Legacies: A History Journal for Dallas and North Central Texas, Volume 16, Number 1, Spring, 2004 Page: 47
64 p. ; 26 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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I
William Sidney Pittman was 61 years old when he entered Leavenworth Penitentiary in 1937.
Nonetheless, Pittman's enemies were determined
to silence his criticisms and a final confrontation
was approaching. Edward L. Snyder, a
representative of Universal Life Insurance
Company, found himself the object of an editorial
attack in the Brotherhood Eyes; he fought
back, not with libel charges, but by instigating a
legal attack that would land Pittman in federal
court.1' On May 22, 1936, Pittman was arrested
and charged with extortion and sending obscene
literature through the U.S. Mail.
The extortion charge was based on allegations
that Pittman used his publication to
advance or withhold criticism of various insurance
companies, depending on their willingness
to advertise in the Brotherhood Eyes. In a fivepage
letter from the Postal Inspector that elaborates
charges against Pittman, he is repeatedlysubjected to insidious racist attacks. The
Brotherhood Eyes is described as "obscene, lewd,
lascivious, indecent and filthy ... to appeal to the
sensuous sensibilities of negroes [sic]," causing
immoral and violent behavior. Pittman, "the
brainiest and shrewdest negro I have ever met,"
is portrayed as cleverly leaving no trace of his
extortion activities, which might have aided
prosecution. He is depicted as debauched and
drinking to excess, and having improper relationships
with women in his employ. The letter
concludes that Pittman's publication activities
could only result in the "killing of members of
his race," and the murder of Pittman himself.'7
Pittman was released on $500 bond, and
indicted by a grand jury on January 13, 1937.
The indictment consisted of five counts of using
the mail to send obscene material across state47
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Dallas Historical Society. Legacies: A History Journal for Dallas and North Central Texas, Volume 16, Number 1, Spring, 2004, periodical, 2004; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth35092/m1/49/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Historical Society.