The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1957-01-01

thar contention out. One only has
to compare accounts given by two
OF more supposedly on-the-spot
reporters 10 some of the incidents
which have happened here to sus-
tain what has been said,
Take, Tor instance, the most re-
cent racial violence in Clinton -
the street brawl il which a white
Baptist minister was involved
with one Of the .townspeople after
escorting six Negro childrn. to the
High School. News services con-
flicced III their accounts of what
actually happened.
None of the reports coming
back to this community by way
Of news media seem to coincide
with each other, Or with what ad-
mttted witnesses to the alterca-
ton related Immediately after
ward They are still adainant in
their version Of the incident
Many interviewed witnes Sc s
agree that the Rev Paul Turner
was surrounded by a number OF
other people while the fighting
was actually going on; that he
was putting up a terrific battle:
tnat the fighting had pretty we'll
subsidized by The time the police
arrived on the scene; and that no
one was seen to be in direct phys
zeal contact with the preacher
except Clyde Cook, the man who
WAS arrested on the scene.
All witnesses who say they ac-
tually saw the fight start relate
"a version somewhat alike They
say the preacher first either
struck OF pushed the other man
off balance
20 GIVE OPINIONS
Altogether, some 20persons who
admitted they mad seen some
phase of the incident were inter-
viewed. Most Of these who did not
sea the alteration start. when
asked who they sympathized with,
minated that they did not think
any one had a right 70 attack the
preacher
OF those who said they saw the
beginning of the affray. when
asked the same question were
quick to state that they believed
tie preacher cot what was COM
ng to him
II is important to note here
that Of the many dozens of peo-
pie who were on the scene that
morning, only a minority portion
Of them have been typed as ac-
tive prosegregationists. This is
contrary to tie great spread given
by mos Of the Dress.
An analysis Of the publicity
given the incident shows much Of
the news proclaming She crowds
gathered that morning to be an
"unruly mob Of segregationists.
Little notice was taken that a
city election was taking place and (
that the polls were open for vot-
ers at the City Hall precinct with I
in mere yards of the scene Of the /
incident, II goes without saying
that any sort Of election in this /
small Tennessee town, Just as in'U
many other towns, is a day for
One question put by this re
porter. to All persons interviewed I
since the day Of the preacher /
episode" asked for their opinion
about whether the minister was
in the right concerning his deci-
sion , to escort the Negroes into
the school
A list Of the citizens talked to /
cover 1907 represents a crqss-sec- 4
lion Of the population. socially /
and economically Many Of them /
stated they were members Of them
preferred that their names not be !
used.
They are housewives and office |
WORKERS, preachers and railroad |
workers, farmers and retail clerks, |
eo1lege students and taxicab driv- |
ers, police officers and school |
coa3 miners and lawyers,
politicians and doctors, plant and |
factory workers and all types of |
business men and women.
The answer closest to an accord |
with the minister's line Of reason
ing about the matter came from
a member Of the Board of Dea-
cons in the Rev. Turner's First
Church.
He said, Brother Turner didn't !
us before he took on the |
Of escorting those |
kids to school, but if he thinks
what he did was right - then I |
reckon he mas a right to his opin-
ion.
Allen Kiser, owner of an auto
mobile body lshop, said, Brother |
Bullock ea/Babtist minister who /
is one Of the 16 defendants in the