Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-10
KILLING OF EUROPE
CAUSES SHOCK HERE
Army Jazz Band Dire c tor
Stabbed While Reproving
Musician
PLAYED THURSDAY IN CITY

Genuine sorrow was expressed here
today over the suddenly ended career
of Lieutenant Jim" Europe, grand
master of jazz.
Europe was killed last night in Bos-
ton by ono of the ''percnssion twins.
tho snare drummcrs Of the 369th In
| fantry Band. which the smiling negro
| officer led in two performances in this
city. The last was on Thursday in the
Academy of Music.
Lieutenant Europe died at the Bos-
! ton City Hospital from stab wound
! in the neck which severed his jugular
vein. Herbert Wright. twenty four
years old. of New York city. is tho
! drummer accused of the stabbing. He
| is under arrest at the Back Bay sta
ton. charged with murder.
The stabbing occurred in Europc's $
| dressing room. in the rear of the stage
at the Mechanics Building. during an
intcrmission in the concert which the
director and his band were giving.
! According to the story told to the po-
! lice. Europe had retired for n few min
utes because he did not feel well and
was sitting with his door open listening
to the Harmony Four composed OF
players of the orchestra. sing "thc
songs of the Southland" Wright and
his twin brother. Stephen. were walk
ing back and forth in the wings and
several times stepped on to the stage.
exposing themselves to the audience.
Europe is said to have cautioned them
against this and also about making any
noise which might interrupt the singing
Dynamo of Melody
i Europc's remarks are said to hay,
been entirely conciliatory. The leader
was addressing the brothers when Her
d bert Wright drew a knife, it is alleged
and made leap for his chief. Two
members of the band, Ivan Brown auC
Charles Il. Traton, attempted to BLOCK
him. but they were just an instant toe
late. The knife went deep into Flu
ropes throat and he fell to the floor,
All was confusion behind the stage
though the audience did not learn wha
had occurred until it was dismissed
Shortly before Europe died Wrigh
was brought to his bedside. guarded b!
the police, where the leader identified
! him as his assailant.
Thousands of persons heard Europ
and his band in this city, and wer
moved alternately to smiles and tn
verge of tears by the playing of thcs
ebony musicians, who included cXqui
site melodies as we'll as sprightly JAZZ
: in their varied repertoire.
, The slain leader was Il dynamo o
! melody. Fhc jazzicst kind of jazz ap
pcarcd to snap and sparkle from hi
l,o rnI . ha h,al
Before the war Lieutenant "Jim'
= led jazz orchestra at the Nerno
:, Castle dances at Castle House, Ncy
= York. Fate had sudden death for bot
:, dancing master and jazz leader. Gas
tie forsook the waxed floor for battle il
. midair and was killed by fall. Eu
:. rope enlisted as a private and tough
= nnharmed in the trenches, only to di
from the knife stroke of subordinate
Experience Was Varied
d Europc's military experience wa
varied. He assumed charge of the 369t
band at Camp Dix and it soon becam
the talk of the cantonment. He wa
: ordered overseas and on the way ovC
= transferred to n machine gun company
@ He proudly claimed the honor of bcin
y the first negro officer to command troop
= in the front line trenches.
But master of such pulse quckenin
n music was not allowed to keep on pot
= ting the "bushcs' as he called then
He stayed in the trenches from Mare
!, to July. 1915 and was transferred baC
= to the band.
t When the war ended and Lieutcnar
d "Jim" and his men were mustered ou
II he began filling n series Of engagement
}, in this country.
r Lieutenant Europe was stockN
IS muscular man. with music fairly buh
= bling out of hin. He had a broa
: smile that surpassed even Jack John
sons grin and had n knack of leader
ship that brought out every musici
u trick his men could produce.