The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-06-09
OUISIAN A
LYNCHING is
Barred BY lid
Negro Worker Killed
In Cold Blood
BY Police

NV OIltduCs NfOlhHANAt -
posure of the lynching OF Sylvo
Romeus by police here on May H.
was made blythe International La
Dor Defense here. which has COM
pletely exploded the elaborate theo
ries OF bad man on a rampage
made up by the police and broad
cast by the capitalist press.
The |. l.. ID. is raising the de-
mand for the death penalty for the
officials responsible for this lynch
ing. and for Patrolman Frileoux.
who stood over Romeus as he lay
half-dead. and blew his brains out
I'm cold blood These demands are
being made to Judge Emile Martin,
Happy Jack, La. and TO Governor
Allen az Baton Rouge, La.
Daughter Tells story
The full story OF this lynching Is
told by the daubhter OF the lynch
ed man. Selica Romeus, in a state
ment issued through the |. l.. ID
The story follows in her own
words:
ION the morning Of May 3, 1884
in Magnolia. La. some men wer,
playing cards. the loser TO pay the
price OF bottle OF Jumbo. My
brother Simon got to playing and
did not hear Elxice ST. Ann make
the stake, so when Simon. who is
IS years old. lost he did not want
to pay for the Jumbo and the big
man Elxice hit him on the mouth
and Simon ran ito the wood pile
and stood near an axe saying, III
you come any closer | will pick
up the axe and hit you.
''Elxice went TO his house and
got gun and threatened to shot
Simon. told them not 10 be fool
ish and to quit fussing. so they
quieted down. but ElXice said that
he was going to kill Simon yet.
After "A while Simon told Sylve
my father. about 1.-THE whole affair,
and Sylve. fearing that Elxice
would make good his threat to Kill
my brother Simon told the Sheriff
about the affair. and preferred
Ie -a---~- - gs,re' Iu~ica -fouIhffemni
.-e5 ..-.s--s-- -.r-.> ,-~s-S- =
=, nrhe Sheriff got Elxice the
next day but releasted him immed-
iatly on bond. Then charges were
made against my father. Sylve. Oh
May II. J. Morel Jr.. came to my
fathers house and told him thal
he was under arrest. Sylve asked
him why he was being arrested
what he was charged with, ant
who made the charges
The officer said Never mine
the talking get moving. l am no
supposed 20 tell you.
so my father said all right, lie
me clean up and shave and thei
he Went 10 town 10 get bond, bu
bond WAS refused him. When n
came home. MUrcl MAS waiting 10
HIM SO my father said Show III
tie warrant for my arrest or vii
not lct you take me-
'Mofv said be- did not have I
show him any hing and grabDe
nlm aid Nar,ed 10 pull him out G
Tie house My father fought ire
from ihe sheriff who then pulle
oul his gun and shot my fathr i
the side. Then im self defense, m
father picked up his shot gun an
fired back at Murel who ran TO tn
next house
Everything was quiet for abou
three hours. but in the meantim
The chief sheriff called up New
Orleans and said there was
'badman there and 10 send police
machine guns and tear gas. Whel
they arrived they shot from all di
rections into the house and thel
threw a tear gas bomb into th'
house which forced my father Z
run into the yard toward the bai n
One of the shots hit him in the lei
as he ran. and he fell on his fac
IN the barn doorway.
"Patrolman F'rileoux ran over Il
him where he was lying and open
ed fire OH him with his machine
gun and blew his brains out. Like
a hero. he murdered a wounded
innocent man.
"All the white bosses, especially
the storekeeper, hated my father
and had il in for him and arranged
the whole frame-up. They hatet
him because he was a just Negro
and always stood up for his right
and one time when the railroad
tried TO take his property away hi
fought the case and won. Thu
white bosses don't like TO see
Negro win.
Since the murder some OF tn
whites are threatening my brothe
saying they will send them to tn
penitentiary for five years II the.
make any protest.
after my father was MURDERS
by the mob There were about
hundred people there) they brok
into his hiuse and stole his razor
his money. and his new shirt an
all that he had.
MY father was cripple In on
leg for five years and a sick maj
II, Sellca Romeus, the dea
mans daugtetr say I will not sto
until / let the whole working elias
people know there is no justice 10
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