Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-10-20

(Preeton Newo Servtce)
Pittsburgh, Pa, Oct 18.-Following
q conference between Sheriff Wood
side. District Attorney. Chief Of Coun.
ty Detectives r. Braun, Attorney w.
M Rrandolph. Assistant City Solicitor,
Robert L. Vann Editor Pittsburgh
Courier; Ira F Lewis, Deputy Sheriff:
Attorney william H. Stanton and
Frank r. Steward, last Tuesday fol-
lowing an order by an alleged Vigilau
ties Committee Of Stowe Township, ad-
jacent to Pittsburgh that all Negroes
leave by given time or take the cOi.
sequences. county officials took steps
to Quell any attempt ON the part Of the
residents Of Stowe township to modest
the Negroes.
1t is claimed that the trouble grew
out Of the charge that an aged white
man had been slain and his grand
daughter seriously wounded. Immedi-
ately the populace jumped at the con-
clusion that the crime was committed
by a Negro and proceeded to drive all
from the vicinity.
However, the belief is still rampant
that the crime fas committed by n
Negro, named William Smith and a r..
ward OF $4,000 has been offered for the
capture of Smith, the alleged slayer.
Thus far no evidence has been adduc-
ed to show that a Negro committed
the dastartily crime. but it seems thu,
the residents of that vicinity are bent
on having the crime fastened on to g
Negro.
So intent are the police for ce OF the
city on placing the crime at the feet
OF Negro THAT during the past week
more than 200 Negroes have been ar
rested to be released the following
morning. The police are busy search
Ing every strange Negro under the pre-
tense Of looking for concealed weap-
ons.
Editor Vann commenting on the SIT.
uatfon said: II am as anxious as any
body in Pennsylvania that the MUIR
derer be captured and punished accord
Ing to the law; but am at a loss to
understand why the city police are
making all this ado about Negroes lar
ry1ng guns. / have urged through the
columns OF the Pittsburgh Courier for
the past ten years that the police
should remove the cause for so preya-
lent gun toting here. If you will but 60
into any OF the streets in the sections
most inhabited Gy foreigners and Ne
groes you will find the windows of al,
the pawn shops and hardware stores
IlLieu with all makes of deadly weap-
ons. Ihese stores look like arsenals
themselves. The police know that 20
display fire arms for sale in Pennsy,-
Vania Is a violation of the law. The
Eollce nave 1T in their mower to stop
this sort or thing. 1t is the duty of the
police officials and city authorities 10
enforce this law and do en- ripiaIvn
GARvEYITES SEND OUT
RESOLUTIONS
Inc Pittsburgh division of the u. N.
- "a ahopted resolutions last Wednes
day night as follows:
resolved that the Univel sal Negro
improvement Association does not con
done crime committed by any indIyid
ual or race Of men;
mat 1t regrets the wave of crin,e
sweeping Allegheny county during the
last month;
mat In common with all citizens
OF Allegheny county the members OF
.ne association are willing to do their
Oeet to prevent crime and encourape a
rule OF law and order;
Ihat the Universal Negro IMPROVE.
ment Association protests agafns. the
action OF Stowe township citizens com
manddng Negroes to Co from thu con
mun1ty as violation of the rights Of
american citizenship and a procedure
asa1ns6 the innocent that encourages
rather than prevents crime