Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-11-11
Aided Negro Vet:
kentucky Editor
Here; Faces IS
Years In Prison
By staff Correspondent


BY staff Correspondent
Carl Braden, the I0-year old
white southern newspaper copy
reader who was given term OF
Is years Imprisonment by Ken
lucky jury for "sedition" and who
Is out on $4,000 bail was in Min
neapolis this week. His conviction
stemmed from his purchase OF
new house for Negro friend in
an all white neighborhood.
Braden told Minneapolis report
ers Tuesday. that he was tried on
a sedition law enacted by the Ken
lucky legislature In 1920 at the
height OF the IWW hysteris and
the failing of thousands OF Social
lists. chiefly laboring people by At
torney General Mitchell Palmer.
Braden claims his real crime
WAS fighting for equality Of all
Americans and the fact that he
has consistently advocated equal
rights for Negroes.
The former copy desk editor for
the Louisville CoURIER-JOUR-
NAL. for years known a friendly
to the legitimate interests Of the
Negro citizens. got into trouble
when he purchased a home in an
ali-white suburban development
and transferred II TO Andrew
Wade ~. a Negro World War II
vet and father Of two children.
Because Braden and his wife
had been interested in liberal
causes and especially the civil
rights movement, he told reporters
Wade approached him and asked
him to purchase a home for him
outside the Negro ghetto.
Relieving In practicing what
he preached. Braden said he pur.
chased a newly constructed two
bedroom house. n square bunga-
low which had In addition 90 the
two bedrooms q living room and
kitchen In a semi rural suburb.
After title Of the property. was
conveyed 10 Braden and his wife,
a member Of the executive board
of the Louisville NAACP. the
couple transferred the home 10
Andrew Wade and his wife.
Then followed a series OF rock
throwings al the house, the FIR
ing OF shotg,Ins through windows
and on June 81. 1854, as the
Wades and friend slept the
home was bombed
Luckily the bombing did not in
| jure any Of the occupants OF the
house although II left the house
well demolished
After the earlier protests, three
white men. former fellow workers
Of Wade volunteered 10 come "a
his home in relays 10 protect the
place and his wife, who was preg
nant They and many Louisville
Negroes kept a constant vigil
Meantime. unknowns threatened
To bomb Braden's home In anothe,
part Of the city. efforts were made
TO get him fired from his Job or
the JOURNAL. and a mob visited
his house at II O'Clock At night
Because Of the threats and high
feeling a guard Of Fl police were
placed around and near his home
Despite loud demand for arrest
of the perpetrators Of the bomb
ings, the city was shocked wher
the Louisville prosecuting attor
nsy asked a grand jury 10 indie
Braden, his wife and four othe'
whites whose only crime had beer
that they helped guard the wad'
family during their spare TIM
were indicted for sedition One d
those indicted was a woman socia
worker who helped circulate let
ter pleading for tolerance and IN
Outstanding by the white neigh
bors Of the wsdes
Only one % the accused ad-
nnittsd he had been n rnrmber ~
the Communist party. Bradsn
said. Hs Is T. q. Ford. a retired
- year Old river boat captain.
He claims 10 have left the Com
munist party ten years ago.
Minneapolis nswSnsn question
- Brad~n sharply on who bruugh
him here for several speeches ~
aid he planned 20 tour a nurnbe
e northern cities asking help :,
finance his appeal against Tie -
~sar sentence He said the Amer
: an Civil Liberties linton has en-
rloyed an attorney 70 make NJ
appeal 70 the Kentucky high court
Rraden ssii than any mar
whi's or black who advocates
p sarIsl rights for Negroes in sub
i~ct 20 q trumpet Up charge o