Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-11
Nat King Cole Attacked
On Stage by White Men

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, April IL
(P).-Nat king Cole, Negro
singer and pianist, was attacked
on stage last night by a group of
white men who climbed across
the f1oodlights at Birmingham
Municipal Auditorium.
An audience of nearly 1000
gasped as the 37-year-old enter
tainer was knocked to the floor,
together with a microphone into
which he was singing.
Police, who had been alerted
TO watch for any indication Of
trouble. SWarmed from the wings
TO grab three men on stage.
Three others were taken into
custody later.
The six were charged with as
sault with intent to murder.
Cancels Appearances
Mr.. Cole today Cancelled sched-
uled appearances in three other
Southern cities. He said before
boarding a plane for Chicago
that he would not appear tonight
at Greenville, S. c.. or later at
Charlotte or Raleigh. N. c. He
will resume at Norfolk, Va. Sat-
urday.
He said he was mot mad with
anyone in the South.
The people here in Birming-
ham were just great" he added.
Il Just hope l can get back to
Alabama again soon to sing. l
know l have many friends in the
State and l believe in them
All those arrested denied that
the North Alabama Citizens
Councils campaign against rock
and roll and Negro music" had
anything to do with their &C
tons.
Mr. Cole is not a rock and
roll singer He is principally
a ballad singer.
Detectives f. K. Alley and T. F.
Lindsey said the men told officers
they intended to seize the micro
phone and make speech for
segregation.
Charged With Felony
Those charged with assault
with intent to murder, felony
punishable by UP to 20 years in
prison. were:
Willie Richard Vinson, %: f.
L. Vinson. 25; Kenneth Adams.
35; Orliss Clevenger, 10. and
Mike Fox, 81. all of Admission,
and Miss Jesse w. Mabry, 43.
Birmingham.
Outside the auditorium police
found car containing two 90
rifles. a homemade blackjack
and pair Of brass knucks."
Mr. Adams operates a filing
station at Admission. The Vim
sons work for a foundry there
and Mr.. Clevenger is employed
by an electrical appliance firm
Mr.. Adams is a member of
the Board of Directors of the
Admission Citizens Council. His
group is affiliated with the North
Alabama group headed by Asa
f. Carter. executive secretary,
and prime mover in the anti
race music campaign,
Mr.. Carter appeared at police
headquarters last night with
several other men to get the
details" of the Cole attack.
Police refused to talk with him.
Split Over Issues
Other citizens council groups
have split with Mr. Carter over
his music campaign and other
issues.
These groups maintain that
the citizens council movement
should be confined solely to
legal fight against ending segre-
cation in public schools and
elsewhere.
The Birmingham News said OF
the Cole incident in an editorial
today.
This community and all the
rest OF Alabama are deeply
shocked and ashamed by the
outrageous attack on Nat King
Cole
This deplorable incident is a
very disturbing example OF the
grave dangers involved in ex-
tremist passions and actions in
the troubled field Of racial re-
lations.
THE fullest investigation OF
the case, bringing out all possible
information about it, is called
for. And. of course, the law
should move promptly toward
prosecution"
The attack came in the first
Of two concerts scheduled under
Birmingham's rigid segregation
laws The first performance was
for white patrons only. The sec
ond was given before a Negro
audience.
The attack on Mr. Cole, a ma
tive of Montgomery, Ala, caught
The singer by surprise
"1his thing hammered ~ fnri