Funers^^^jr J. Finley Wilsol
— ^ 71 ★ ^ ★ ★ ★ if
Former NCC Co-ed Raped,
Choked, Then Murdered
j
Hi« above photo wu taken dwiaf the tint
annual meeting of tbe Tri State Negro and Allied
Trade Union Connell held In the American Fed
eration of Labor Temple In Dvham, Satnrday,
Pebmary 23. Hmm In the photo reading from
left to right are: Mia Viola Brown, Wlnaton-Sa-
lem, Emie Thompeon, National N^o Labor
Council official deltveHng an addrea to the
group. At Mr. Thompoon’e left are Jamea M. Hus
band. preaident of the Connell and Jesae Tur
ner, who preelded oTer the ie«ibn.
FBI Finally Halts KKK
Terror In N. C. County
FAYETTEVILLE — AcUon
was at last brought against
members of the Ku Klux Klan
in this State when it was an
nounced here last week that ar
rests of the former members of
the Fair Bluff Klavem had been
made.
But it took Federal law en
forcement officers to nab the
self-appointed Judges of morali
ty and race matters. More than
30 FBI officers were used in
making arrests of the Klans-
men, which included a deputy
sheriff and a constable.
The action, at least temporari
ly, brought to halt the year
long wave of terror created by
the nightriders, who chose Mrs.
Evergreen Flowers, an aged
Negro woman, as their first vic
tim.
FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover an
nounced the arrests from Wash
ington lut Saturday.
Although the death penalty
can be invoked against the ten
arrested Klanamen because of
the Lindberg statute which pro
vides for the death penalty in
kidnap cases wtdch involve
crossing of the State lines, the
prosecutors announced last week
that no reccommendation for
punislufi^ht win be made in the
case.
It was the general belief, on
the basis of tlie prosecution
stand ,that the supreme penalty
would not be sought against the
Kiansmen.
They are specifically charged
with violating federal kidnap
ping and civil rights laws.
In addition to Mrs. Flowers,
their flogging victims included
several white persons of the Co
lumbus area.
Arrested Kiansmen inplude
Earl Brooks, 44, president of
the recently disbanded Fair
Bluff Klavem and former po-
licemap of Fair Bluff; Bobby
Brooks, 18, his son, now living
at Raleigh; Ross Eznor, 46; L.
W. Worley, 2S; James Hayes, 30;
Pittman Strickland, 29; Qeorgc
Miller, 18; Sherwood l^er, 27;
and Steve Edmund, 28.
Bari Brooka ii a lltfitning rod
salesman, and the rest are ftirm-
J. L. HoOovay, above, chair
man of the current membenhlp
drive for tho loeal NAAOF, an'
nonnced thia week that reporta
from flie drive will he made at
Oe regnlar monthly meeting of
ttie organliatlon to be held here
Sunday at the Ht. Zkm Ohurdi.
Holloway atated that the report
' la expeeted to ahow eonaiderable
aueeem for the memboahip
eanpalgn ao fto. The publle la
tanrttad to attoud tto moattaw.
N. C. College Students Rebuff
Reds In Propaganda Campaign
pro. JOHN BAKBEI
Last Rites Set
For Man Killed
In Korean War
Final rites for Pfc. John
Phillip Barbee killed in the
Korean fighting last October
will be held Sunday, Feb. 24 at
the New Hope Baptist Church
in Chatham" County at two
o’clock.
Pfc. Barbee was the son of
Abbie and the late Mrs. Ara
Horton Barbee. He was born
sNov. 13, 1930 in Chatham
County, and there received his
education.
He was inducted in the Army
Feb. 28, 1961 and received his
basic training at Camp Brecken
ridge, Ky. Pfc. Barbee went ov
erseas in July, 1851. He fought
in Korea with Company E of
the Eight Cavalry Regiment, and
was instantly killed during an
attack on the company on Oct
ober 9.
Survivors include liis father,
Abbie Barbee of Norfolk Va.,
one brother, Callie, of New
York, and a maternal grand
mother, BSrs. Estella Horton of
this city.
Red propaganda leaflets flood
ed the North Carolina College
campus for the second time with
in a week here last Tuesday.
“Operation Smokescreen,” the
latest leaflet, like its predecessor
“Operation Bloodletting,’” was
apparenly distributed on the
campus at a late hour in the
night or early in the morning.
Like its predecessor also,
“Operation Smokescreen” bore
the following identification
mark: “Issued by the Carolina
District Communist Party, USA
Junius Scales, Chairman- P. O.
Box 62, Chapel HiU.
Yesterday’s leaflet asked of
its predecessor which character
ized the Korean War as “Opera
tion Killer”? “Why does a one
page leaflet strike such terror
in the ranks of the war makers
and their agents?”
This was in reference to a
previous circular which ap
parently was designed to dis
courage students at the Negro
college from donating blood in
Thursday and Friday. In spite
of the Red circulars, however,
the NCC students and faculty
pushed past their revised quota
of 360 pints, giving a total of
375 pints of blood in two days.
Prior to circulation of the Red
(Please turn to Page Eight)
FOR THIRTY YEARS THE OUSTANDING WEEKLY OF THE CAROLINAS
Bntered as Second Claaa Matter at the Feat Office at Durham, North Carolina, under Act ef Mareh t, ll7t.
VOLUME 30 — NUMBER S
DUBHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, 8ATUBDAT. FEB. 2Srd. 19BZ PBICB TBN CKNT8
Hie above group met at Memphis recently to discuss “plana Nabors, Memphis; and B. N. Harris, Durham,
for coordination of effort” In the fMd of Property and Casualty Companies represented were: Southeastern Fidelity Fire In-
underwrltlng. From left to right eonferees shown are: Charles sorance Company, Atlanta, Ga.; Loyal Automobile Insurance Com-
Sawyer, Memphis; B. A. Spaulding, Durham; Dan niomas, Mem- pany, Los Angeles, California; Friendly Fidelity mud Casualty
phia; Charles E. Maxey, Lea Angelea; Bill Nabors, Memphis; T. M. Company, Memphis, Tenneasee; Lloyds of Great State, Galveston,
Alexander, Atlanta; Dr. J. E. Walker and B. O. Olive, Jr., hosts, Texas; and Bankers Fire insurance Company, Durham, N. C.
Universal Life Insurance Company, Btonphis; Carter W^ey, Hous- Other real estate and insurance offices of Memphis were also
ston; J R. Arnold, Memphis; T. D. Armstrong, Oalvestra,' W. P. represented.
Wliite Ju|Y Pecrees Death Again
For'Irvin; NAACP To Appeal Case
JANET KING
Churcb Meet
Clifford Earl, director of
Education for Action program
of the Presbyterian Church, XJ[.
S. A., will be the featured speak-
Red «ros» Wood «lly at the Speq^al men’s d?y pro::^
OCALA, Fla.,—For a second
time Walter Lee Irvin, sole sur
viving defendant in the notori
ous Groveland “rape’’ trial, has
gram sponsored here Sunday by
the Men’s Council of the Cov
enant Presbyterian church on
Massey avenue.
The program is set for six
in the afternoon.
Theme of the program, “Ev-
(Please turn to Page Eight)
Scout Leader
Heard Here At
Annual Banquet
Approximately 100 persons
attended the annual Parents’
banquet sponsored by Boy
Scout Troop 55 here recently
in the troop’s observance of 42nd
Boy Scout week. The banquet
was held at the troop's sponsor
ing Church, White Rock Baptist.
RoV Armstrong, director of
Admissions at the University of
Nortti Carolina, shared the spot
light with Dr. J. N. MiUs, prom
inent local physician, at the
dinner program. Dr. Mills, vicc
(Please turn to Page Xi^t)
North Carolina College formally dedicated Its new I7SM0*
men's dormitory here Monday In elaborate ceremonies honoring Dr.
Howard J. Chldley, pastor of the Plrst Congregational Church of
mnehester, Mass.
In Durham for his S5tl( annnal visit. Dr. Chldley was prla-
elpal sp^kw at a speeial program at noon Monday, at wliieh time
resldenta of the new Cliidley Hall presented him with a laive pie-
ture of the dormitory and the House Conneii. He was again lionor-
ed M«mday night with a speelai eeremony at Chldley Hall.
North Carolina College oMeiais who Joined In paying tri
bute to the benefaetor of the eoUege In Its early years ineluded
President Alfonso Elder, who reealled eontributlons of Dr. Chldley
and Ilia congregation as he presided over the Monday noon ewe-
monlea; Dean J. L. Stewart, who presided ever the Monday ni|^t
eeremoniea; BIra. P. M. Eagieaon, registrar, and Mrs. J. W. Harris,
profeusor of English, whfb paitieipated on Monday night’s pro
gram. The new mta’B dormitory, named for Dr. ClUdley, la sue-,
eessor to flie old, wooden frame building, erifinal Chldley Hail,'
whleh la being rsoed to nuke room for more modern hnildinga.
Judge Hands Sentence Promptly; Testimony Of Faked
Evidence Ignored; Negroes Afraid Of Jury Service
was raped by the four boys.
Says Evidence Was
Faked
Hermas D. Bennett, a crimin-
agent who heads the Pan Ameri
can Secret Service in Miami,
testified for the 'defense that
the casts of Irvin’s footprints the
state introduced as evidence
were fasely taken. There were
no feet in the shoes when the
casts were taken Bennett as
serted.
A second defense witness was
Lawrence Burtoft, who brought
the girl into town on the night
of the alleged rape. He stated
that the girl told him that she
had been kidnapped and was in
the woods all night, but said
absolutely nothing about being
raped. When the State’s Attor
ney, Jess Hunter, asked if there
was anything unusual about a
white girl being in the woods
all night with fou? “niggers,”
Burtoft said, “When I first saw
the girl she was not excited and
beeiTcohdemmne3~lo die by an' ^logy expert -and--former-^BI-4he-
all-white male }ury in Florida.
The verdict of guilty was re
turned late Thursday afternoon
tifter the jury had been out for
an hour and 23 minutes.
As the jury announced its ver
dict in the tense, packed court
room, Judge T. J. Futch prompt
ly sentenced the 24-year-old vet
eran to death. Thurgood Mar-
sliall, special' counsel for the
National Association for the Ad
vancement of Colored People,
announced that a motion for a
new trial would be filed within
the next few days.
Irvin, with three other Negro
youths, Ernest Thoinas, Charles
Greenlee and Samuel Shepherd,
was .acc;used by a young white
farm housewife of beating her
husband and attacking her on the
night of July 6, 1949. Ernest
Thomas was shot and killed by a
sheriff’s aide. Greenlee was sent
to road camp for life,.and Irvin
and Shepherd were sentenced to
death as result of a trial in Sept
ember, 1949. Shepherd was shot
to death and Irvin was seriously
woimded by Sheriff McCall on
the night of November 6, 1951
while enroute from the state
penitentiary at Raiford to Ta
vares for retrial ordered by “’the
U. S. Supreme Court.
Elmer^ Roper Poll
Barred
At the opening of the retrial
here pn February 11, the N. A.
A. C. P. filed a motion to in
troduce as evidence a poll sur
vey showing that Irvin could
not get a fair and impartial trial
in Marion County because the
people had fixed opinions of
his guilt, and that 84 per cent
of the Negroes In the county
were afraid something would
happen to them if they served
on the Jury and held out for an
acquittal The motion was de
nied. The poll was made by ex
perts from the E^er Roper pub
lic opinion firm. It was the first
time on record a poll survey
was submited as evidence In a
change of venue case.
The testimony of the blonde
farm girl was almost an exact
repetition of her testimony in
the first trial, when she said she
scar on her knee which she got
from a barbed wire fence.” Bur
toft also said she told him she
could not Identify any of the
men who kidnapped her. ^
Irvin took the stand in his
own defense and reaffirmed his
innocence. He stated he tUd not
see the girl or her husband the
night of the alleged crime. He
and Samuel Shepherd had gone
to a night club in Orlando, he
asserted.
Local Negroes
Testify
The te^tirpony of Negro wit
nesses on the “good race rela
tions” prevailing in this- central
Florida city, and their assertion
(Please turn to Page Eight)
13 State Hunt
For Suspect In
Girl-Slaying
Officials at North Caroiina
College expressed deep shock on
learning this week of the mur
der of former NCC student Jan
et Ellen King of Rutherfordton.
Miss King, who transferred
to Howard University at the be
ginning of her junior year this
Fall, was found late Monday
night on a roadside in Wash
ington, D. C., her body literally
riddled with bullets.
Investigating police officers
said that the young co-ed, who
would have been 20 on her birth
day March 3, was raped and
choked before being shot three
times. One of the bidlets plough
ed through her neck and came
out the back of her head.
A 13-state alarm has been is
sued for her classmate, 22 year-
old Donald N. Tyler, whose
books were found in the auto
mobile which he borrwed and
which Miss King’s under
clothes and purse were discover
ed.
Close friends of the King
family, contacted at Rutherford
ton here this week, stated that
the funeral arrangements are not
complete. The family had gone
to Washington to return the body
early this week.
\ Spokesmen from the Dean of
Women’s office at N. C. College
were unanimous ■ in their de
scription of the late Miss King
as a model student. “She was
well-liked, active in campus af
fairs and an honor student.”
They were joined by other
college officials and her former
classmates in expressions of re
gret and profound shock. One of
Janet’s former classmates was
hard Ux.
believe that something like that
could happen to a girl like Janet.
Everyone , who knew her seem-
(Please turn to Page Ei^t)
Lack Of Action In Arrest Of
Cairo NAACP Leaders Hit
CRClfADER
WILL SPEAK
HERE SUNDAY
William L. Patterson, execu
tive secretary of the Civil Rights
Congress, will address a “Mass
Negro History Rally” here Sun
day afternoon at 3:30 o’clock at
the White Rock Baptist Church.
According to sponsors of the
program, Patterson will report
on the UN reaction to the charge
of “Genocide” against the United
States which he presented to
that body dipring its recent Gen
eral Assembly meeting in Paris
A dinner will be held in his
honor at the Jade Room of the
Donut Shop on Saturday even
ing at six.
Patterson, outspoken critic of
America and its treatment of
its minorities, was once called
a “black s. o. b.’’ by Georgia
Congressman Lanham during an
Congressional hearing on the
(Please turn to Page Ei^t)
SPRINGFIELD, ILL., — The
inaction of state officials in the
explosive Cairo school situation
was deplored by spokesmen for
the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People
after a conference here today
with the Illinois Legislative
Committee and representatives of
(Sovemor Adlai Stevenson.
The NAACP announced that
it plans legal action in the case-
The meeting was held at the
request of the NAACP after a
series of racial flare-ups that
have accompanied attempts of
the Association’s field workers
to help implement an Illinois
statute that forbids segregation
in public schools.
Cross-burnings, shootings and
bombing took place at the time
Negro children were scheduled
to be transferred to previously
all-white schools. Last we^
eight persons spearheading the
integration movement, includ
ing NAACP Field Secretarirt
June Shagaloff and Lester P.
Bailey, were arrested and charg
ed with conspiracy to “endanger
the life and health of certain
children” involved in the trans^
fer actions.
3. PINLKT WILSON
'The Grand'Dies
At Home After
Long Illness^
WASHINGTON, D. C — La^t
rites for J. Finley Wilson, gra n.i
exalted ruler of the Improved
Benevolent Ordtt of Wfcn of the
World, will he held at the Met
ropolitan Baptist Church here
1225 R Street, NW., at 1:00 P. M
Saturday. February 23. The Rev.
E. C. Smi’.h, pastor will officiate.
The Grand Exalted Ruler died
at his home here, 1813 Vernon
Street, ^ Itiesday morning at
8:30, clitn»ing an illnes* 'of
over two years,
The body will lie in state from
3:00 P. M.. Friday unUl 11:00
A. M. Saturday at the Colonial
Elks Lodge here.
Bom la TMMano
Mr. Wilson was bom in Nash
ville, Tenn., in 1881, the son of
James L. and Nancy Wiley Wtt-
son. He attended tiie nuMie
(Please turn to Pace
M)