The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-02-06

come to the house, how timl
ed. and how moved and touched
/ the family had been for him. He
told how he had not thought that
Bigger had had anything to do
with the disappearance OF Mary.
and how he had told -Britten not
10 question him. He then told Of
receiving the kidnap note, and how
shocked he had been when he was
informed that Bigger had fled his
home, thereby indicating his guilt.
when the coroner's questioning
was over. Bigger heard Max ask:
May direct few Questions ?"
Certainly. Go right ahead" the
coroner said.
Max went forward and stood d.
rectly in front OF Mr.. Dalton.
you arc the president OF the
Dalton Real Estate company, are
you not?"
"Yes."
"your company owns the build
ing In which the Thomas family
has lived for the past three years.
does II not!
well. no. My company owns
the stock in company that owns
the house
Il see. What is the name OF that
company"
"The South Side Real Estate
company"
"Now. Mr.. Dalton, the Thomas
family paid you :"
mot to me. They pay the rent
to the South Side Real Estate
company"
You own the controlling stock
in the Dalton Real Estate COM
pany. don't you?'
"why. yes"
And that company In turn owns
the stock that controls the South
Side Real Estate company, doesn't
It,"
why. yes"
II think can say that the
Thomas family pays rent to you,"
Indirectly. yes"
"Who formulates the policies OF
these two companiesg"
why. do
"Why is II that YOU charge the
Thomas family and other Negro
families more rent for the same
kind of houses than you charge
whites?'
81 don't fix the rent scales" Mr..
Dalton said.
who does"
/ why the law OF supply and de-
mand regulates the price OF
hc~--.- "
"Now, Mr., Dalton. It has been
said that you donate millions OF
dollars to educate Negroes. Why
Is II that you exact an exorbitant
rent OF eight dollars per week
from the Thomas family for ono
unventllated. rat-infested room in
which four people eat and Sleep
The coroner leaped 10 his feet.
"Tll not tolerate your brow
beating this witness, Have you
no sense OF decency? This man is
one OF the most respected men in
this city, And your questions have
no bearing
/ They do have bearing" Max
shouted. You said we could uues-
ton with latitude here, I'm trying
. to find the guilty pereon. too. Jan
Erlone is not the only man who's
, influenced Bigger Thomas. There
were many others before him. |
! have as much right 10 determine
what effect their attitude has had
upon his conduct as you had to
determine what Jan Erlone's had!"
I'm willing TO answer his uues-
tons II II will clear things up
: Mr.. Dalton said quietly.
Thank you. Mr. Dalton. Now.
: tell me. why Is II that YOU charged
5 the Thomas family eight dollars
per week, for one room in a tene-
. ment?'
well, there's a housing short
age"
"All over Chicago?"
NO. Just here on the South
side"
you own houses in other sec
tons OF the city?'
Eyes"
Then why don't you rent those
houses to Negroes"
well. Err. III
don't think they'd like to live any
other place"
who told you that?"
Nobody"
You came TO that conclusion
yourself?"
why. yes"
isn't It true you refuse 10 rent
: houses to Negroes II those houses
are in other sections OF the city,"
why. yes"
"Why?"
We'll. it's an old CUSTOM
do you think that custom Is
righty
II didn't make the custom" Mr.
Dalton said.
do you think that custom Is
right?" Max asked again.
We'll. think Negroes are hap
pier when they're together"
Who told you thatl"
why. nobody"
Aren't they more profitable
when they're together?"
Il don't know what you mean?"
Mr.. Dalton. doesn't this policy
OF your company tend TO keep Ne
groes on the South Side. in one
area?"
We'll, It works that way. But I
didn't originate. ="
Mr.. Dalton, you gave millions
to help Negroes. May | ask you
why don't you charge them less
rent for fire-traps and check that