davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
THAT PLEA OF INNOCENCE.

q, 's.-ssr" - j
"The more you NOW US down, the
more thicklv we grow; the blood OF
Christians is fresh seed. -Tertulilan
It has been common saying among
white southerners that whenever
norTherners attempt to deal with
the Negro question in the Southland
thew almost invariably make mess
of il. This seems to have been veri-
fled in the case Of Hon. george l..
Sheldon, former Governor Of Ne
braska, who seems to have tired OF
residing within the State, which had
rewarded him with high office. He
preferred to occupy the southern
designation Of "carpet'bagger" and
no moved into Perry W. Towards
State of Mississippi to make trouble
for him and the rest Of tho able col
ored men of that far Southern State.
AS a rule, with the exception OF
the poor whites, thousands OF
southerners, who are against tho
Negroes are against the other fell
lows Negroes and he Is 'gloriously"
in favor of his own Negroes, those,
who possess family ties coming down
tho line from slavery. many OF whom
row trace their lineage to the black
mammies Of other days and TO the
"big house" Negroes, who wefc
buffers, hostlers Wallets and the like.
This class Of southerners have Q
bitter antipathy to Negroes from the
North.
They dislike that nasal twang and
they despise everything pertaining
to this class of the brothers In
black" who aspire to civil rights and
social privileges. The Hon. George
L. Sheldon evidently did not know
this when he went up against that
Negro Mississippian, who hailed from
the State of Hon. John Sharp VII
liams and whose appointment as
Special Assistant Attorney General
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
4 FRIDAY MURDER.
Officer Burroughs Blunder--Kills
James Sharp---Wrong Man
Sent to Judgment
Those Deadly Bullets.

One bullet glanced his head, an
other passed through his lung and
the last one presumably entered his
heart and his life was at an end
in this world. Burroughs had no
warrant for Sharp's arrest and ne
could not legally cross the threshold
of Sharp's door without such a
document. He was a trespasser,
and Sharp had the legal right to
resist him, even to the point of
striking him with the glass jar as
alleged, although the charge that
he did so is upon the unsupported
statement of the officer himself.
These are the facts as brought out,
about which there can be no con-
troversy. There is no allegation
that James Sharp had any whiskey
in the house or that he was a
bootlegger, or that he had any
weapon of any kind in his humble
habitation.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
Especial by John Mitchell, Jr,)

James Sharp, colored, the grand
father of eight grandchildren, was
Shot three times and killed Friday
night. August 3, 1928, in his own
home at 500 Gilbert Avenue, by
Patrolman Walter B. Burroughs, OF
the cleanup squad" The lnqueSS'
was held by Acting Coroner T. ~
Hin in the coroner's office IN the
Civ Hall last Tuesday at 10 80 A.
NJ The officer was charged In the
warrant with involuntary man
slaughter. After hearing the evl-
dence and statement OF the ac7
cused officer, the case was certineu
TO the Hastings Court grand Jury
which meets in October.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18

his gun and opened fire. He didn't
give us time for nothing. If | had
been behind l would have been shot
instead of James Sharp. saw the
boys. l don't know who they were.
The officer who did the shooting
was big stout gentleman, who had
on light suit. l did not hear him
say word. l would have told
him, had he given US time that
he had the wrong man."
The Slain Mans Brother.
Fleming Sharp said: 81 live at
500 Gilbert Avenue. was asleep
in the basement Friday night,
August Srd, about 1880 o'clock.
The report Of the gun awoke me.
James Sharp ran into my room.
He called Ike Jesse Turner). The
officer turned the fash-light on him
and said, you son of a bitch, l am
going to kill you James Sharp
said, Don't shoot me no more He
fell upon the officers shoulder, with
both hands and hung his head. The
officer put his hand upon his own
head and then fired.
Fell Dead After Shot.
"Sharp Immediately fell dead
after the shot. The officer stepped
back into the room and hollered
and said, Call the other policeman
Then | put on my pants, turned
the light up and came out with the
lamp in my hand and met my
sister Matte Gerrien) at the
door,"
Mrs. Matte Gerrien, who rents
the house, 500 Gilbert Avenue, said:
81 had been out walking with my
sick daughter. AS l reached the
corner OF Gilbert Avenue and Baker
Street, | noticed the excitement by
one of the boys, who the police
were chasing from the corner of
Sixth and Baker Streets, rushing
by me.
On Kitchen Floor.
"The officers came Up by me, up
Gilbert Avenue on Baker Street. |
got out of tie way. A few steps
made and | heard the shooting.
The crying and yelling OF the chill
dren led me to believe tina: one of
them was shot. | reached home
and found ou5 that James Sharp
had been shot at home and his
body was on the kitchen floor. l
went around to go in the back
way. An officer was there with
his iash-light. I thought it was a
gun and | exclaimed, Don't shoot.
| am at home. He said, No more
will come in / went straight out
the back door to the outside
window"
w. A. Perkins Statement.
w. A. Perkins, ISL North Sixth
Street, plasterer and contractor,
said 81 was at home, southeast
corner Sixth and Duval Streets. ]
was standing on my back porch
saw two officers run around the
corner, going about thirty-five OF
forty miles per hour, turn in Gil
bert Avenue. My son and closed
the door and started to the mouth
of the alley. We heard the report
of the gun. l ran up there.
saw an officer rubbing his head.
Il
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
sDaily except Sunday. ''Sunday snll
(Main street Station)

sDaily except Sunday. ''sunday snll
(Main street Station)
Published as Information and not
Guaranteed.
Arrival and Departure of Trains
Daily, unless otherwise shown.
4Daily except Sunday ''Sunday only
Leave for Arrive from
700 am. Charlottesville. 1900 pm
Z 90 am. Clifton Forge 80. .......
800 am. MORT. & o. Point 6:S6 pm
$3.50 am. James River l.. .A:e5 pm
100 pm. MORT. & o. Point 2:43 pm
1:45 pm. .GinttLouM- Chgo. 1880 am
Alb pm. MORT. & o. Point 1888 am
s5 .lb pm. .Lynchburg. 1870 am
s5:15 pm. Charlottesville. $3.50 am
Clifton Forge. ...12:4o pm
ROO pm. MN. & o. p LC. 800 am
700 pm. .Cincin. & West. .4:OO pm
1918 pm. .Cincin and Louvl ...<~
K7:n an. Washington and beycud. .h:n pu
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
w. A. Perkins Statement.
Not Seriously Injured.

obtaining Of
for ..am~a4 E~~@
What will the Ten Million GOIOred people,
with their lone Representative ON the RepuDncdn
National Committee do about 1t?
National Convention confirmed MS title TO MS seat " s
other States
CuabT George etH Ex-Governor Mmd hOnu"
he sacrificed in he Courts and mudtN The Republican Party
LET be C0 People and their organizations give the answer now that It's rerle
atos NAV be heard EOY 1928 from the Atlantic the Pa from Canada 10 Inc G
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18

there. There was crying going on.
ran back, 'phoned for an ambu-
lance and I 'phoned to headquarters.
/ did not see the shooting. l heard
two shots. | saw hair on the ledge
above the door. | saw three hairs.
They were sandy color. They were
straight. James Sharp works for
the Richmond Tile and Mosaic Com
pany. l last saw him Thursday.
He was quiet old man "
Cause OF Shooting.
Willie Branch, alias "Buck'
Branch. seventeen years of age,
62G North Sixth Street, said: 81
work at the Richmond Credit Cloth
ing Company, porter and deliver
goods. l was on the corner OF
Sixth and Baker at the time the
officers car came. They came from
Seventh Street up Baker. We all
ran off the corner and ran down
Duval Street to Gilbert Alley and
went up to where the side alley
ran up to Seventh Street. Two
fellows were in front Of me and
| turned to go around another way
to 90 and | fell. There was a
colored lady and gentleman sitting
out there.
Heard Two Shots.
"The officers were so close be-
hind me, I slid under the table IN
the yard The lady and gentleman
ran into the house. An officer ran
into the house with a fash-light in
one hand and a pistol in the other:
Then l heard two shots. heard
screams. | ran to Seventh Street,
saw the officers car coming down
Seventh Street. l ran back and hid
until the officers car passed. 1 put
on nv coat and went up Seventh
Street walking. Hiram Jones, How
ard MAYNARD, Moses Norrell, Lin
coin Carr were the names of the
bows. Maynard was in front Of me.
Chasing Boys Only.
The officers were chasing US off
the corner Maynard kept through.
I saw him about an hour after
wards on Seventh Street. l was
the last onc that left the corner,
the slowcst runner. Only two went
down the way Howard Maynard and
| went"
NJ. A: Norrell, ia North Sixth
Street, said: 81 was out of town
when the shooting occurred. |
went out and inspected the premises
on Saturday later on in the after
noon"
"The morning after it happened L
talked with Officer Burroughs. He
said he had statement. He SAID
that he had shot this niger in self
defense. He had been struck by
jar.
Not Seriously Injured.
"He said he had knot on his
head In reply to question from
Attorney Alfred E. Cohen, he said
he did not see the knot, not having
noticed his head particularly.
Coroner E. G. Hill said that James
Sharp had been shot through the
heart and spleen, the bullet lodging
in the abdomen. One bullet went
through his liver and entered the
;ntastines. Another bullet appeared
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18

own home, and where he had no
legal right to be. He got Sharp's
head under his arm, struck him
with blackjack, that Sharp
wrested the blackjack out OF his
hand and thai he then fired ms
revolver to protecs himself.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18

Order the Planet sent to you by the
week, month or year. We have
means Of delivery.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
No Safety Inside.

He also claimed that he struggled
with Sharp in the yard and that
Sharp pulled him onward into the
house. where he killed him. The
evidence of the witness is that
James Sharp and his female COM
panion went inside of the house for
safety, that Burroughs had his hash
light in one hand and his revolver
in the other. That he Immediately
opened fire on Sharp and after
pressing his hand to his head, he
told him he was going to kill him
and that he proceeded to do 1t:
The following is the testimony OF
the witnesses before Coroner E. 6.
Hill. of South Richmond:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
A Peaceful Citizen.

He had been employed for years
by the Richmond Tile and Mosaic
Company, and his white employer
rave him q "clean bilt' as a re-
liable citizen. Despite all Of this,
without having committed any
crime, his home was unceremonlous-
w invaded and he was shot down,
while the youth being sought was
running away from under q table
in the yard, where he had sought
temporary refuge.
The deductions Of the prosecution
are as follows: Walter b. Bur-
roughs in ducking under the lower
doorway leading into James Sharp
rooms did not lower his head sui.
ficiently and it came in contact
with the door. AS evidence Of this
three strands of his hair were
found lust where his head struck.
Intended To Kill.
This tended to daze him. Sharp
was getting away from him, and IN
his haste, he fired on him, probably
thinking that some one had struck
him. He exceeded the legal re-
ouirement by firing a second time
and then proceeded to carry out
his purpose to kill and he fired the
third time, with the result that the
bullet went through the heart OF
his victim. Officer Burroughs
claim is that he was in hand-to-
hand struggle with Sharp in Sharp's
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
Officer Burroughs Statement

Attorney Leith s. Bremner repre-
sentad Officer Burroughs, while At
torney Alfred E. Cohen represented
the prosecution. Officer Burroughs
stated that he was chasing We boys
and that he rushed in on James
Sharp. A struggle took place IN
the yard. He said that he did not
use his flash-light at all. Sharp
dragged him into the house and
assaulted him with the glass jar.
He had his head under MS Bur
roughs) arm and he Burroughs
struck him with his blackjack.
Sharp wreichcd the blackjack from
him and then he finding himself
helpless, shot him.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
AN OFFICERS BLUNDER

PITY is the virtue of the law,
And none but tyrants use it. cruelty.
Shakespeare.
The killing of James Sharp, an
humble colored man, in his basement
home in this city Friday night, Au-
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18


blow.
In Judge Migrants Court.
This testimony completed, all of
those present went over to the Po-
lice Court, where hearing was
scheduled to take place at II o'clock.
Photographs of the home and yard
of James Sharp were there on dis
play, having been taken by Photo
grapher George ". Brown. The
Police Department had provided a
diagram of the neighborhood upon
the request of Coroner +. G. Hill.
Some delay took place. A broken
half gallon glass jar was placed on
the desk of Judge John L. Ingram.
Then the witnesses, who had previ-
ously testified before the coroner,
proceeded to repeat their testimony
before Judge John L. Ingram.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
Suspended From Duty.

Chief of Police r. B. Jordan had
promptly suspended Officer Bur-
roughs from duty, pending the
final outcome of the criminal pro-
ceedings. The warrant issued is as
follows: w. B. Burroughs, on war
rant did unlawfully and feloniously
commit involuntary manslaughter IN
that he did kill and murder one,
James Sharp, while in the discharge
of his duties as a police officer.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
Uncontradicted Facts.

The uncontradicted facts are as
follows: Oficezs Burroughs ana
Chadwick saw a group of colored
y,oTnosrers on the corner Of Sixth
and Baker Streets. The latter ran
with the officers in pursuit. JuS'
why the young men ran anu why
he officers chased them nave not
been explained. They were simply
lettering on the corner ana no
Evidence has as yet been adduced
10 show that anyone Of them had
arv l:ouor or had committed any
rhine. In fact, at a later hearing
Ofirer Burroughs admitted, under
the cross questioning of Attorney
Alfred E. Cohen, that he did no.
know who he was chasing. IL was
also brought out that the wrong
man had been shot.
In His Own Back Yard.
James Sharp was seated in. the
back yard of his cellar dwelling
Mace. in company with a female
friend of one of the family. Her
name was Mrs. Lizzie Freeman, OF
511 North First Street: Otlcer
Burroughs was chasing the young
sters. One of them, who has come
forward. says that the officer was
after him. He ran under table in
the ward and hid, while James
Sharp and his female companion
had scampered into the house for
safety. Burroughs rushed into the
house and grappled with James
Sharp. who had absolutely nothing
RI do with the affair and without
displaying his badge, he fired three
times on James Sharp.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
Elijah Henderson's Statement.

Elijah Henderson, S14 n. Seventh
Street, said: 81 was standing on
my back porch facing the back. 1t
was around 1880 that night. l
heard some shooting. When the car
rolled up some boys came running
down through the alley. Some OF
them ran down the alley from Gil
bert Avenue to Seventh Street. Of
ficers jumped off the car in Gilbert
Avenue. The officers ran down to
that door and ran on into the
house with search-light in his
hand. About two or three min
utes | heard the report of a gun.
I heard that gun twice.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
Attorney Cohcn's Cross-Examina-
ticn.

Under a severe cross-examinatlon
bv Attorney Alferd E. Cohen, ne
admitted that he did not know who
he was chasing. No crime had been
committed so far as he knew by
any of the boys. He had no var
rant for Sharp and was not in
possession of search warrant.
He shot James Sharp in his own
home and in his own kitchen, which
was used also IS a bedroom. Ser
geant r. 3. Sterling repeated his
statement, ard Judge John L. IL
gram sent Officer Walter B. Bur-
roughs on to the October term OF
the Hastings Court when the grand
Jury meets and he bailed him in the
sum of $500 90.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18
Lucy Freeman Talks, Too.

This man, James Sharp, was sit
ting in a chair outside the door
just as you go into the house,
Naturally, when the boys ran, he
got up and went into the house to
get out of the way. After the
shooting l heard lot of screaming
and hollering Sharp works. |
meet him every morning going to
work as I am going away. Mrs.
Lucy Freeman said: 81 live at
511 n. First Street. l was down
at James Sharp's house visiting his
daughter. She had gone out for
q walk and I was waiting for her
to come back. She is sick.
Wanted Fresh Air.
az passed around the front and
looked in and | went around to
the back. James Sharp and his
brother, Fleming Sharp, and his
daughter, Ikey', were sitting at the
door. James told me that the sick
girl had gone up the alley to get
a little fresh air. Fleming told me
to take his seat. He was going in
and lie down for awhile. I had
been there about five minutes when
there was great excitement. We
got up and ran into the house. ]
wa was in front of James Sharp
When we got in, the firing began
kept on upstairs and made my
escape.
Officer Gave No Time.
"The officer did not give US any
time for anything. He threw up
Evening star., 1928-11-03
TELEWS|ON TO GET
RIGID REGULATION
To Be Permitted on Broad
cast Band Until January
| at Least.

Television and picture broadcasting
will be permitted on the broadcast band
until January at least, but under strict
limitation and rigid regulation.
To permit visual broadcaSting to re-
main within the reach of the general
radio public the Federal Radio Com
mission has decided-and shortly will
announce-that such broadcasting will
be authorized to limited extent within
the broadcast spectrum Whether it
eventually will go into the short-wave
band, where special equipment requir-
ing some technical knowledge is nee
esSary. remains to be decided How
ever the commission has broken the
deadlock of some months standing as
to what to do about television because
of its questionable public interest to
listeners on the broadcast band and its
nuisance possibilities at this stage of
development.
With the commissions action there
will be an immediate demand of sta
tions for authority to broadcast pictures
and television, supplementing the 10 or
so already operating eXperimentally.
The order, it is learned, will make man
datory that formal applications be filed
and formal authority obtained before
stations may operate. Visual broad
casting will be conditioned upon spccif1-
cations designed to prevent inter-
ference to regular reception, with the
Evening star., 1928-11-03
NASONS ON VISIT
TO THREE LODGES
C3.umbia, Lebanon and Justice
Groups Receive Call From
Grand Officers.

Continuing the series of grand Wis
itations to the constituent lodges of the
local Masonic Jurisdiction, the grand
master of Masons in the District OF
Columbia, accompanied by the officers
Of the Grand Lodge, last evening made
calls on two of the oldest and one of
the youngest lodges here. They were
Columbia Lodge. No. 3, chartered in
the year 1902; Lebanon Lodge. No. Z.
which dates from the year 1911, and
Justice Lodge, No. As, which received
its charter in December, 1926.
The first visit was at 8 o'clock to
Lebanon Lodge, of which Charles w.
Hafle is the master. 1t is one of the
largest lodges numerically in the Dis
trict, having a membership of 1.2l7.
Half an hour later the visit was to
Columbia Lodge and Justice Lodge,
meeting jointly. Harlan Wood is the
master of Columbia E-tJdge, while Senior
Warden George H. Foster is the acting
master of Justice Lodge
Grand Master Gibbs recalled high
points in the history of both Columbia
and Lebanon Lodges and pointed out
that the history of Justice Lodge is
still in the making He complimented
the three on the progress of tIa lar.
Columbia, Lebanon and Justice
Lodges hold their meetings in Masonic
Temple, Thirteenth street and New
York avenue. The next grand visitation
Of the series of 1928 is scheduled for
Monday evening at o'clock to Mount
Pleasant Lodge, No SO, meeting in Ma
sonic Hall, Fourteenth and Kenyon
streets.
Evening star., 1928-11-03
POLITICAL TALKS
ON WRC TONIGHT.
Gov. Smith to Make Address.
Senator Borah Speaks
for G. O. P.

The Republican and Democratic ma
tional committees have engaged the
..s,.tytties of WRC for three hours to-
night for the proadcasting OF four I'M
portant political addresses. Two Re-
publican and two Democratic spe. EerS
are scheduled to face the microphone IN
the three-hour period, each committee
having reserved an hour and hall OF
the time.
The Republican broadcast will be the
speeches of Senator Borah IN chicago
and DR.. Ray Lyman Wilbur IN new
York. Gov. Alfred E. Smith will make
the principal speech for his party. The
name of the other speaker for the
Democrats has rot been announced.
The political speeches will be framed
bv two musical programs. One will be
a violin recital by Godfrey Ludlow, ana
the other from 1870 to midnight by
the Wardman Park Dance orchestra.
WRC's early attractions include the
weekly Bible talk to be given this eve
ming by Page NICK. Etchison resume
of the worlds business by DR.. JULIUS
Klein of the Bureau of Foreign ana
Domestic Commerce of the Department
of Commerce, and q dance program oy
the Aster Orchestra.
Politics also will figure prominently
tonight i'll the program OF WMAL.
Cloyd Gill, president of the Thirty Cup,
announces that his weekly forum VIII
be devoted, for the first time, TO the
coming presidential election. Later
Capt George E. Strong VIII MAKE d
Campaign talk under auspices Of the
war Veterans Republican Club.
WMAL's musical features will be pro-
vided by Happy" Walkers Dance Or
chestra. the Arlen Sisters, Leese's Sat-
urday Nighters and Helen Bachschmid,
soprano.
Evening star., 1928-11-03
TODAY'S ADJUSTMENTS.

Acknowledged mystery play
at 800 pm. Matinee at 2:20 pm.
Poli's-Ethel Barrymore in "The
Kingdom of God," drama, at $40 pm,
Matinee at 2:30 pm.
Strand-"Social Maids burlesque
at 2:15 and BIS pm.
COlumbia-"Two Lovers" (SounO
at 11:05 am, los, $40, $40, tbs
and 9:25 pm.
RiaIto-"Man, Woman and Wife
(sound), at HAS am, 2:05, 4:05, 5:45,
7:45 and GAS pm.
Earle-"The Terror" (dialogue), at
11:45 am, lao, 1885, $40, 7:45 and
$50 pm.
PaIace-"Wind," at 11:10 am, LAO,
3:55, 5:55, 7:45 and 10 pm.
MetropoIitan-"Co "Companionate Mar
riage (sound, at l1:45 am, 1:45,
3:45, 5:45, 7:45 and $50 pm.
Keith's-"The Street of Illusion"
(soundD, at IL, 2:30, sos, TAO and $3.50
pm.
FOx-"Dry Martini" (sound), at 12:40,
2:45, 4:45, 8 and 10 pm.
Little Thcatcr-"Nature and Love- =
continuous, to IL pm.
Tivoli-"The Wright Idea," at 2, 4
6:10, 1855 and GAS pm.
CentraI-"Exces Baggage" at 1890
2, $3.50, 5, $50, 8 and 9:40 pm.
AmbasSad0r-"Ex Baggage" al
2, 4, 6:10, 7:55 and 9:40 pm.