Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1941-12-20
Memphis Attorney
Continued from page u

L NOVNsAAbshVu ~ VAn R0&C ~
Motley in an uncontested divorces
case. He arrived In Brownsville
around GAS with his witness. Short
ly after he had filed a military
affidavit with the court clerk in
connection with the case, GROUP
of white residents of the town be-
gan crowding in the clerks office
An unidentified spokesman for the
group remarked:
sAin't no M lawyer going to
try case in Haywood County. We
amt goin' to stand for it. We ran
one M lawyer out of here and
# you know what's good for YOU,
you better git"
Mr.. Latting said he tired to ex-
plain that he had only simple
uncontested divorce case. that nc
racial issue was involved and point
ed out to the crowd that its action
was undemocratic.
ct have registered and may be
called for military SERVICE" the
Menphian continued. eff I am
called, it will be to fight for the
principles of justice, liberty and
equality which you are denying
me-"
1--WE can't help that" the spokes-
man for the mob said. "You amt
goin' to try no case in Haywood
County"
Services of a white lawyer in
brownsville, Aaron Kinney, who
is president of the towns cham
Der of commerce, were obtained by
Mr.. Latting. Mr. Kinney appear
ed in court and asked the ques-
tionS necessary to obtain the di-
vorce for Mr. Latting's client
Judge T.. j. Pearson tried the
case and granted Mrs. Motley hel
divorce around 1880 pm. Friday
afternoon
When it was learned that tht
case had been tried, the group fol-
lowed MI. Latting into Shelby
County but turned back when the
Memphian was apprehended by
Shelby County deputies for speed
ing
Attorney Latting said that h
had taken all the necessary ap
propriate steps to appear before the
Haywood County court. The case
listed as Ethel Lee Motley VS.. Jes-
sic Motley tNo. 44 was filed il
the Haywood County court aroune
November 25th, and j. R. Moore
City Court Clerk, notified Mr.
Latting that he could try his cas-
any time after December 18th. MIR
Latting. Immediately after hearing
from the court clerk, called ant
had the date set for Friday, De
cember 18th, at 10 am
This was the second time within
two years that a colored attorne.
had been prevented from practic
ing in Haywood County. A youn'
Jackson, Tent. lawyer had to b
spirited out of Brownsville dyrin
the early part of 1910 when he at
tempted to represent client in
volved in a shooting case. Jackso.
is the county seat of Madison
County, which adjoins Haywood t
the west.
The discovery of the decompose'
body of Ebert Williams in TIN
Hatchie river after he had beel
missing from home for severa
days brought to light the tens
feeling between whites and Negroe
of that community. Williams. wh'
was one of The organizers Of thu
Brownsville NAACP Branch, hat
been compelled to leave his hom'
late at night by group Of Browns.
vile residents, including the Nigh
Marshall, T. j (Tip) Hunter ane
his whereabout afterwards re-
manned mystery until his body
was discovered in the Hatchie
Several other prominent Negro
townsmen of Brownsville fled the
community In fear OF violence
among these were Rev. Buster
Walker, president of the NAACP;
Eliza Davis, operator of filling
station at Brownsville; Alex Hill
Dewitt Cobb and Willie Williams
| Reports that group of Negroes
from jackson. Tenn, was coming
to Brownsville for showdown
in the case resulted in the creation
of a general mob atmosphere
which lasted for several days Al
investigation was subsequently
made by the FBI, but no one was
brought to trial in connection with
Williams death.
Haywood County has approx
mately four times as many Negroes
as whites. However, the sore spot
of the trouble was apparently the
effort of Negroes to vote in that
county which they had not done
since 1884.