l^riodlcal Dept
Daks IfelT Library
Charlotle^'s Murder Row Claims Another
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2 RAPE TRULS UNDERWAY
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Tan Trio Nabbed In $160.0CM) Robbery
Dad Gives Polke Tip-Off;
$30,000 of Grab Is Missing
WASHINGTON
Aa anguished, conacience-
sUicken father set police on thd
trail ot hia daughter and aon-ln-
law here Mcltadwojand a few
houra later, Se^ Service Po
lice made the arreat of the
couple to crack a $160,000 rob
bery of newly printed money
from the Federal Bureau of Bn->
graving.
Held a* the ^ey figure in the
bold, unprecendent New Yaar’a
eve theft in which $160,000 in
freahly printed 20 dollar billi
were whiaked away from Undei;
the nose of armed guarda i^
James Rufua Landis, 20, a long|
trusted employee of the Bureau.
Some $128,300 of the money,
was recovered in the arrest.
Landis' wife, lira. Mamic)
Landis, was also arrested and
charged with currency theft. ^
neighbor who lives in the same'
apartment house, William Giles,
was picked up soon after the
Landis’ arrest at a local tavern
and held aa an accessory.
The baffling disappearance of
the $160,000, all in new $20
bills, from the heavily guarded
and tightly screened currency
printing plant, was solve^
through a heart-rending strug
gle which the arrested woman’a
father fought with his coniKi-*
ence.
Irving Grant, a servant at ^
Fauquier County, Va. farm
blurted out his story over the
telephone Monday to Virginia
State troopsr S. S. Secrist.
His message to Trooper Se
crist was simple:
"I’Ve got a big pile of Trea-
sury money...l’m scared to
death.”
Swiftly, Virginia State police
sped to the farm, located about
50 miles southeast of Washing
ton, and found $85,000 in a new
metal tool box, and heard the
re«t oi Grant’s story.
According to conacienc*''
wracked, worried father, hla
daughter, her huaband and •
Impulse To Grab
SackOfW
Said Natural
WASHINGTON
Arthur Eddon, Associated
Press feature writer, quoted
two leading psychologists in a
signed story appe^ng in
many of the AP members pa
pers in this territory Wednes
day which said that the im
pulse to take a large stack of
money, within easy reach, is
nautral.
Says Edson in the lead
paragraph of the story:
“Don’t be alanned U, when
ever you see a lagre ataek of
money, yon have a andden
yeamini to grab it and take
it with yoa.”
Further in the story h^ quotes
Dr. Winifred Overholder, famed
psychiatrist and superintendent
of the St. Elizabeth Hospital, and
Dr. William J. Morgan, consult
ing psychologist at Merrified,
Virginia, who back up this view.
Edenson quoted Dr. Overhbl-
ser teusly:
‘"The acqniaitiTe ina^ei
seems to be fnadamental In
human nature ....
“I think yon have the same
feeling when yon paaa a bak
ery with all these nice smella.
For a moment, it’a hard to re
sist the Impulae to grab a loaf
and start eating. Of course,
nearly everyone doea reaiat.
To a question posed by Edson
as to whether "anyone ever loses
control and grab money im-
puiaively, Dr. Overholser Is
credited with replying:
“Well parts inly there wasn’t
anything Impnlalve abont the
way the money waa taken
down at the bnrean of en-
gravinf. Hiat obvioiialy waa
planned. Bnt oooaaionally a
man who haa led a Ufe of pro
bity saddenly glyiM la and
eommlt a erlmlaal aei”
friend of theirs drove doim Sun-r
day night from Washington in a
newly bought Oldsmobile, brag
ged that tj^ey had “pulled m
smoothie” and asked him to
bury the money imtU “it oooU
off a little.”
Aa quoted by Secret Service
Chief U. S. Bau^iam, Grant re
fused to hide the money at firslj
but changed his mind when one
of the men draw a gun. His
daughter and her companioq
gave him $3,000 wrapped in ^
gray sock for his help.
(Please turn to Page Eight)
Bank
Gains
Cited
Pictured above are atoek-
holdM* of the Meehanlca and
Fanners Bank listening to the
report of the Bank’s condition
at the annnal meeting held in
tkia woA.
NEW BRANCH
OPENS JAN. IS
DURHAM
With assets of over six and
three-quarter million dollars,
rraresenting the increase of
$785,380.61 during the year,
the Mechanics and Farmers
Bank held its annual meeting
here Monday evening, Jan. 4
in the lobby of the bimk, lo
cated at 114 Parrish Street.
According to J. H. Wheeler,
president of the bank,v the
meeting was attended by one
of the largest and most en
thusiastic CToups of stock
holders he nas ever seen at
an annual meeting.
Mr. Wheeler’s report, which
waa read by I. O. Fanderbnrg,
cashier, ahowed that the bank
now haa total resonrcea ot
$6,745kZ54.S6. After extending
thanks to Dr. Clyde Donnell,
Cbalnnan of the Board of
DlfMtors, “for the bosinesa-
llke^ manner in which he haa
stoered the work of the Board
and paying tribute to Ita oth
er members for their aplendid
attendance recorda, the preai-
dent annonnced that the new
branch of the bank, located
on the eomer of Elm and Fay
etteville Streeta, will open for
bualnesa January IS. Total
coat of the new branch atrnc-
tore, inelndlng land, building,
architects feea, vault door fix
tures, etc. will be $98,00.
The general public, together
with all stockholders and de
positors are invited to attend the
opening which will be in the
form of open hquse from four
to nine o’clock in the evening.
Said the report further, “The
Secnrities portfolio of the
bank continues to consist
largely of Vnited States Gov
ernment securltlea (book value
$2,219,154.01), Federal
Agency Issues (book valne
450.250.00), and municipal and
state bond (book valne $389,-
682.00). Corporate secnrities
are represented by $25,000 par
value of American Telmam
and Telephone 2-3/4% Bonds
of 1971 and $10,000 per valne
of Phillips Petroleum Comp
any 3.70% Debentures of 1983.
Both ot these Issues are rated
Aa by Moody’s Investors Ser
vice. All of the state and muni
cipal aecorlties are also prime
investment quality and are
rated A, Aa, or Aaa by
Moody’s'Investora Service.”
The pr^dent’s report also
(Please turn to Page Eight)
Principals Rever
At Durham And
Trials in two rape cases, in
which the racial identity of
the principals are the reverse
of one another, got underway
in Durham and Warren ton
this week.
In Durham, four Orange
County Ne^oes face Super
ior Court ^al on charges of
rape of a 28-year-old Chatham
County white woman. In
Warrenton, two white men
face Warren County Superior
Court trial on charges of rap
ing a 16-year-old Negro school
girl.
Things moved somewhat
slowly in the Durham trial
this week with most of the
first two days being taken up
5l€
At press time, the jury was’ only
with the selection of a
]ury,
s onlji
partially complete, • with five
jurors remaining to be selected.
One Negro waa selected from
among the seven who had been
named by preaa time to hear
the caae. He la Fletcher Park
er, a farmer, who Uvea on the
Farrington ^ad.
The four defendants are WU-
^n Trials On
enton^
20; John Brooks, 25; and Otha
lie Shaw, 24; Claudius Parrish,
Roberts, 19. They face possible
death sentences if convicted.
Attorney M. H. Thompson,
retained to defend the quartet,
reserved any comment he had ’
concerning the possible length
of the case when queried ear
ly thia weak.
Shaw, Parrish, Brooks and
Roberts are accused of criminal
ly assaulting Mrs. Sims and beat
ing up her companion, Elwood
Burgess, on the night of August
19 after forcing their automobUe
off the Fayetteville Road about
two and one half miles south of
the city.
At Warrenton Walter Hill
Harris and hla cousin, Jesae
Harrla face trial on charges ot
raping 16-year-old Bettle Blae
Mills on November 21.
~ According to complaint filed
with police by the yoimg girl,
Walter Harris lured her to his
house on the pretext of having
her do some cleaning. While
she was there, she was attacked
(Please turn to Page Eight)
FOR THIRTY YEARS THE OUTSTANDING WEEKLY OF THE CAROLINAS
Entered aa Second Claaa Matter at the Post Office at Durham, North CmroUnm., under Art ef March M, ll7f.
VOLUME 30—NDMBEB 49
, DUBHAM, N. C., SATUBDAT, JANTABT 9, 1954
PBICE 16 CBNT8
CIVIC WORKER
UUDED BY
HOUSEWIVES
DURHAM
Ow of the city’s relative new
comers who luis busied himself
in civic and conununity work
was honored as the year’s out-*
standing citizen by the Durham
Housewives’ League at its New
Year’s Eve dinner here last
week.
Actually, Nathaniel B. White,
newly elected president of the
Durham Business and Profes
sional Chain, was given a tro
phy designated as an “Achieve
ment Award” by the League. It
was presented by Mrs. J. De-
Shazor, president-emeritus of
the League.
White received the award
with “humble and sincere appre
ciation,” and promised increase^
activity in the affairs of “my fel
low townsmen.”
MaN■^CalUe Day^ president of
the Housewives League, said
that the award is the first in a,
series to be given annually to|
“deserving Durhamites.”
A transplanted. Virginian by
way of Norfolk, White moved to
Durham in 1930 and began hia
earliest venture in community
work with the city’s oldest troop
of Negro Scouts, 56, at White
Bock Baptist Church. He hs^
been scoutmaster of the troo0
since 1042 and is generally cre
dited with giving a large aharq
of the impetus to scouting in the
city wiiich it has received iq
latter yeara. In addition, he ia
vice-chairman of the iWham
Division' of the Occoneechee
Council.
One of the oldest workers ii\
the Durham Business and Pro
fessional Chain organization.
White has served that body ii^
various capacitiea, including two
or three terms on its board of
directors. He is now president of
the’ groxip.
Seeing the need for help from
the city and by the community’s
own residents for improving hi«^
neighborhood, located in the
(Please turn to Page Eight)
The above photo ia that of
the newly elected offloiala of
the Durham Bnsineaa and
Profeaalonal Chain who were
inatalled in oltiee at the an
nual meeting ot the Chain
held at the Algonquin Club
here Sunday afternoon, De
cember 31. Those seated and
reading from left to right are,
D. F. Beed, member ot the
Board; L. E. Anatin, retiring
.. j,
president and member of the
Board; Mrs. Callle Daye,
pnsldent of the Housewives
League and member of the
Board; Mrs. J- DeShasor Jaek-
son, first vice-president; N. B.
White newly elected president
and Kelly Bryant, aeeretary.
Standing from left to right
are, Henry Glllia, member ot
Board; L. B. Fraaler, member
of Board; E. B. Baas,'member
of Board; George D. White,
member of Board; J. C. Hub
bard, member of Board and
I. O. Funderburg, cashier of
the Mechanics and Farmers
Bank who installed the of
ficers.
Officers not shown are Mrs.
P. H. McNeill, second 'vice-
preaident; W. B. Strmyhome.
assistant -aeeretary; J. J. Ben-
Pictured above is N. B.
White, newly elected president
of the Durham Business and
Professional Chain ^ being
awarded the Housewives Lea
gue First Annual Achieve
ment Award for 1953 by Mra.
Mrs. J. DeShazor Jackson,
First Vice-President of the
Chain.
This trophy Is presented each
year to the member of the
Durham Business and Prefea-
sional Chain and Hoosewivu
League for outstanding acli-
ievement in the follewing:
religions, civic, home and
cmunnnity.
Hondiuffed Prisoner Is
Slain By Alabama Sheriff
WASHINGTON, D. C
The wanton slaying of Mose^
Jones in Grove Hill, Ala., by
Clarke County Sheriff Jenkina
A. Hill, against whom the dead
man had testified in federa!^
court, brought an immediate de
mand from the National Associ
ation for the Advancement o|
Colored People upon the U. S.
Department of Justice for
“prompt and vigorous prosecu
tion to the limit of the law”
against the sheriff.
Arrested by the sheriff on a
-
charge of failing to pay a fine
of $150, Fr. Jones was shot to
death in the county jail on Dec.
28. Although the slain man was
handcuffed and unarmed and ini
the custody of the sheriff, the
iciller claimed self-defense. He is
reported to have said that he)
shot the prisoner when the lat
ter “jumped me and tried to
take my gun away, so I shot him
three times.” There were no
witnesses.
In Alabama, Mrs. Ruby Hur
ley, the Association’s regional
secretary located in Birming-{
ham, urged United States Ati
tomey Percy Fountain in Mo
bile to make an immediate and
aon, treasurer and member of
of vthe board of directors; C.
A. A»j and C, M. Ross, public
ity directors; T. J. Origaby,
assistant program director;
and board members Bev. Wm.
H. Fuller, F. B. McKlsslck,
E. C. Turner, i. H. Wheeler,
Charlie Jackson, W. O. Rhod
es. T. B. Speight and L K.
Holmea.
thorough investigation of thel
slaying.
Clarence Mitchell, director of
the NAACP Washington bureaix.
called upon Assistant Attorney
General Warren Olney IH to
prosecute Sheriff Hill under tlM
civil ri^ts statue and other ap
plicable laws.
Jones had testified in a fede
ral liquor case that the sheriff
had beat him when he refused
to pay “protection” money for
the illegal manufacture of
whiskey. The case ended in m
mistrial for Hill.
Knife Wielder
Shot In Scrape
With Patrolman
CHARLOTTE
“Murder Comer,” where £ast
First and McDowell Streets
meet here, claimed pother vic
tim here early Sunday morning
as a police bullet cut down a
unidentified knife-weilding as
sailant.
Officer J. F. Hoffman of Char
lotte’s Negro police c6ntin^nt
pumped a lethal slug into a man
who is alleged to have repeated
ly threatened officers trying to
arrest him.
Th& report of Patrolmanj
George Williamson, to the De-i
tective Di^Hsion told the follow
ing story of the incident.
Williamson wai? sununoned to
eject a drunk from Oscar’s Grill,
located at the now infamous Mc
Dowell-East First Street inter
section. When he arrived at th
eatery, he found the man slump
ed on the counter, a sandwich
and a cup of coffee in front. o{
him.
(Please turn to Page Bi^t)
Ham-Whlskey
Barter Nets
Terms For Two
DUNN
A man swapped a ham tor a
drink of booze here recently and
the deal may get him a stiff jail
sentence.
Hie only thing wrong with the
barter 'was that the man had to
break into the Ideal Grocery to
get the ham with which to make
the swap.
Sam McNeill. 32, was bound
over to Superior Court under a
$500 bond after he pleaded guU-
ty to breaking and entering and
larceny.
The party of the second part
in this > transaction, Malcolnt
Geddie, 37, 'was gi'ven $0 day*
in jail for receiving the atolen
bam.
Geddie made a bargain with
McNeill that he would give the
latter a half pint of Bquor
exchange fbr some meat So Mc
Neill, a man not witKoiit ina».
nuity, made oft with a haM
from the Ideal Grocery aaai
ttimed it over to Qeddlfe.
PoUce pickMl up Geddie as
tried to aril part ot the baa.
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