The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-06
MURDER STIRS
NEGROWOMEN
OF STATE
At Meeting Here Resolve to
Offer Reward for Slayer
Of Louisa LigginS.

The Afro-Amerlcan women's Baptist
State Missionary convention. which
convened in this city yesterday in the
Mount Zion Baptist Church, will offer
a substantial reward for the appre-
hension of the murderers of Miss Lou
lisa Liggins, whose dead body was re-
Gently found. The convention yester-
day took action to this effect. and the
executive COMMITTEES has under adviser
ment the manner in which the reward
is to be offered.
The Liggins woman, while being or
a weak mind. was n of the active
members of the union n was fanat-
ical in her devotion to the missionary
cause, and her zeal in collecting funds
is believed to have led to her death.
The convention yesterday spent
much time in consideration of the Lig-
gins murder, the matter having been
presented to it through the report of
Mrs. Martha viditio. of this city, n
of the field secretaries of the union,
and in the report of the branch union
of the Bethany Baptist Church, of
which the deceased was a member.
Mrs. vidito spoke of the faithfulness
and labors of Mrs. Liggins and de-
clared that it was a shame that such a
murder should be perpetrated in the
heart of the city. Mrs. Vidito believes
that there are some negroes who knew
more about the case thar they win tell.
1.-THE trouble with the race" said she,
sis that we talk too much when we
ought not to, and when we should open
dur mouths we are as dumb as oys-
Az d. 49, ntA,1I1 al nroUy that GaH
viii bring to justice the murderers of
our faithful sister,"
Mrs. vidito declared that she had
talked with the police officials of the
city as to the murder, and that they
had told her 1t was impossible to get
the negro people who were intimate
with Miss Higgins to tell anything that
would give any definite clue to the run
ming down of the perpetrators of the
crime.
The report Of the Missionary Society of
Bethany Baptist Church told of the
ardent labors of the deceased woman and
of her faithfulness to her church.
It was at the suggestion of DIR. ]. G.
Love. of Montclair, that the convention
determined to offer a. reward In the case.
The offering of a reward" said he. may
stimulate more activity in the investiga-
ton of the murder in certain quarters.
The colored people of this city and State
should never be satisfied until the murder
es are run to the ground"
The session last night was addressed by
DR.. r. D. Wynn, pastor of the Bethany
Baptist Church. He has just returned
from his vacation, and as pastor of the
Bethany Baptist Church, of which Miss
Higgins was a member, is to assist in dis
covering her murderers.
rrb. Aftor enaaIaru ~ Ioof axanfnor WARE
the Rev. ]. D. Burton, of Trenton, and
the Rev. w. s. Smith, of Jersey City.
The officers elected for the ensuing year
are as follows: President, Mrs.
E. G. Burroughs, of the First Bapr'st
Church of Madison; first vice-president,
Mrs. Fl. P. Harris. of Crawford: second
vice-presidsnt. Mrs. Maria Burnley, of Cal
vary Church. East Orange; third vice
president, Mrs. L. E. Saunders. OF Long
Branch: fourth vice-president. Mrs. NJ. A.
Henderson, o. Mt. Zion Church of New
ark; fifth vice-president. Mrs. Lulu Scott,
of Plainfield: recording secretary, Mrs.
Mary Crowley, of Roselle; corresponding
secretary. Mrs. +. w. Watkins, of Eben-
czer Baptist Church eff Orange; treasurer,
Mrs. w. S.. Booker, of Union Baptist
Church. Elizabeth.
The president was elected as the unions
delegate to the national Baptist convention,
which meets in Washington, D. c., mex.
Wednesday. Thu following field secreta-
ries were chosen: Mrs. P. II. Brown,
Plainfield; Mis-. e. L. Eatman, Roselle;
Mrs. Carrie Scott. East Orange. and Mrs.
Martha Vidito. Newark.
The convention held yesterday was pre-
liminary to the converting today in the
same church of the Afro-American Baptist
State convention of New Jersey, which
will be continued In sessions until Monday
OF next week, and which will be presided
over by the Rev. G. E. Morris. of Morris
town.