The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-29
TOLD TO MOVE,
REFUSES, THREE
De AID IN FIRE.

TONTANA. Cshf-tANP> Two
weeks after recefvinEs note
threatening physical violence un-
less he moved his family from
their newly-scauired properly in
o white section here ODay II
Short was critically burned and
his wife. Helen, and two children,
Carol Ann. :. and Barry. 2, were
fatally scared IN mystery fire
and explosion =, the Short home
Sunday evening.
Short reported these and 9th
or pertinent facts 20 the Los An
seIes Sentinel in sn exclusive
Interview the neat day.
THE SHERIFF WHO irvesti-
gated the FIRE. reported mat Dep
uty Ccrnehson ard Deputy Glines.
'on one or two occasions. had
talked IN THIS Individual. MIR.
Short. and told him that he was
out of his bounds and ADVISED hln
that he contact the colOred Cham
her OF Commerce ana act together
Nth the white Chsmber OF Com
n1erce and sec IL .ot ~ dISa gree
sbleneSs could not be prevented
Atty. lVon Johnson o. Los An
releS. whom Short consulted after
receiving the threats, ADVISED that
Short, on his advice. get IN touch
with the FBl. Who told him ~
keep them informed Of any devei-'
cpmen,s
Following the fire. o hnSon
s7ain contacted the FBl and has
been advised that they have asked
Washington for permission 10 en-
ter the case. Grounds for an FBl
investigation are understood 10 he
the alleged existence Of consplr-
scy on the part Of two or more
persons 10 deprive Short ~ ms
constitutional rights Such con-
ap.rscy is considered a crime UNI
Ger federal statutes.
Fontana police stated that ae-
eording 10 Short, the explosion &C.
CURED when he was filing a coal
oil lantern.
The sherifs account declares:
sShort claims that they had no
electricity down there 10 use for
lighting and II was necessary 10
use coal oil lanterns. that one OF
these lanterns had run out OF oil
and he was al the door al the
back Of the house. on the south
side, filling this lantern with coal
oil. and that II exploded. throwing
the oil all over him and the fam
lily and to all parts Of the house"
Rumors were widespread in the
eolorcd community that Shorts
house was bombed by vigilante
whites who objected 10 Negroes
living in the South Fontana area.
CAROL ANN. the younger child.
received the worst burns. She is
learned TO have died at about $40
pm at the Southern Permanente
Hospital. approximately Is min
utes after she was admitted. The
boy, Barry. died at 2;l0 am Mon
day, and the mother about ii am.
the same day.
Short, whose worst burns were
understood TO be around the face
and head. was given $3.50
chance to survive by the attending
physicians. DIR. Norman Haugen.
One OF Shorts white neighbors,
: Boyd Gilpin. stated to a reporter
that he saw the fire start in the
early evening He said that il was
ut one side Of the house and that
ne thought il was trash fire and
therefore, didn't investigate i'm
mediately.
LOS ELES. CAMP
After conference Tuesday after
noon. California Atty. Gen. Rob-
ert w. Kenney stated that his or
flee would cooperate 10 the fullest
extent with San Bernsrdino Coun-
ty authorities in carrying on a
thorough investig CATION into the
fire that caused the deaths OF Mrs.
Helen Short. and her two children.
Carol Ann and Barry, on Sunday
night.
He Immediately dispatched an
assistant from his Office TO Fon-
tana The deputy left immediate
ly with Mrs Carrie Morrison. SIS
Ger OF the deceased. and news
paper photographer. They, togeth-
or with the district attorney OF
San Bernardino County. would al
tempt 10 obtain an interview with
q. II. Short, now IN the hospital
In serious condition.
The d strict attorney OF San
b er ard no County has also
pledged his fun cooperation IN
the investigation.
Attending the conference with
Kenney. IN addition 10 Mrs Nor
rison. were Leon H. Washington
Jr.. publisher OF the Los Ange les
Sentinel. and Atty. Loren Miller.