
Henderson, who was also
chairman of the citizens com
mittee, presented Attorney Cur
tis Todd of Winston-Salem who
presented gifts to each player of
the two teams and to the two
coaches; Clarence “Big House”
Gaines of Winston-Salem and
S. E. Cary of AtUns. Members
of the CIAA championship
winning Rams team received
beautiful sports shirts while the
high school champions, Atkins,
were given luggage.
Goins Takes Slim Lead, Bullock
Jumps To 3rd In Cabbie Contest
'The taxi drivers popularity contest took on speed this
week as Pete Goins jumped into the lead by the slim margin
of only two ballots. Up to noon Wednesday Goins had garn
ered a total of 1,555,000 points while Rogers trailed close be
hind wth 1,500,000 points.
From indications the race is going to be a free-for-all af
fair with it being impossible to predict the winner at this
early stage. Although Goins took the lead away from Rogers
this week he was being pushed to the limit by William Bul
lock who jumped from fifth place to the third place held by
Marvin Page last week.
Another driver who showed signs of gaining was Jethro
Carson who advanced from the bottom of the list to the 10th
position.
This week’s standing is as follows:
(Please turn to Page Eight)
The above photo shows a part I annual Midyear session of the
of the vast throng that con- Interdenominational Ushers As-
verged on Dunn last Sunday sociation of North Carolina. At
as delegates and visitors to the | the upper left is inset the Rev.
J, E. Marks, a visiting minister;
the center shows the quartet
and accompanist of the Fay
etteville Street Baptist Church,
Raleigh that furnished music
for the occasion. In the upper
right inset are the Rev. J. H.
Redfurn, Raleigh the Reverend
Isadore Tarpley, Greensboro ^ Baptist Church, Raleigh who
and the Rev. J. W. Jones, pas- delivered the sermon for the
tor of the Fayetteville Street occasion.
Reidsville Medic Found Dead
Physician Had
Been Dead For
"2 Or 3 Days"
REIDSVILLE
Funeral services for Dr. J.
E. Payne, one of this town’s
only two Negro physicians,
were held here early this
week.
DrPayne was found dead
at his home here on Hilltop
street last Friday, where, ac
cording to Coroner M. P.
Cummings, he had lain dead
for at least “two or three
days.” No evidence of foul
play was found and death was
attributed to a heart attack.
The body was discovered by
a taxi driver, Henry Bass, who,
upon the insistence of neighbors
worried over the lack of activity
at the Payne house, peered
through the windows last Friday
and saw Dr. Payne’s l)ody slump
ed across the wash stand in the
bathroom.
Sgt. A. M. Boone of the city’s
police department who broiu in^
to the house through the front
door, said that there was no evi
dence of injury, violence or foul
play.
Dr. Cummings said that Dr.
Payne died of “acute dilation of
the heart.” He did not say what
brought on the heart attack.
Dr. Payne had lived alone in
the house since the estrange
ment of his wife, the former Miss
Romona Ross of Denver, Colo.
She has been living with their
two children, Romana Mildred
and John Edward, 3rd, in Win-
ston-Salem for some time.
Born in Rodessa, La., Dr.
Payne was a graduate of Texas
College and Wilberforce Univer
sity and the Meharry Medical
College. He interned at Kate Bit
ting Reynolds Memorial Hospital
in Winston-Salem in 1942 and
after several years as a captain
in the Army, he took his resid
ence at Wilmington and began
private practice here in 1947.
Omegasrtlohor
Fighting Editor
Of S. C. Paper
COLUMBIA, S. C.
A fighting South Carolina
newspaper editor and an immi
nent North Carolina attorney
will be cited as “outstanding
men of the year” when 39 chap
ters of the Omega Psi Phi fra-
temit:^ In North and South
CaroUna hold their 19S3 Dis
trict Conclave here April 24-26.
John H. McCray, editor of
The Lighthouse and Informer
here, and who last November
went to the Newberry county
chaingang as the ollmax to a
three year running fight with
South Carolina political leaders,
for 37 days, will be' given an
award from his civic contribu.
tions; and J. Alston Atkins, of
Winston-Salem, N. C., will be
honored for his development of
the Talent Himt, a national pro
ject of the fraternity which is
(Please turn to Page Eight)
FOR THIRTY YEARS THE OVTSTANDiNG WEEKLY OF THE CAROUNAS
m
Entered as Second data Matter at the Pott Office at Durham, Aorth Carolina, under Act of March 3,1879.
VOLUME 30—NUMBER 14
DURHAM, N. C., SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1953
PRICE TEN CENTS
The famous Fultz quadruplets
of Madisonville made a trip to
the State Capital last week and
for their visit were made hon
orary pagettes of the legisla.
ture. The foursome, only living
quadruplets in this country, are
shown above in the Senate
ChaYnber of the North Carolina
General Assembly. Left to right
they are Ann, Catherine, Louise,
and Alice. Directly behind them
stands their nurse since birth
Mrs. E. P. Saylor. Behind Mrs
Saylor stands Edwin B. Pate,
Scotland County, who is presi
dent pro-tem of the Senate. The
youth on the right of Pate is an
unidentified page of the Senate.
ONE REPUBLICAN, ONE DEMO
-t-
Funeral Rites
In Atlanta For
W. A. Fountain
AT^ .NTA
Funeral services were con
ducted here Tuesday for Wil
liam A. Fountain, Jr., former
president of Morris Brown
College, who, at the time of
his death last Wednesday, I
April 8, held the position of
^secxetary - treasurer of the
Education Department of the
African Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Fountain died suddenly in
Nashville, Tenn., where his A.
M. E. offices were located.
Cause of death was attributed to
an ‘‘aggravated heart condition."
Fountain served as President
of Morris Brown for 22 years,
between 1928 and 1950. He was
replaced as head of the A. M. E.
Supported school in 1951 by Dr.
J. H. Lewis, the school’s present
president
Throngs attended the funeral
of the educator and churchman
at the Bethel A. M. E. Church
here Tuesday. Numerous high
church officials from many other
as well as the A, M. E. persaus-
ion were present at the funeral
services.
Asheville Political Scene Gets
Clouded; 2 Negroes Run
ASHEVILLE
’The Democratic and Republi
can primaries for the election of
seven city councilmen will be
held Tuesday, April 21.
Two well-known Negroes, Dr.
Robert M. Hendrick and Victor
Stanley McDowell, will appear
on the Democratic and Republi
can ballots, respectively.
Dr. Hendrick, dentist and
civic worker, announced his
candidacy ^me two weeks ago
following an "endorsement ral
ly" sponsored by several of the
community’s Negro leaders. His
campaign is being run by a
group known as the "Hendricks
for Councilman Committee,”
with Ruben J. Dailey, local at
torney, as Campaign Chairman.
Dr. Hendrick’s name will ap
pear on the Democratic Ballot
along with 14 other democratic
candidates. Dr. Hendrick’s cam
paign platform as announced by
Dailey is “essentially'’ a pro
mise for fair and honest govern
ment, "equitable representation
for all peoples”, and faithful about 5000 votes for his candi-
service to meml>ers of both
races.
Victor Stanley McDowell, lo
cal barber and well-known Re
publican figure, is on the Re
publican ballot with seven
other Republican aspirants for
councilmen. In announcing his
candidacy, McDowell, stated his
platform thus: “A square deal
for all, with a raw deal for any
one. Even the man who drives
a scavenger cart upon these
streets should have equal rights
upon this .commonwealth.”
Asheville is normally Demo
cratic, although the city went
Republican in the recent Presi
dential election. There are some
30,000 citizens eligible to vote
in the coming election with
wme 24,000 registered as
Democrats and 3500 as Republi
cans. Total Negro registration is
approximately 3900.
Attorney Dailey, Campaign
manager for Dr. Hendricks,
stated, that he expects it to take
date to be nominated for the
general election on May 12.
Dailey further stated that he
considered Hendrick’s chances
for election as “excellent.”
In commenting on his chances
for being nominated on the Re
publican ticket, McDowell said
that, although the situation is
somewhat “complicated”, he
expects to be nominated, as he
looks to receive considerable
support organizationally.
Campaign-wise Dr. Hendrick
is the most active of the Negro
candidates for councilmen. Dur
ing the two weeks since the an
nouncement of his candidacy, a
number of precinct and com
munity-wide meetings have
been sponsored by his cam
paign conunittee in addition to
a number of radio talks. The
Hendricks group are also opera
ting two campaign headquarters.
McDowell's campaign activity
has been somewhat hampered as
(Please turn to Page Eight)
Bishop W. R. Wilkes, A. M.
E. prelate for the 12 Episcopal
district, delivered the sermon.
Others who spoke during the fu
neral program included Rev. W.
H. Borders, pastor the Wheat
Street Baptist Church; Bishop
J. W. E. Bowen, Atlanta Holi
ness Church; Dr. D. H. Stanton,
representative of the American
Bible Society.
Among the numereous civic
and church dignitaries present at
the funeral was Dr. Rufus Clem
ent, president of the Atlanta
University system.
Fountain is survived by iiis
parents. Bishop and Mrs. W. A.
Fountain, of Atlanta, and two
sisters, Mrs. H. C. Perrin and
Mrs. Sezette Clark.
REVEREND C. JONES
... In Raleigh race . ..
Nearly A Score
In N. C. Enter
Civic Races
RALEIGH
One more Negro entered a.i
election contest in a North
Carolina city this week, bring
ing the total Negroes who
have entered election races in
the Old North State to a rec
ord 19.
Rev. C. C Jones was the
latest entrant, filing last Fri
day for this city’s council
race here, for Attorney Her
man Taylor has already filed
for a seat on the council.
Negroes have entered or
are now in civic races in
Greenstx)ro, High Point, Char
lotte, Gastonia, Chapel Hill, Dur
ham, Asheville, Sanford, Ashe-
boro, Concord. Selma, and
Smithfield in addtion to Raleigh.
This is the first venture into
politics for Rev. Jones who is
pastor of the Tupper Memorial
Baptist Church here. A graduate
of Shaw University, he has ser
ved as religious director of the
Wake County Sunday School
Convention, member of the min
isterial board of the Raleigh
Safety Club and principal of the
Youngsville graded school.
(Please turn to Page Eight)
Teachers In
KKK-Ridden
Area In NAACP
COLUMBUIA, S. C.
The South CaroUna State
Conference of branches of the
National Association for the
Advancement of Colored Peo
ple announced this yeek that
thirty-three Negro school
teachers of Horry Couunty,
South Carolina, hav® become
(Please turn to Pa^ l^ht)
Hawkins Says
Taylor Will Win
James T. Hawkins, newly
appointed manager of James
\T. Taylor’s campaign for seat
on the City Council from the
Third Wand, confidently pre
dicted here tliis week that
Taylor will win.
“James T. Taylor will win
because he has the support of
the thinking people of both
races in all walks of life,’*
Hawkins said in a prepared
stcktement issued to the ‘nmca
early this week.
The rest of Hawkins’ state
ment read:
“1 aeccptod tke miasgsw—l
•f the campalga far ^Ma T.
Taylor >eea— 1 hava kaaw
him tor auuty year*. mm4 I
lieve he is a maa wall
fled to re»r«ee*t aB
•f Darhaat. I
(Please turn to Pag*
/