davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25

disc Valley waerc he has worked
End engage n business for over
Is years.
Born in Port Huron. Mich. he
came with his pa cu's to this city
al an early age and attended the
pub ic schools on the East side His
first job was as driver for . taxi
company a job which gave him his
first glimpse o. the night life OF a
thriving city, FOLLOW : an impulse
he quit the taxi job and began the
rounds Of the n gh' spots as SINGER
Soon he was known as one Of the
bes' singers in Paradise VALLEY and
his rendition OF King For A Day
arc still remembered by veteran
nigh,-lfers
Discarding the role OF entertainer.
Mr. Lightfo0t opened d small night
club OF his own and for Is years
held the spotlight among local
nightclub owners Although his
business required most Of his time.
he devoted much effort to the po-
litical advancement Of the Negro
It is said that he had a part IN the
making Of most Of the prominent
politicals in the state.
Four years ago he moved INTO
the present location OF the B and
c. club on s. Antoine street and
ma n,alned quarter on the second
floor for political workers.
Mr. Lighlfoot Vas best known as
poor mans friend Sho has been
largely responsible FOL the su cess
Of many business men II Paradise
Valley BY his readiness 10 lend
financial sid whenever possible. II
is SAID that during HE depression he
gave away = small fortune 10 men
Xho came to Detroit seeking EN-
ployment
Four years 7gD. with the aid Of
the Good Fellows cue Of which he
was a member he distributed hun
dreds Of Ehristmas baskets 10 poor
people lnNacaitereo communities.
and the drlvAfor Christmas baskets
became an snnG>N event During the
season ne would IL buy Chris mas
dinners for UDwsrts Of q hun red
unturtunatcs
Due 10 his Efforts several cOlorcd
men have been hirep as representa-
tives NJ b-ewar es End distributing
- See LIGHfFOOI, Page 2
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25
STRANGE LOVE-
Anglers YOUTH,
SLUGS WOMAN
J u d G e Frees Son Who
Fought Mothers
Lover

A 24-year-od youth who told Z
Recorders court judge OF strange
love between his mother and m
other woman, was found not guilty
OF fetonious assault Tuesday morn
ing by the court hearing the trial
without lYry.
William Greeley Of 5l4 Medbury
ayenue. apartment 90. told Record
er's Judge Arthur f Gordon that
he and his oun2er bro her had seen
their mother and the other woman
Ethel Freeman Of 1923 Bcaubien
street committing immoral acts N
bed, on several occasions
Then on September 9, las; year,
he young boy struck tn, strange
lover over the head with an sir3n
pipe. IN an apparent frenzy. alleged
" resulting from the wee condition
IN the home.
The mother. whose name Is With
held due ta-tAe-H nature Of ttfffe-e ase.
on the stand admitted having I'M
faefal relations with the other
woman
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25
NE v JOBS
OPENED AT
CHRYSLER'S

l. Duncan Of The War Pruduc.
ton Board announced today that as
a result Of negotiations with the
Chrysler Corporation q new classi-
fcation Of electro welding has been
opened to Negro workers in the
Chrysler Kcrcheval plant. here in
Detroit These negotiations were the
result Of a complaint on racial dis
elimination filed by members Of the
JAW. with Dr. Viewers represen-
,ative in which 30 Negro workers
had been laid off instead Of trans
lcrrcd to defense
This nov classification involves
the training Of former s5rayers and
sanders at the companys expense.
and will result in the employment
Of several times the number Of
original applicants.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25
ROY -LIGHTFGOT DIES
SUDDENLY IN HARLEM

Roy n Lishtroot veteran night
cluo own-r a0d politician who
sealed the heights from an obscure
tiki driver to Mayor Of Paradise
" ley. and iOg Inc last four yea 5
best known for his acts Of philan-
thropy curing the Christmas sea-
son. died in his hotel room in Hotel
Theresa. New York City, Monday Of
an acute heart attack. He was IS
years ol1 With him a the time Of
his death was hi. uncle. james
LighifOot with whom he had been
dis 'ussing plans for his return 10
Detroit
Mr. Liqn+fou-wcnt 10 New York
ON April 10 consult with a special
list and visit relatives. but had cost
poned his return home 10 spend
more time with his uncle Ewo years
ago he suffered q nervous break
down from which he had almost
completely recovered an only re-
Gently had he been complaining OF
no; feeling well His physicians had
advised him % see specialist
Had Colorful Career
Although still a young man the
colorful career OF R. Lightfoot has
become legendary in Detroit's Para
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25
READY TO MOVE IN PROJECT
Leaves Girl
Nude, Broke

Police are looking for perhaps
what may be described as Detroits
meanest man. in tina, the sus ect
not only robbed young woman Of
her chastity and clothes but also
took al her money at the point Of
a knife
The 24year-old woman. whose
name is withheld due to the nature
OF the case. told police that she
was 5ccosted by an unidentified man
while she was on the way home
from a theatre
The alleged thug. held a knife on
her throat, took her 10 an alley
made her remove her clothes raped
her and then fled with four dollars
Of her money.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25
FIND VERDICT
after 3 HOURS
.DELIBE RATION
Mrs. Byrd to be SENTENCED
By Court On
April q
BY LARRY CHISM

After hea ing q long trial anu
br,liInt argument by defense coun-
sci Attorney Charles A Roxbor
oush a jury OF II white women de-
liberated approximately three hours
and a half before returning with a
verdict Of guilty of second degree
mur5er against Mrs. Evelyn Byrd
Tor the fatal shooting C.; her hus-
band Dr. Coyd TOM Byrd on
June % last yeai
Three Hours For Ver;'ict of Murder
An unidentified juror tod the
Chronicle that most Of the ballots
aiken were oral and that only two
were written. One ballot determined
that Mrs Byrd was guilty ans the
second ballot determined the degree
Of guilt
Mrs Byrd will be sentenced on
April p by Recorders Court judge
Thomas NJ Cotter on the second de-
gree murder conviction
Tues ay morning after receiving
relatives as visitors at the county
Jail Mrs Byrd tciused TO see this
reporter
White Nurse DeIied Love" Affair
Last week. Nellie Stor4off. %
year old Russian nurse. was asked
by Assisting Prosecutor Wallace
Temple:
Did you ever have sexual re,a-
tons with Dr. Byrc?"
81 should say not He was
colored and I'm white And
whoever said sail | did are badly
misinformed," the red headed and
attractive young white girl almost
shouted with great emotion, in her
voice.
The young nurse testified that she
ha@ entered the Byrd home when
she was approximately "A years Of
age and was hired to help work
around the home and the Doctors
Office .
Then later she became a part OF
the family. was sent to school.
cared for and thought OF socially
as a member Of the BYRD family
Mrs. Byrd Accuses Other" Woman
However, a tempest ragged in the
after Mrs Byrd had ac-
cusei the white girl Of being friend
ly with her husband. DR. Byrd. and
after the physicians had repeatedly
~ See SLAYER, Page S
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25
Killed Man,
Nou Awaits
His Sentence

After pleading guilty TO second
degree murder this week Perry
Johnson. 30. OF 245 East Elizabeth
street will be SENTENCED next week
by Recorders Court Judge George
NHrrhy.
Johnson Vas charged With the IA
Ia. Shooting Of Charles Mitchell IS.
OF g39 Division street On September
l. last year
1t was disclosed that johnson.
al as Henry Smi'h. had gone 10 400
East Adams street, apartment SIX.
and asked to see Julia Horton who
refused TO talk TO johnson
At this time. Mitchell, who was
IN the apartment went to the door 10
talk with johnson Shortly after the
door closed behind the two men.
" THESES heard shots fired and
Mitchell Tell MORALLY wounded
with three bullet wounds 10 his
body
Witnesses listed b, oolire we're.
- see KILLED MAN. Page z
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25
DETROIT
This Week

We7hesday-Every week, Booker
T Washington Luncheon F. al
YWCA- 1900 noon.
"Wednesday Every week. Young
Democrats meet Plymouth Com
gregsti1nal church. ZOO pm.
Wednesday-Every week. Michigan
Chronicle Hobby Club 299 East
Palmer avenue. 2 TO pm.
Thursday. April % - Derricotte
Homemaker's Dramatic Play and
DTnce. Yw-C-H-. $50
Friday. April 24-Jucgc Ira jayne
speaks at the Tabernacle Baptist
church, 800
Friday, April 24-Charity Dance.
Brdhurst Center. 800 to 1900.
Friday April 24=Hair Style Show
and Dance. Frances Norrcet.
YWCA.. 300
Fri lay. April "a Defense Bail N,r-
ror Ballroom. 800
Friday, April q Brewster Hrl ID
Girls ASsoClt,on Popularity Con-
test and dance BrrNsts Center,
$50
Sunday April % -MusiglI program.
Mt olive sspu5' cnul.u 800 pm
Sunday. Aprl 20 Musical ties,
Bethel church Z 90 pm
Sunday. April 70 Ju9u N-lsy
DubDs eaks Ebeu-l-t A ME
church, 300 M
r.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25

The above group forms the nu-
cleus OF a countrywide political
organization which seeks TO unita
all Negro Republican groups n one
powerful organization They have
selected The name United Negro
Citizen, League with hcaiquar.
tcrs at 263 Z Warren avenue
The objective is an educational
program to arouse every Negro crti-
zen 10 a full consciousness Of the
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25
5000 ATTEND
FINAL MEET
IN=DETR0IT
Bishop Jones Makes Very
Dramatic Plea For
Democracy
By JOHN WOOD

AL ministers of the Detroit area,
Lexington conference of the Meth
odist church were returned to their
churches here Sunday as the 73rd
session of the conference was
brought to a close at Cas- high
school after a six-Gay meeting at
Scott Methodist church 609 East
Kirby street Dr. H, NJ Carroll.
pastor.
Reappointment TO local churches
by Bishop R E. Jones of Columbus,
Ohio. who presided throughout the
conference were: Rev H NJ Carroll
to Scott Methodist church; Rev S
W, Bankhead to Berea church; Rev,
Alvin Burton 70 Second Grace; Rev
+ McRae t. S,st Side, Rs ( 7.
Byrd to Mitchell Memorial and Rev
CA Trammell to Eight Mile road
Others -returnei tc the Michigan
churches were Rev F c. Walker TO
Pontiac and Rev A. W Davis to
Flint DR. William Il. Williams re-
mains as superintendent of the
Chicago dist'ic
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25
Ordain Three DeacOns, Three
Elders

Ordained as e cons were: Paul
v Smith. Cottrell Terry and Thomas
L Tinsley. Douglass c Bowman Of
lnIianar Ind. William NJ Jones
Of Indianapolis and Rober' W KEEL
ley were ordained as eide BY the
bishop with district superinten-
cents aseisttnp
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25

value OF his vote, urging him 10
register and vote in every election
The organization believes this is the
most effective way to bring about
racial recognition and justice
Prominent in the movement arc
Mahoncy Toodle BoxborOu-h Mrs
B. Fleming Perkins. Morrison
Bowman. Parish. Mrs Christine
Smith. Mrs Carrie Curtis. Constable
Thompson Harvey Constable Ward
Gordon, Berry, Piper, Mrs, Fay,
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25

- See METHoDIsTS, Page ?
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25

HE See SLAYER, Page 5
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25

~ See HEADLINES, Page 2
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25

-. see KILLED MAN. Page Z
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25

However. a tempest ragged in the
household after Mrs Byrd had ac-
cusei the white girl Of being friend
ly with her husband. Dr. Byrd. and
after the physicians had repeatedly
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25

~. See LIGAFooT. Page 4
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-10

lived with her godmother in a browsing house
along the road to Rouen.
At first they tried to keep up appearances be-
fore each other.
Robert is busy" Louise said Robert has
many duties, these hard days in France. But when
Europe becomes peaceful again, Robert will come
home and spend more time with his wife and his
mother"
Always" the mother said, when wife is for.
bearing and patient, her husband comes home at
last. And so it will be with Robert"
Then 1886, 1887, and 1888 were pushing on to
the turbulent year of 1889. But silently, all over
France, in those days, the Loot Combine was per-
fecting its organization till, by shameful miracle,
its hand reached into that pleasant house of Ma
dame Perrigeau, to make use of the restlessness
and the rebellion of madame's poor young daugh-
ter-in-law.
The prelude to this came when an order went
out from Headquarters, under Minister Won Rib
bentrop, in Berlin.
Round up new agents." ran the order. 1--WE
must be ready to requisition property when we
have conquered France. But we must know where
France hides her precious art, her paintings and
Continued on Page 16)
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-10

Deep, sincere, chest-heaving tears did Madame
weep, from the bottom of her heart.
She was weeping, you imagine, for vanished
glory? All. not at all. Madame was weeping for
her dearest friend, Caesar.
And Caesar?
He was, mon dieu, Madame's pet poodle.
And always planned that Caesar and would
spend an. old age together" she mourned, "Ah
well. he is sacrificed to these German swine so
SAD. so heartless of me. mon dieu mais oui,
the fortunes of war. The fortunes Of war;"
The technique of jewel looting in Holland and
IN France was quite different, before the war and
afterwards. The results were the same-rich and
costly gems stolen and utilized to finance the war.
But the technique of jewel looting before the
war and afterwards had one quality in common
That was the of 'indcators'-French and
German people Of high society, maids in the
kitchen, buffers, diplomats Wallets book agents
renegade, decadent sons and daughters of wealthy
families, people of every kind and class. These in
dlcators, as the name implies, were people who
reported the names of the of precious gems,
where they were kept, what they were like, how
cut, how set. In fact the whole footing system de-
pended on these indicators. You cannot expect the
owners of fine jewels to reveal the secrets of their
value their whereabouts their appearance-not,
at any rate, to persons likely to steal them.
And so, to get more and more indicators to
find out more and more about what wealth France
Or Holland or Belgium as well-had in precious
stones, the German agents made use of night
clubs, money lenders houses of shady reputation,
in which designing men or girls used their arts to
make those who came there tell about the where
abouts of precious Jewels
And as the Germans wove their web and
stretched out their tentacles, it happened at last
that these reached into pleasant country house
in the Eure Department, sixty miles from Paris.
To that house the German ooters brought tragedy
and DEATH turning daughter against mother; help
ing young wife to transgress her marriage vows,
bringing utter confusion as is the manner of these
Germans wherever they pass, in Europe.
c. A. r r.
daughter-in-law, young Madame Louise Perrigeau.
And so / write, not of the cut and dried system of
jewel footing, but of the human misery which fol-
lows in its wake. The story of people have known
and loved.
Perhaps should begin this story by explain
ing that poor little Louise Perrigeau the VIC
tim of two vicious systems-our French marriage
system, and the German footing system. She was
the daughter-in-law of my old friend, Madame
Stephanie Perrigeau, who is the chatelane of
vine-grown, provincial house three miles off the
highway between Louvieres and Rouen
Little Louise had been left an orphan with
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-10

r1flc determlnaJlOn OF
that good woman, his
mother. In her code,
Frenchmen of good
family married a d
continued the family.
And so she pushed her
purpose till she won.
Deputy Robert Peril
geau, with a rush of
feeling that surprised
hi m S elf, asked the
young girl, Louise Du-
valet, to be his wife.
They were mar
ried before snowfall.
And after a little fling
at a honeymoon in
Duce Mussolini's Italy,
they ca e back to
France. T h en- Mon
sieur Robert, the
bridegroom, deposited
his little bride with
his mother and hur-
ried up to Paris to his
political duties - and
the mistress of his
heart. Monsieur Rob-
ert stayed in Paris
most of the time after
his m a rria &c. His
bride remained in the
country all the time;
1894 1885 1896
those years of grow
ing portent in Europe,
were years of neglect
for a young wife who
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-10

comfortable small fortune. My old friend, Madame
Stephanie Perrigeau, was her godmother and her
guardian. And so, from the days when little Louise
was trundlng doll carriage, my friend planned
for the child good, reasonable marriage with
her only son, Robert. And in fact, this would
have been good and reasonable marriage, had
the love of the young couple been mutual
But in the Summer of 1884 little Mile. Louise,
his mothers ward. walked charmingly across the
stage of his life, That Summer Robert used to come
to Pinterville frequently. He sat in the garden,
summed himself and watched, through half closed
lids, the futterings of those two innocent women,
his mother and his mothers ward. If anything was
ever charming and laughable he told himself, it
was the antics of those two dear ladies' Obviously,
oh, ever so obviously, they were trying to snare
him.
Amused and yet little bothered, he told him
self that if man must marry into the kindergar-
ten, why-Louise was charming infant But as
for him. he craved spice and dash and danger,
which he had already found. AT rather weary
and almost dissipated thirtyfive he felt that this
one woman enough for him.
But in this comfortable and selfish reasoning,
the son reckoned without the gentle nsistent, ter
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-10

ming was far advanced, those Germans compared
The delicate charms of Princess Anastasia and her
thums with the ponderous and heavy-hipped fraus
bf Germany. that comparison, undoubtedly, en-
HANGED the evenings delights. These young women
had evidently been fashioned solely for the delec-
ation of men. They were worth the pains of the
blitztkreg up to Paris. All was we'll in the best
of all possible worlds. Then the clock struck. And
Madame arose.
She bowed to royalty she bowed to nobility;
ehe bowed to great wealth. Then she asked the
Germans if they would excuse the ladies while they
retired to change their costumes. The Germans
Hid, most graciously. While they waited, Madame
whispered that the guests were putting on light
wells for the dance erotiques" After ten minutes,
she also excused herself. She wished, she said, to
assist the ladies, if they needed her
Hurriedly, she descended to the girls who were,
by now, all dressed in their street clothes Madame
paid them each bonus Then she gave her last
command
go" she ordered, "as fast as ever you can
And when this night is mentioned you know
nothing, you heard nothing, you were safe at home
getting your beauty sleep"
They left. Madame then, hurrying into long
coat she had ready ran up the stairs again. And
n ROOM directly under the one where the Ger
mans were waiting with eager impotence, Madame
struck match. Her face was grim her manner
was sober, her fingers were steady as, precisely
carefully the woman, Madame Louise, touched the
The flame to the fuse of slow action bomb
Then, gathering her skirts about her, she raced
silently down the stairs and into taxicab, COM
handed hours before, which then waited at the
foot of the Rue Suffren. AS the taxicab started
up, pandemonum broke loose.
The bomb had gone off.
Within the House de Luxe on the Rue Suffren,
twenty German officers were blown to minute
Fragments. Twenty German officers, forever past
any share in their New Order had gone to meet
what may await for the wicked and the cruel and
The merciess. Next day in Paris there were hur-
RED consultations. All the Houses de Luxe on
Rue Suffren were closed, at one command Their
luxurious contents were looted from attic to cellar
But not word of this disaster ever got out of
France, to the newspapers of the world. To be
sure, few lines were printed in the German con-
rolled French paper, "Leonore." But this paper
was suppressed for week, and all the displeasing
ssues were confscated.
The Head Of the Gestapo himself directed the
lunt for Madame Louise. He never found her.
Calm in spirit, in command of her own destines
Madame Louise lives today as modest provincial
bn her small farm in the Midi. She tends her gar
ien milks her goat, and lives in her memories. She
plans, when Paris shall be free again. to preside
bver finer, costlier establishment whittier rich
yisitors will flock, for what they believe are Pari
sian pleasures
But l nearly ended this story, with a gross
omission. AS Madame's taxicab carried her away
rom her doomed house, she burst out weeping
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-10

While Louise and CASTOR Kept
Their Rendezvous Behind Locked
Doors in the Mysterious Mansion
of NJ. DortenUieu, German Agents
of the Looters Watched Through
q Secret WindoIc and Took Pho
to0rGphs. The Pictures Were
Used to Bldckn,aiI Louise
and Her Family.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-10

Continued on Page 16)
Evening star., 1942-10-17
Ho|ton Arms Teacher
Hit by Auto; Streetcar
Crash Injuries Rider
Both Victims in Hospital;
lnquests Ordered in
Two Traffic Fatalities

Two traffic victims were in fair
condition at Emergency Hospital to-
day following collision between two
streetcars at Fourteenth and G
streets NV. and an automobile
pedestrian accident at Connecticut
and Florida avenues NV. last night.
Miss Elizabeth Summerlin, 81, of
1909 Phelps place NV, a teacher at
Holton Arms School, was being
treated for broken leg and wrist
and fractured pelvis injuries suf-
fered when she was struck by an
automobile.
Police listed Chevis A. Butler, %,
OF the 2600 block of Fourteenth
street NV. as driver of the automo-
bile.
Injured In the streetcar accident
was Joseph A. Hill, Is. Of 2301 First
street NV, passenger.
Inquests into the traffic deaths OF
William R. Coon, 40, of 2414 Irving
street NV, and Miss Sally T
Simpianen, %, of SOB Quintana
place NV. are scheduled for hear
ings today at the District Morgue
Mr.. Coon, a carpenter, died at
Homeopathic Hospital Thursday
after having been injured September
26 when hit by an automobile at
New Hampshire avenue and Quincy
street NV.
Miss Simpianen was struck by a
bus yesterday at Tenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue NV, and died
at Emergency Hospital a half-hour
later.
Evening star., 1942-10-17
5000 Employees Here
Will Be Sent AWAY
By War Department
$500 Will Go to Newark
1,500 to Detroit; More
Are to Be Transferred

The War Department, which has
nearly 10000 employees here, is send
ing 5000 away.
Approximately 1900 workers from
the Ordnance Service are going to
the Detroit Tank Arsenal Monday,
the department announced yester-
day. At the same time, the Budget
Bureau said, $500 in the Office of
Dependency Benefits would move to
Newark, starting at once.
The latter units administer all
functions in connection with bene-
fits for civilian and military per-
sonnel except those who come un-
der the civil service retirement law
Eventually it is to have 10000 en-
ployes. In Newark it will be To-
Gated in the Prudential Life In
surance Building.
The ordnance workers are re-
sponsible for procurement of tank
and other combat vehicles and will
be under the newly established
Tank Automotive Center of the
Ordnance Branch headed by Brig
Gen. John K. Christmas.
The moves are a part Of the de-
centralization program started early
this year because of the housing
and office space situation. When
they are completed more than 10000
departmental employees will have
been shifted from Washington.