The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
FOREMAN FACE
BEATEN TO PULP
BY EIGHT BLACKS
R. E. Norris Near Death at
Hospital Because He Sup
planted Negro as Ware
house Superintendent.

r. Il. Norris, 30, lS6 Cedar street.
superintendent of a warehouse at
Mil and Main. said to be owned by
William White. Memphis real estate
man, may die as a result OF being
beaten at 1850 Friday morning by
five negroes employed in construc-
ton work under him at the ware
house. His skull was fractured and
he was badly beaten about the face
The attack upon Norris started
when il became known to the negroes
that Norris was to be given the
place as superintendent over Mon
roe Johnson. negro, who had been
acting as superintendent,
Eight negroes, including three
women said to have taken part in
the attack on the white man, were
arrested.
They are: Monroe Johnson, North
Second street road; Addison Merri-
wether. Wolf river; Jim Brown, 1922
North Second street; James Jeffer-
son, Wolfe river; Izzle Ross. 247 Ray
burn avenue; Callie jefferson, Wolf
river: Ada Harris. Wolf river; Rub
BILE Cross. 1853 Main extended.
A squad OF police. including De-
tective Sergts. Hewitt. Carter and
Hurst, and Emergency Officers Van
nucci and Henderson, was rushed
to the scene of the fight in auto
mobiles when Charles Rogers, resid-
ing near the warehouse. sent in a
call.
Norris was rushed to General hos
pital in an ambulance.
While not unconscious when
reaching the hospital Norris could
say but little. He gave his name
M ~ nh
ray examination was made TO de-
termine the exact extent Of his In
juries.
Il would not have known him IL
they had not told me at the hospital
who he was" said W. J.. Norris. his
cousin, 800 Galloway who remained
with him several hours at General
hospital Friday morning. Norris
wife also sat at her husbands bed
side in tears.
Norris, the injured mans cousin.
said that Norris face had been so
badly beaten in the attack that he
could hardly be recognized,
Norris lost consciousness a short
time after being taken to the hos
pital. Grave fears are held for his
recovery. He could make no state
ment.
The police version of the attack
Is that Norris was employed Fri
day morning to superintend the work
Of storage in the warehouse.
Johnson, large negro, said to
have been the idol of the other
negroes at the plant. had been in
charge of much of the work here
tofore and was superseded. 1t Is
said the negroes became furious
when 1t became known Norris was
to be over them.
The police were told that the me-
groes were especially Infatuated be-
cause white man was to superin-
tend them.
They held consultation. it is
said. and goaded on by his COM
panions. and the three negro women,
johnson opened the attack on Nor
ris. Seeing that he would have been
overcome by the white man who be-
gan fighting valiantly, the other ne
groes, armed with heavy wooden
sticks, joined the attack on Nor
ris.
Police could find none OF the ne
groes when they reached the ware
house, but It is believed that near
~ all OF them were captured. Several
hard Chases resulted when the blacks
began to run from the police.
Other arrests may follow, and
while the negroes are held now only
for investigation" charges OF as.
sault with intent to kill probably win
be placed against them.
c. C. Scott, 14s Madison, witnessed
the attack upon Norris, police say
He made o full report of the affair
to headquarters, substantiating the
version obtained by patrolmen and
detectives arresting the eight blacks.
Scott declares the attack was with
out provocation. and was brutal in
the extreme. Norris bled profusely
before an ambulance arrived TO take
him TO the hospital. Sergt. Williams
went to General hospital with Nor
ris.
Joyce Mosby, negro. 1904 Marble,
was arrested shortly before noon on
Friday. upon information, police said.
that he was one of the leaders of
the gang Of negroes which attacked
Norris. Mosby ran away when po-
lice reached the warehouse directly
following the attack. but returned to
work and was arrested.
Police are searching for time
book. said to have been kept by one
Of the negroes. The book is said
to contain the names OF all of The
negro employees of the concern. When
II Is found other arrests are expect
ed. The book disappeared.
SUCAP MEM TNDICTED