Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / May 12, 1923, edition 1 / Page 1
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Showers Today and To morrow; Warmer FOUNDED a. D. 1867.—VOL. CXL—No. 69. of the Associated Press: . ,v; -: OLDEST DAILY IN THE STATE. GOVERNOR MORRISON TAKES A HAND IN FORTHCOMING STATE PENAL SYSTEM INVESTIGATION WITH MANNING’S AID WILL STAGE INQUIRY OF WHOLE QUESTION Shuts Off Preparations of Wel fare Board by Withdraw ing Request MRS. JOHNSON HAS NO STATEMENT Knew Nothing of the Decision to Change Until it Was Made 1ULEIGH. May 11.—Governor Cam Morrison today shut oft prepara-' tioiM of the state board of charities and public welfare to investigate the state and county prison systems in the state when he* withdrew his re quest upon the board for the investiga tion and announced that with the aid 0f the attorney general and the solici tors of the state he would himself con duct an investigation. - ‘‘Circumstances are such that I real ly think your investigation and report would embarrass me rather than aid me in the course I have firmly fixed mv mind upon,” Governor Morrison told Mrs. Kate Burr Johnson, com un^sioner of public welfare, In a let ter which he delivered, to Mrs. John son. personally in his office, this morfc jnc.. At the same time, he called upon tic attorney general to request the solicitors to co-operate with him, ‘In a thorough investigation made through regular government channels." Mrs. Johnson, who had received no inkling of the governor’s change of mind until this morning declined to make any comment until Uie board of public welfare meets, probably parly next weex. ■ •.% The action of the governor fallow* ed the accepiaiMsa.^by j>®r_ Hart, former president of the Ameri can prison association, of an Invita tion to assist the welfare board in the investigation; the securing by a rep resentative of the department of wel fare of information on which E. E. Dudding, president of the ^Prisoners Relief soc iety, . of ‘Washington had based his charges of allel^d cruelty to prisoners in the state prlsOTt^at Ral eigh; and the session of theS^tate prison board here this week when it adopted a resolution instructing prison supervisors not to allow any one save the governor or members of a grand jury acting under the law to inter view prisoners under their supervision, except in the presence of the super visor or some one delegated by him for the purpose. Reason for Resolution • The reason for the purpose of this resolution is, of course, obvious to you,” Superintendent George Ross Pou told Mrs. Johnson in a letter notifying her of the passage of the resolution and enclosing the text of it. The resolution follows: “Be it resolved,by this board of di rectors that the superintendent advise the various supervisors in charge of the state prison farms and state’s prison camps that no person or per sons other than the governor of North Carolina or a grand jury in session, in accordance with the law, be allowed to confer with any prisoner or prison ers under the jurisdiction of the state prison authorities except, in the pres-, cnee of the supervisor under whom such prisoner or prisoners may be con fined; or in the presence "of some em ployee of the state’s prison delegated by such supervisor. “That in passing this resolution this hoard has no desire to in any way retard or interfere with any survey or investigation which may now under .w&y, or which may be made in the future. That the passing of this reso lution is .only for the purpose making nn effort to see that justice be done to-all. ic runner resoivea uuc a °f this resolution be forwarded .to his excellency, the Governor of North Carolina, the chairman of the board °f Public Welfare and charities, to the commissioner of public welfare, and to each supervisor In the employee of the state’s prison.” - , tv hut the Governor Bay* .. "I have decided to assume full re sponsibility for the investigation of prison conditions in the state. "The sentiment of the public upon this matter has arrested my attention, an<l I am ready to proceed vigorously to consideration of the whole question anil bi take action. The responsibility « "non me, and I think my pow^r 1* ample under the present law, and I have decided to withdraw my request to the hoard of charities and public Welfare for assistance In the matter. Since i have been governor, so taany large questions have exacted my thought and effort that I possibly have not given the attention to reform ■n the penal institutions which its Im portance required, and I was under the impression that the legislation enacted during the administration of governor •it’Kctt, when the entire subject.was up for consideration,: was satisfactory 10 <he people. - . Jf. when 1 have finished wlin* I con mmpiate doing about the matter, the I’UIUIC is not satisfied with results, then .ther agencies may take the situation m hand. • c- • "! have decided that until the nexl ff"fral assembly meets.'the responsl *l'ty is ultimately mine, and I pro .,Jse to discharge my duty the best 1 Jh. i a,=k the public to await result* '%or* indulging in criticism i am thoroughly In accord With mod • (Continued on Page Two.} CONCERTED EFFORTS FOR HALTING NEGRO EXODUS BEING MADE Southern Pine Association Pro test Against Propaganda Being Circulated By H. E. C. BRYANT. WASHINGTON, May 11.—The labor shortage in some sections of the south has become serious as the negro migra tion movement continues and increased planters are feeling for help. South ern lumbermen are very much con cerned over the action. Louisiana sugar producers are draw ing on Porto Rico for field hands— they will go the limit under the law to recruit their losses. Solicitors are at work in all southern states making tempting offerings to negro men. Fed eral officials were asked today if there was a New York law against bring ing in Porto Ricians. It was pointed out that coastwise ships could trans port from Porto Rico 16 laborers in ad dition to the crew. . Today the North Carolina Pine asso ciation made public a letter it had written to Emmett J. Scott, secretary of Howard university here, protesting against the effort to stimulate the negro exodus of the south. The letter, signed by John M. Gibbs, secretary, as serts: “The members of the North Carolina Pine association, 'JL50 In num ber, are scattered throughout the states of Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, in which states, approximately 60,000 negroes are employed, and happily so, in the manufacture of lumber. "At no time in the past six months have we had a surplus of labor at our mills and in the yards and woods. “The situation today is much worse than it was even three months ago , and to such an extent are our manu facturers suffering from a shortage of labor that none of the mills are run ning to full capacity. What is trae in the lumber . li'~Wa&'-true Yr» other industries in the states named. "During the past year wages have been increased in the south about 60 per cent notwithstanding which, the promise of-higher wages and supposed ly better living conditions are en.tidng the negro laborer to'points in the north and east, and from his natural habitat, which when responded to, makes for unhappiness in the main, because ■ so. many of these bright promises termi nate in dismal realities.” One of the circulars sent south was from Albany and it offered high Vages for a day of eight hours, frpe trans portation to Albany with an allowance for house rent. It is predicted that many acres in tended for cotton will not be farmed this year. In Texas and other border states, Mexican are being substituted for negroes. ' ' t McLean Not Talking in Gubernatorial Vein Thinks ,That Democrats Have Fine Chance in 1924 (Special to the Star) NEW BERN, May 11.—Angus W. Mc Lean, of Lumberton, and late of the War Finance Corporation, to whom the title of "next governor has clung with out apparent objection on his part is not given to discussing the part Ihe will play In the next gubernatorial cam paign in North Carolina It appeared when approached on the subject today. Mr. McLean delivered ,the Confeder ate Memorial Day address for the Daughters of the Confederacy here yes terday afternoon, and' this morning went over to Kinston where he ad dressed a joint meeting of the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs. He was the reel lent of many expresslaons of hospitali ity while in New Bern. A luncheon w&s given for him <by Mrs. T. A. Uiszell, his hostess, a sail and dinner by Ca.pt. H. Or- Fisher, of the Pamlico, and last night Mr. Uzzell was at home to the men in his honor. • _ A reporter sought to get from the distinguished Lumbertonlan some state ment that would indicate "what was on his mind” as to political aspirations, but he wasn't discussing that subject just then. About the substance of his reply to the Inquiries was that Mc Adoo would make a good president if elected." He was willing to talk about national politics—more timely, he McLean was very optimistic in his views, of democratic chances at^a great national victory. "If the party makes no mistake In the selection^ of its weight in the convention, he felt was not fully satisfied, however, that he was the man for democratic ■tandard bearer. WEATHER FORECAST WASHINGTON, May 11-—^^f***' loWer and thunderstorms Saturday d probably Sunday; somewhat warm Saturday; cooler Sunday or Satur North*'Carolina: Showers and pro ■biy thunder storms Saturday _and inday- somewhat warmer Saturday; oler in w'est portion Sunday; fresh strong soutliand 8°u‘h^^t South Carolina and Georgia. Pertly nudv Saturday probably local thun r «ho^« in north portions; Sunday iowers and thunderstorms; cooler fn and north; fresh southwest, winds. Florida- Fair and slightly wanner Say;' Sunday partly Jbly local thunder showers in north, oderate to fresh southerly winds.., *‘J" ' ' '■ v ' v/'f V • Vjt <’* Vv." :»-r r . PRISON AUTHORITIES WILL CEASE RELATIONS WITH WELFARE BOARD Deny Privilege of Interviewing Convict Without Guard Be ing Present DISAGREEMENT OVER BROWNS APPOINTMENT Why Board Does Not Like Him Not Known in Raleigh By BROCK BARKLEY ' RALEIGH, May 11. — Unpleasant feeling existing between the state prison authorities and the charities and welfare board for some months back, developing greater tenseness as the prison investigation came on, be came pronounced today when the news broke that the prison board had passed resolutions denying anyone the privi lege of talking privately with a prisoner except the governor of the state. This resolution mixes up the prison investigation considerably. Copies, have been furnished the governor and Mrs. Kate Burr Johnson, commissioner of, charities and public welfare. At torney General Manning has been con sulted and he could find no law that would prohibit the board from making such a promulgation. The selection of Roy M. Brown, luruiuoi UJl UiO Ctmn, fcw >/« — charge of the Investigation of the state and county prison systems, pre cipitated the resolution, according to prison authorities, who declared Mrs. Johnson had been requested not to send Mr. Brown to inspect the state prison or its camps anymore. t The dislike of the prison authorities ’for^Mr- Brown was. not,„,«i»4a, clear hut they are reported to he xmalter* ably opposed to bis participation in the investigation, reporting past ex perience with him in his inspection of prison farms as the reason. The request for Mr. Brown’s absence from the investigation was made sometime prior to the Greensboro meeting of the welfare board, it was declared, but he was promptly placed in charge at this gathering. -With the news of the prison hoard's refusal to allow any one to' conffer wlthSt prisoner except in the pres ence of a prison supervisor came also the report that Mr. Brown went to Washington and conferred with Presi dent E. E. Dudding, of the Prisoners’ Relief society, whose charges against the prison brought on the investiga tion. The presence of a North Caro lina in Washington for a conference with the relief society’s president was reported in Taw Heel newspapers but it was not revealed that Mr. Brown was the man. The prison board tdkes special ex ception to this visit in view of the general assumption that Dudding was to have nothing to do with the in quiry. The prison authorities disclaim any intention to thwart the plans for an Investigation by the resolution against private oonfabs with prisoners. The promulgation is supposed to represent the board’s opposition to Mr. Brown and an official announcement of Its Intention not to let him take part as the official head of the survey. The prison authorities are reported as not feeling certain of fair treatment at the hands of an investigative body ' directed . by Mr. Brown. They uphold their attitude and resultant action on this point by the declaration that Mrs. Johnson informed the prison superin tendent that she had no regard what soever for Warden S. J. Busbee. They consider it as reasonable for them-. , selves to register dislike and a lack ' of confidence In Mr. Brown as for the commissioner of charities and pub llo welfare to make known her disre gard for the prison warden. And thus the controversy Incident to the investigation continues to pre dominate over the investigation. It may not have been bad feeling that developed between the two depart ments of the state government about the time of the welfare board’s pre sentation of a prison reform. program to' the legislature but relations" sin6e certainly have not been extraordinarily ly friendly. . > What will be the outcome of the prison board's defiance was not ap parent ' today. ' The governor may be called upon to take a hand and serve in the role of peacemaker. The prison board Insists upon recognition of its own honesty Of purpose in the manage ment of the prison as the welfare board assumes in Its attitude toward the prison. Trinity Debaters Win Over Emory (Special to the Star) . ,•;<> DURHAM, May 11-—Arguing against “the providing for federal aid to edu cation under the principle^ of the. Towner-Strlbllng bill,'’ Trinity college debaters tonight won a unanimous de cision over Bmory university debaters In the -seventh annual contest between; the.two Institutions. Trinity has taken six of the seven debates. The winning team tonight was composed of W. R. Brown, Memphis; W. L. Clegg, Murphy, and J. P- Lannlng, Llnwood. Speaking for Bmory were E. M Wise, f. A. Dom? drotrsky and C. F. MulUnasi i .. . -j- - . '' ‘ r. -f , FEDERAL GRAND JURY ISSUING SiiBPQENAS CAUSES Slft^MY ATTORN Operators hidings in Futures atiS^&Y&Sacand' "■ ONFIRM No Information Obtainable As ; to Fjoceedu^e Seemingly Things are Happening -T BULLETIN NEW YORK. May ll<— Investigation by a'federal grand Jury of the trading: ln^aw sugar, futures on* the New York Spilee and sugar ex change was forecast today when sev ! eral op era tor da in rawsugar were serv ed with subpoenas* by agents of the : department of justice. Federal attorney’s investigating the high cost of sugar refused to affirm or deny that the subpoenas were for appearance before tne grand Jury, While none of the sugar men subpeon ed would disclose’ the nature of the summons, the news spread through the exchange an caused a general liquida tion of raw sugar futures, prices clos ing at 29 to lb points lower than yes terday’s close. No information COuld be gained at the offices of tne Federal Att orneys regarding the nature of the Investi gation for Which subpoenas had .been issued. Government agents .wauld say nohing in reg’ard to the government’s next move. It was pointed out, how ever, that an indication of the true state of affairs could be seen in. the fact. that although,-the supply ol- raw sugar remained the same, the prices of raw sugar futures had declined about one fourth a oent, a paund, on reports that the grand jury would in vestigate. Despite the fact that the govern ment’sc petition for a temporary in junction to restrain trading in raw sugar futures unless backed by actual ownership or oontrol of the suagr dealt in, had been denied the Federal Cir cuit court, it was-stated that the gov ernment's case charginfl that raw su gar futures trading as operated by the exchange and les clearing house const! tuted a conspiracy * in restraint Of trade violwfcten of tm Sheymaa-taw yet to be heard. The BB subpoenas Is sued for members and officers of the exchange and its clearing association were still In force, it was. said. Black Hand Band of Gothams Upper-Ten Found in Operation Were Sending Letters Attacking the Wealthy Scions NEW YORK, May 11.—Existent in this city of a vicious band of well-to do clubmen who have specialized for years in sending to wealthy and social ly prominent persons scurritous let ters attacking their relatives and friends was disclosed by Distriot At torney Banton today, after news of the indictment of George Maxwell, presi» dent of American society of oomposers, authors and publishers had leaked out. Activities of the band, Mr. Banton declared, have resulted in one or more suicides, the disruption of at least nine homes and the incarceration in private insane asylums, or the banish ment of several persons whose families were misled by the circumstantial na ture of the stories concerning them. The district attorney's office already has obtained possession of 167 of fhe scurrilous letters and more than 100 persons have been questioned by the grand jury which indictee Maxwell and which still is being no.d for further developments. Standard Oil Profits Show Large Increase / ________ A NEW YORK, May 11.—The Stand ard Oil company of New York earned net profits in 1932 oi $19,*34,734, as compared with $9,698,972 in 1920 and $39,406,631 in 1921. it was announced tonight. The corporation increased its capital ization from $76,000,000 to $226,000, 000. in November 1922 by issuance of a 200 per cent stock dividend and closed the year witb a surplus of $103,909,469, as oompared with a balance on hand January 1, 1922, of $167,296,389. The net appreciation of capital assets and investments Idiuring the year is placed at $79,179,346. In addition to the capital stock dis tribution of $160,000,000 the corpora rwn 4 a nnMk At .ri/lntirla itf *1 9 AfVrt AAfl. Congressman Kitchin Still in Hospital (gpecisl to tie Stiir) • WILSON, May 11.—Claude Kitchin, congressman from ths. second district who is In a local hospital for treat ment, did not rest, »o well last night, and has some fever'today. His general (condltlon however is better than when he drat came to Wilson according; to Ms physicians. They say that he eat* more and assimilates ihls food better and that they are very hopeful of >M» ultimate oure. .Mrs. Kltchln has been with him all the week and this morn ing hie daughter, Miss ^Evelyn, and jon L. L. Kltchln, Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Suiter, his son-in-law fuid daughter came over, from Scotland neck, to see him- :< LAUSANNE DELEGATES REALIZE CONFERENCE DRAGGING TOO LONG i ° . . . • -f • f Possibility of New Complica tions Arising Grows as Time Flies GREEK MINISTER IS COMING TO MEET May Say That Greece Makes Peace With Turkey Unless They Act LAUSANNE, May Jl.—The Vorovsky tragedy has acted as a warning, to the delegates to the near east confer ence that the conference Is dragging out too long and that the delay Is pa ving the way for new complications, instead of tending toward peace. The announced coming to Lausanne of Alexanders, the Greek minister of foreign affairs in a day or two to serve notice on the conference that It must get along with its work or Greece will make a separate peafce with Tur kel, has acted: as a stimulant and the word has gone forth the experts’ com mittees' muBt be ready to report early , next week. The Swiss federal council today is sued a communication expressing in dignation over the attack on the Rus sians, and regretting especially that it occurred at the seat of a peace confer ence. The council has decided to ex | press its sympathy to the families of the victims of last night’s shooting, but It voted not to change Its attitude toward soviet Russia and o continue to Ignore officially the existence of the soviet government. Fears are expressed here over the safety of a delegation of Swiss watch makers at Moscow to re:open the watch trade with Russia. Members of the soviet groups here are said • to have threatened reprisals against the Swiss. The American representatives at the Lausanne conference have taken no part whatsoever in the recent confer ence activities, hut have been quietly following the trend of the negotia tions. --- Federated Clubs Steer Clear F«>mr Polities ATLANTA, May 11-—The General Federation of Women’s clubs In ses sion here put through Its program to j day in'support of adjudication of In ternational disputes and kept clear oT possible charges of partisanship by striking from its resolution any refer ence to specific agencies. Action on the resolution brought little discussion after Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker, of r Texas, appealed to the delegates to place the entire matter above politics. With the adoption of 12' other reso lutions the federation virtually con cluded Its business- today. | A pending proposal which was ex pected to cause much interest, among the delegates, a proposal which would turn the federation into a foundation with, an endowment of five million dol lars, failed to reach the council today when sponsors of the plan decided to place it before the board of directors for recommendation. The foundation would be created to further certain welfare movements now under way, and which are said. to be hampered through inability of the federation to expand because of incorporation re strictions. MARTHON DANCERS SUE FOR WINNINGS BALTIMORE, May 11,—One of the couthry’s first marathon dancers, ap parently long since dead, arose from | its grave today when suits aggregat ! ing over $14,000 were instituted agaiftst the management of Garden Theatre, its promoter, by eight couples who took part in the contest. The dancers al leged they entered the contest by in vitation of the theatre management. A prize or 1,000 was offered they claim if the worlds record, . then 62 hours, was broken. The dance was halted with the eight couples on the floor, after 62 hours an 16 minutes. One hundred dollars each instead of the prmised $1,000, was given each dancer, it is declared. abor federation protest NOT GRANTED BY HARDING WASHINGTON, May 11.—A protest from the executive council of the American Federation of Labor on the award of the contract for recondition ing the steamship President Buchanan to a private shipyard over a navy rard was met at the white house to, lay with the statement that President, Harding saw no remedy for such a sit uation except in action by congress to permit navy yards to submit-bids on mch work. ■ The protest made by the council was based on the ground that the shipping board accepted a bid from the New port News shipbuilding and Dry Dook company for the work which was higher by $400,000 than an estimate made by the Brooklyn navy yard. ORGANIZER ARRESTED CHARLOTTE, May 11.—Henry Bat ouch.-said to.be an organlaerand re presentative of United Textile Work ers of America in this section of a civil suit for libel field against him by FWl bus E Tuoker, a member and former president of North Charlotte local 1218. U. T. W. of A, ymu MEET W RICHMOND. RICHMOND, May 11.—Athletes wear ing the colors of 16 colleges and uni versities of the-District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia, swung into action this , afternoon in the preliminaries.,to. the. Southern Athletic j'track/, anilfield meet to be staged at Stadium field. University of Richmond. toigorrow afternoon.,, ’•’I* k Schurman Tells Vivid Story Of Shantung Raid as Told Him by Miss Lucy Aldrich! HARVEY GOMES HOME FOR WHAT? WELL, HE IS NOT SAYING NOW American Ambassador Arrives in New York; Answers Barrage of Questions NEW YORK, May 11.—George Har vey, American ambassador to Great Britain, came today on the steamship George Washington for a vacation and answered a barrage of questions by newspaper men wltlj such diplomatic phrases that he left them still wonder ing what, was the answer to reports that he has resigned, or plans to re sign to handle the 1924 campaign for President Harding's re-nomination and re-election. . "I have heard nothing about the re ports,” was hiB first answer. "Will you flatly, deny that you have come home to resign?" he was asked. "I have come home on leave. X am going to Peacham—the (Vermpnt home town he put on the front pages re cently in an address in which he de clared everybody in Peacham had Brit ish ancestors.”—"and I hope to go fish ing.” . “Will you make a catergorical denial of the rumor?” . “I do not see any reason for doing so,” he retorted. The cross-examiners veered off to other topics, to return suddenly to the resignation business, "Yes, I am going to resign,” the ambassador smiled,. "All of my predecessors resigned save one, and he died. I shall resign.” "When?” j "I am not prepared to say.” i Another high spot in the interview was his answer when the reporters told him the legislatures of Massachusetts and New York had been called upon to act on resolutions demanding his recall I because of his alleged pro.-Britlsh at? I tltude. [ "I am ah American, but I'm not a damned foal,” he flared. Then, laugh? 1 lingly, "I can guarantee the first .parst or:my,'.»newerr bfct i am nptf so^surfc about the second part.” Colonel Harvey said he wOuld remain 1 in New York for a few days before go | ing to Washington to report to Sec i retary. Hughes and President Harding. After that, he added, lie would go. to Peacham for a rest. ’ I ■, ___ WASHINGTON, May 12.—Coincident with the return to the United States to day of George Harvey, American am bassador to Great Britain, the state ment as made at the White House that President Harding had received from the ambassador no hint that he wish ed to retire and from that tne Presi dent decided that Mr. Harvey continue | in the diplomatic service. Tenancy Commission Of. the Carolinas Are Meeting at Marion _ MARION, May 11.—Members of the North and South Carolina Land com missions’ meeting here today to con tinue their study of tenancy condi tions In the two states, heard Dr. H. F. Newell, of the United States depart ment of interior, in. a discussion of the opportunities of the two states for col onisation work, and announced that when they report to their respective legislatures they would present con vincing evidence that action along colonization lines must 'be taken. Dr. NewelJ declared that no state in the union is in better position to offer a colonization plan to the tenant than *is, North Carolina.’ Another <uldres* on colonization was delivered by S. H. Hobbs, Jr.; 'representing Prof. E. C. Branson, of the University of North Carolina. • Former Governor Richard I. Manning of South Carolina, heads the delegation from that state. The governor this af ternoon invited the North Carolina [commission to meet with the commis ! sion for his state at its next meeting in Charleston. The invitation was ac cepted. . , Attending the hearing today were t Governor Manning, W. E. Gonzales, of The State, Columbia; Dr. W. H. Mills and Dr. W. W. Long, Clemson Col lege; Dr. George McCutcheon and A, F. McKissick, of South Carolina, and State Senator D. F. Giles, R. M. Cox, Wln' ston-Salem; Lenoir Gwinn Haywood Dr. Carl Taylor, State College, and S. H. Hobbs, Jr., University of North Caro lina. TRAVELERS HOLDING MEET AT ROCKY MOUNT ROCKJY MOUNT, May 11.—With 200 ! or more in attendance, the 29th annual session of the North Carolina division of the Travelers’ Protective associ ation mixed business with pleasure to day and tomorrow will adjourn after j electing officers and hearing an ad I dress by Am W. McLean, former ,dl reotor of the war finance corporation. According to the reports of President j Lester Wolfe and Secretary Crutch field, 553 new members were added to the association during the past year. During this period, . new posts have been established at Elkin and at Albe marle. ■ •, 7 ’ . amerioa vs. japan: WASHINGTON, May 11. —Vincent Rlohards, national indoors tennis champion, and M. Fukuda, of Japan, reached the finals in the Chevy, Chase invitation doubles tournament todap defeating ’ Harold Throckmorton, Elis abeth, N. J., and Dean Mathey, New 1 York. •**. •->. ln the semi-finals round. Captives Were Sore and Bleed* ing, Bandits Showed no Mere;, Some Killed ONE SHOT DOWN 71 IN COLD BLOOII Wrists Were Black and Blue From Being Dragged Along; When Feet Were Too Sore to Walk; Brigands Were Kind, In a Way to .Her; Take All Loot They Can Get Hands on and Divide It Up. ' | SHANGHAI, May 11.—Dr. Jacob O. ’ Schurman, United States minister, who ' reached Shanghai last night and whs ‘ heard from Miss Lucy Aldrioh, sister in-law of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., tfya relation of her experiences with this Suohow bandits, when he met her after her release at Tslnanfu, gave aa in terview to the Assooiated Press today in Miss Aldrich's own words. Miss Aldrich's account of "her expe riences immediately following' the wreoking of the Shanghai-Peklng ox-" t press last Sunday was practically the same as the storieB related by others. When the train was derailed by the bandits she thought at first it was an ordinary wreck, and then a thought' flashed through her mind the commo- ; tlon might Indicate an outbreak of one of China’s incipient wars. Her first thought was for the Jewels ' she had with her—heirlooms—and i these she was able to hide before being seized by the bandits. Having dona this, she was barely able to put on her slippers and a dressing gown be fore a brigand entered her compart ment . The robber, a dirty, ragged, truculent coolie, carried a rifie and ■ bayonet. -rnen, said Miss Aldrich, "I w»n marched off the train and herded out*' . side with the other passengers. We “ all were cold in our night dresses and i gowns. j “The succeeding hours were a night* mare. . There were about 2d bandits., in our convoy, all carrying bundles of loot. I tried to forget my own suffer* lng in the chilly air and with my feet bruised by the rough trail through my thin Clippers, for others were more’ scantily clad than I and many of them were bare foot. ' "We tolled on through the night, sometimes along narrow footpaths and- . sometimes over rough fields. “Dawn showed the outlines of the mountains ahead and my heart sank ' as I contemplated the distance we had to go, strung out along the way in i; single file. “In the gathering daylight I noticed several .men who had started in our party from the train among the pris oners no longer were with us and I,; asked our guards where they hod gone. I* was told they had been sent ? in another direction. “Under the pitiless beating, prodding and sometimes stabbing of the guards to make the Chinese prisoners keep f up the fast pace set by the brigands | several of these began to cry piteously, “Just when I felt that J. must drop from exhaustion, one of the Chinese prisoners near me sank to the ground unable to rise again. A bandit poured out a torrent of oaths and abuse, . dropped his bundles of loot and fired | his rifle point blank into the man on " the ground. / v “This act terrified the remainder of-' the prisoners and we began to realise our 'desperate plight. We trudged slowly on, nobody speaking and finally / we reached- the wooded foothills. We., •climbed upward and when we reached 'i the top I sank down in my tracks. ! “Then Hie bandits began to sort out* their , plunder. It was a miscellaneous h array—Jewels, clothing, bedding, money, , door handles, brass fixtures taken from the train, one mattress and soma ptl* ] lows.. It was oniy uiou x throughout the terrible march from! the scene of the hold-up I had been carrying some of my rings clenched in my hand. “Some of the articles they had stole* puzzled the brigands. They passed a, hot water bag from hand to hand in a vain effort to fix its use. A tube of tooth paste not only baffled them, bait frightened them as well, but when I. undertook to demonstrate its use they laughed aloud. “One of the marauders tried on Miss McFadden’s hat and I" was watching him when another walked toward me and poked hie carbine into my face. Despairingly I mustered a smile trying to convince him that 1 was not afraid to die. This caused him to laugh an he even paid me the oompliment o patting my shoulders. ; “A group of the gang's leaders held a parley- Then one of them turned t(j mo, pointed back Into the distance the way we had coni® and all marched ofl4 leaving me alone. I waited for some time fearing they would return and; then set out on the bhck trail. _ "My feet were so sore that I could hardly walk and my wrists were black, and blue from being dragged along by my captors. , . ' _ "X trudged along throughout the day seeing only an occasional inhabitant of the country and all these invariably fled at my approach. Then it began to rain, but just before darkness fell I discovered a village ahead. I man aged to drag myself painfully toward* it only to discover that it was a walled community and that the gate «vi dently had been closed for the night. •1 feared I would not be able to sur vive the hunger, pain and exposure un til another dawn and I b j iJ™ gates with stones to att tention of the Villagers, |But useless.". ■ _ ; "Bitterly disappointed, (Continue# on Pag
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 12, 1923, edition 1
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