Probe Lynching of 2 Negroes
Item
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Title
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Probe Lynching of 2 Negroes
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Source Type
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Newspapers
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Author
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N/A
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Publisher
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The Knoxville News- Sentinel
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Publication Place
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Knoxville, TN
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Publication Date
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August 13, 1933
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Transcript
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Probe Lynching of 2 Negroes
Alabama Judge, Promising Thoro Investigation, Blames International Labor Defense.
Tucaloosa, Ala. Aug. 14
A grand jury will be summoned today to investigate the lynching of two young negroes charged with the murder of a white girl.
While the International Labor Defence whose attorneys were threatened with lynching and serving as the negroes council, charged local officals with responsibility for the lynching, Judge Henry B. Foster said he would order a "sincere and thoro" investigation.
Three negroes - Dan Pippen Jr. - 18, A.T. Harden, 16 and Elmore Clark, 28- all charged with the murder of Vaudine Maddox, 18, were taken from deputy sheriffs who were removing them to Birmingham for protection. The bodies of Pippen and harden where found by the highway early Sunday, riddled with bullets. Clark was not found and authorities thought the mob had told him to leave the state.
The negroes were handcuffed together when the mob took them. The handcuff that held Clark to Pippen had been unlocked. Pippen and Harden still were handcuffed together when found.
Judge Foster blamed the International Labor Defense for the lynching. he said local feeling was stirred by the reports the organization would make another effort to have its attorneys defend the negroes. officals had knowledge that a group of citizens were determined to keep "this case from becoming another Scottsboro affair," he said.
Recently when the negroes were called into court, several hundred men surrounded the courthouse whwre the attorneys, irvin Schwab, of New York, Allen Taub of New York, and Frank Irwin, of Birmingham, sought refuge. There was no serious violence at that time, however.
The attorneys were warned to stay out of the case, but a few days ago. it was announced that the International Labor Defense would again attempt to place lawyers on the defense counsel.
Gov. B. M. Miller, in a lengthy telegram to judge Foster last night urged an immediate grand jury inquiry. He referred to the lynching as being of "gravity and heinousness."
