San Antonio Register (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, March 26, 1943 Page: 4 of 8
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r
«i.\N anwio uecistet,
Friday. march
4
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i
RAN ANTONIO REGISTER
A Publication Dedicated to Riffht, Justice, am! Progress
rriBMNHEn rmio.vT ok kach wiikby "
4 THE REGISTER PUBLISHING COMPANY
OFFirE —07 NORTH CKHTKK 8TIIKKT
PHOJTE CATHKBHAI, tni—r. O. UH \IVKIt ISM
BAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
■ntered as aeconit-claaa matter Hay S. 1931. nt !>• Toil OITr at Ran
Antonio, Texas, under Art of March S ^%97. A flv«r fating r tB* fit: uftheri on
Wqneat. Subscriptions rate*: 1 year. $2.00; C months, $I.2&; single copy 5c.
hational AoveimsiNa rffimtntativc# w. s. zirr CO.. CHICAGO. NCW VOStC.
los anckl.ss. nOCHCSTin. KANSAS CITY AND LAGOS. GOLD COAST. AFRICA.
«AL NKWS MATTSN SHOULD OK IN OUW OrriCI ST TUESDAY NOON TO AIWAH IN
•UffttSMT ISSUC. NCWS MATT* I* MUST SB PLAINLY WBITTBN AND ON ONi-Y ONB
«IDZ O0 COP* INtIT. THB NIGHT TO CONOBNSB MATTSN ANO #ON CONVBNICNCB ON
SAFETY IS RBSKkVBD UNLBSS SUCH MATTER IS PAID roN.
KiecssY
VAI.MO C. BKLUNaBH_
*OSKI>HINK O. BELLINGER
tt. J ANDREWS.
JASl-RR T. DUNCAN
S. C1SLKSTE ALLEN
...Editor-Managing Editor
Executive Assistant
Advertising Manager
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION IS NEEDED
rFMIEKE hag been, of course, considerable discussion, during
the past several days, concerning last week's "bus inci-
dent," when a 16-year-old Phillis Wheatley high school boy
was slugged over the head, from behind, by a City Transit
company bus driver. The driver, it might be well to point out,
was reported discharged by the company.
Recalled, also, in the general conversation, was the bns
tow, last fall, when a driver turned his bus off its regular
*oute, and, with an outburst of profanity, and at pistol point,
•rdered a group of Wheatley students off the vehicle, threat-
ening to "kill every Ooddamn one" of them. He explained his
conduct by declaring he ''just couldn't take" any more of the
taunts, "wise cracks," and unflattering invitations that had
%een hurled at him by the high school youngster*.
There was considerable indignation at the time of both
incidents, and, in the gun-waving escapade, a number of par-
ents called Register, and conferred with each other as to what
mitrht be taken, and there WAS some unified action.
At that time, Register hoped that the incident would cause
« permanent unification of at least the parents. Register was
iiopcful that there would develop a strong Parent-Teacher asso-
ciation, for is there anyone who should show more interest in
the activities, the welfare, and the progression of the school
jrouth .than the parent?
It xloes seem to us that with these recurring incidents, par-
ticular^ on the publie buses, and with wise counsel and guid-
ance more needed in these hysterical times of war, than ever
before, that a strong association of parents and teachers is
«iore to be desired than ever.
Courses of action, in au emergency might be easily plotted,
with an already well organised, effective organization, and
ot only is such a body needed as a matter of self-protection,
%ut it eould certainly do much in attaining a solution to some
•f the recurring difficulties, through a program 6f education.
Cartainly, much needs to be dons in the improvement of
*he «onduct of a number of the students themselves It
is an undeniable fact that the tongues of many of the
yonagrters are not only quick and sharp, but vulgar and
provocative. Certainly, many of them could well be taught
the- virtues of more courtesy, more tolerance, and more
gentility. Certainly, this should come from the parent, from
thecoma training.
13ke teachers., after ali, can do just so much. One of the
thicks tbejr have only small success in doing is. supplying that
peculiar training tbat coons only from parental care and
guidance, aad, sympathetic understi
parents as are all other*,
the
<
AMflUCAN KRM-Wtod
ah IM*flRATION TO 00*.
to ay
HlWW JCKHVm AN5 KttlAAM
mtrrs went the tint
AMOKM MOMS TO MCCIVl
TH£ COYtTC* C*0IX K OUfWtl
SR?& s.
fctfOM THC VMA,
JSHmOK V/A> A r*ntRil
WKW t" If,**!!
Ac
BATTLt
KEMRV JOHNSO*
V/RfR A KAIWIft fwmr
aoiMn.sn UVEULY wocweo
IITTU ItfWCt WW TO V *K 1
•win. WTWW twm. wwrrs w
WMUINb UK WlCtCfiS MO, TK
TO ~ .t
** A MtKMtt,
HASH ntCatH B01O
,Wt jomsox
. . _ KIUW IWMt of THC haimib,
sat weu«K* ok aouro at u«r twenty foo* mokc tt
San Antonio WAAC
Starts Training at
Fort Des Moines
FORT DES MOINES. Is.—Auxil-
iary Eur* If. Parrsmore i f 907
Virginia boulevard. Ran Antonio.
Texaa, and Auxiliary Myrtle R.
Tatven of Horesvllle, Texas, ire
Included In the croup of several
hundred Negro vnmui who have
started training In the Women'*
Army Auxiliary Corps it fttst
WAAO training oenter, Fort Des
Moines, Iowa. Their rank la the
WAAC equlvatent of prlrste la the years
army.
Before her enrullment In the
WAAC, .Auxiliary Parrsmore M
a cook in 8m Antonio. She haa
alao worked ss a bookkeeper In, employment ®'
Houston. Teas*. She i a gradu-
ate at Doos^as hi£ti school la
San Antonio.
Auxiliary Ponacsore has-a cow
ji lu the air cor pa, Corp. Willie
On The Other Hand....
—^8y JASPER T. DUNCAN
HPHE INCBEASINO
■ urs seekers, to use
created a nation-wide
problem of flareup*
in deplorable clashes that
itj.
Sau Anloulo was the ft tat
City' In the world to go
and discard Its street cars
ago, and.
until the recent
war 1 n f 1 o x of
outsiders, s n d
the accesssrj
y M
sod
dersUcdiag has
drivers, has been
fairly free from
each etsshes.
Meanwhile,
for workers, as well as pleas
as means of transportation has
of congestion, and a south-side
tto races whieh frequently result
injtuy, personal and comrnun-
b to the conduct of the white bus
drivers, and their "dead heed"
companions riding and talking to
the drivers, causing inoch of the
trosble.
on THB OTHRB HAND, there
has been fir too little sali< about
the persons! condu t of our peo-
ple when riding the buses ss well
as oa the streets generally.
These thin** (fast provoke
fights, dlspates, clashes, at
eaten as* far to* frequently
traceaUo to the laud, raucous
iim imltrh kto ill knlCa
MMWWMSB
I they cnt J a f „W<th
Mr.
t advice, that supervision, that understanding thst only A. Montgomery. She wis.jbrmor-
the parent can give, mnst five
It seems to us, that tiiese problems, and others might be
srfhrcd- to some extent, by a strong Parent-Teaebers association
in every sehooi, and s city-wide union of the associations for
a fai-reaching cooperative effort.
We believe that • etrong, cohesive, active,~efty3r!3e Par-
ent-Teacher association would pay exeeUeflT* difWWTS—snd in
a vcrjr short time. - —■
THE NAACP NEXDS YOU
* ' *
r|,ITE local branch of the National Auociatioa for the Ad-
"• iscaassa-c£--Sot.-Twi for.a eia-
bersh^s, Sunday afternoon. The drive will start with a
mamnfoth mass meeting at three o'cloct at St. Paul Methodist
church, and Is an effort to enlist members of both races info
the organization which has nationally and internationally spon-
sored and fought for the rights, privileges and opportunities of
the colored peoples of the world.
The Register, founded on the principles of right, justice and
progress, heartily endorses the campaign for memberships, and
ars>es "its readers and supporters to cooperate, with their
money* in helping keep alive and active the organization'which
has st.<*od as a bulwark of activity and result for colored people
for more than thirty years.
The achievements of this association, composed of colored
and white people, of the right and progressive thinking groups
of this nation, have been many, over a period of these more
then thirty years They list among their work for which the
members' money has been spent, the continued demand that
colored people throughout the nation should serve on juries
. where and when qualified; abolition of poll tax payment re-
ceipts as a prerequisite to vote; full entrance into the demo-
cratic primaries (which are tantamount to election in southern
states) and divers other attainments many of which have
borne fruit and have won places for our people in the integral
portion of American life that hag been denied.
Contributing to the NAACP campaign through member-
ships is as important to colored people in this country as any
other community necessity, for in all their strivings, the or-
ganization has dwelt solely upon the basis of equality of op-
portunity, rights, justice in the counts, snd enforcement of the
Constitution of the United States in all sections of the nation.
Buy War bonds, stamps! Subscribe to the Red Cross, USO
and other funds and wartime necessities, but let the colored
people and right-thinking white people of this community not
forget that the NAACP, that for more than a quarter of a
century has stood forth for rights of colore'd people, needs as
never before to have its existence further assured in ths inter-
est of humanity and democracy.
ly a school teacher In Jlotssrille.
She Is i graduate of Douglass high
school In San Antonio, 3£t*s, and
attended TMotaon coll^s.ts Aus-
tin, Tecai. and Prairit^l** col-
lege la Prairie Tlew, fgw
Back for Tax
Quail t
Chaplain, Major
J. C Griffin, to
Speak Here, Sun.
M:ijor James C. Griffin, chaplain,
fi. S. third srmy headquarters, rt.
Saw Houston."one of the four Ne-
KT ••hiiplains in-the army with the
ntnk y/ iii.tjor. qpll be sue<t. speak-
er ftmiday mojning nt the 11
«iViock Tv<*rt;°tilp hour at Second
r.a'rti-t church, the Key. 8. H.
, sad. as i Im. the.
' nlng at the West End Baptist
church, the Iter. W. I. Rector, pas-
tor.
Major Griffin, s forceful, schol-
arly speaker, entered the array
two years ago on leave from the
pastorate of Capitol View Baptist
church. Washington, D. C., and
came to Ft. Sam Hoeston recently
from Camp SwUt.
He u a native ut Norfolk, Vir-
ginia, a product of the schools
there, and of Hwrgrd wilrtWtlf,
Washlnsrton. 1). C- and his been
bee rd here lu addresxes on farmer
STAFF SOT. WIIJJK WKIGHT
on leave to pay income tax
Staff Sergeant Willie Wright,
well known young San Antonio
business man, and owner of two
taverns, was in the city, last week,
on special leave, to p«y his income
tax.
Sgt. Wright, In January—then a
"buck" private—became the first
San Antonian to Invest most of Ills
assets in War bonds, when he pur-
chased $9,202 worth of bonds, at
Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he waa
then stationed at the artillery re-
placement training center.
He had been allowed to come to
Ban Antonio to convert certain of
his assets Into ca h, then returned
to the post where the bond pur-
chase was made. His was the
largest single purchase of war
bonds recorded in the 31st battal-
lion, to which he waa attached.
Tn the picture alxive, Sgt. Wright
Is shown at the time he was mak-
ing his nearly (10,000 bond invest-
ment.
In February, at a grest pstrlotlc
rally, Sen Antoulans inveated some
>72,000 In \frar bonds and stamps,
and at which time there were one
frtnoon investor, and two p r ons
buying $10,000 worth of bonds.
If San Antonio should get credit
for the bonds purchased by Sgt.
Wright, with the subsequent pur-
chases since the raHy, aud those
before, then the total of bond and
stamp purchases, by San Antonio
Negroes, Is approaching the $100,-
000 mark.
Fart Wn
•oT.ether Taaas cities
ji>m hsd As
-resulting alas ta ths alsa
„big sf racial anUganlsa
brings ahset ths "fttp or
- shoulder- of both driver
passenger.
Negro newspapers have
much to allay auch situations
caning atteutlon of the powers
Say That loo Fe
Essential Negro<j
Appeal DraftSta
Br Th« AMoclated N« o Pi
WASHINGTON. D. C.-There'
i growing concern in some quai
that, in view of the Increasing
, mands on the part of the a
| forces for more men. and the
tlnual adjustment In the csi
which might permit defermes
many Negroes sre not avallli
themselves of their privilege to
peal their cases to the authd
of last resort.
One observation made la thi
many Negroes have manifested
"why-bother" attitude rather thi
push their cases where tliej
there was Justification. A reirle
of selective service regula't
falls to disclose anything that'
mlts a local board to deny a
the right to appeal. Where this
lias been dohe, there Is machinery
by which the appeal may be $$4*
to ths higher suthorlty who initu*
can order that the records hjl
hsnded up.
At a time when the Negro -
press is under heavy attach
by those who would "moiile" ,
It, K la well to know tl&k
eare has been exercised to see*
that local boardi In uerttjkl.
areas have not used their
drafting authority as a
of eliminating
t This thine can be
Aptonlo and la the territory
t> i-roundlng
concerted
parents, ministers, dub and
| department.
If the teachers !■ our school
system would take time oot
dally with each claaa they la-
atrnet, and devote a brief peri-
od to good manners, and par-
Appointed
aenal and public conduct, this
would go a long wa.v toward
altorlatliij; the situation among
the younger generation.
OV THE OTHER HAND, we
realize that, the great American
home has been largely disinte-
grated because of the necessity of
both papa ami mama getting up
early lo go to work to earn money
for Iho rationed products their
brood must eat, and do not have
much lime with them for family
training. But tliey could augment
the work the teachers of the youth
of our race should make para-
mount.
There should, at this time, never
be a club meeting of a fraternal or
other organization of the Race
without the discussion of public
conduct with the Idea In mind of
Improving Ihe general conduct nnc!
appearance of the group In public
■s well an private.
ON Till; OTHKR HAND,
we strongly advocate the en-
forcement of the law against
She use publicly of profane and
obscene laiiiruage, au«l the jail-
ing snd fining of some of these
offenders. This, In a measure,
ms) serve as a deterrent to
others U they see that the
police mean buslnnexs in help-
ing out In this fast growing
crisis.
There l. deilnlte need for a ra-
cial check up within the group,
and an effort to get right and
stay right in tills mutter of public
conduct. There la no better time
to start this check up thau now.
Commentary—
I
THS K0AD TO DAMASCUS
By RUTH TAYLOB
CENTURIES ago a proud, ambitious man walked along th«
Damascus road, down that great caravan trail which cot
through the Middle East like a brown ribbon, winding over
hills and down into valleys, through desert land into fertile
cases, on its way to that walled city of antiquity, in whose ba-
hitlon The supremo heroism will
lie called from ns before these com-
roars could be found men from
oil the far places and of all races,
That journey on the Dnmnseus
road marked a crucial date In
history for all of us, for It was
on that robber-menaced road that
the light came to 8nul and changed
hint Into the Panl who gave his
life for the welfare of the world.
On that road there came upon him
the light that stripped him of self-
pride and haired, to clothe hiui In
the rohes of humility and love.
We, as a nation, are today plod-
ding along tbo road to Damascus.
As we follow In Saul's footsteps,
let us nlso follow In Paul's. Lot
ns pray, too, to see the light at
aU times, and to follow where It
lends—the light of the spirit of
brotherhood, the light of the spirit
of sacrifice, the light of the spirit
of devotion to what we know to lie
the right
We. as Individuals, must today,
more than ever, pnt away the Imp-
ing months nre past. We cannot
meet the challenge of the times If
our Interests nre vested in ottr
selves alone. If we are weighed
down under the burden of old prej-
udices, hatreds and desires. We,
too, must again see tho clear light
return to the first prlnclplca of
the religion In which we were
brought up, and resolve truly to
follow the command of that other
traveler along the road who said:
"Put on the whole nrmonr of
God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. For
we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness In
high placoa. Wherefore take onto a®
you the whole armour of God, that
ye may be able to wlthatand 'n
the evil day, and having dona all
I I
plugs of self-will aud personal am-| to stand."
"Native
Son"
By KICHABO WRIGHT
tContinued from last weak)
"The court la waiting to hear
yoor plea," the judge said.
"Yes; of course, yotir honor,"
Buckley said. "Now, what sre the
Issues here? Tho Indictment folly
states the crime to which the de-
fendant has entered a pics of
guilty. The counsel for the defense
claims, snd would have this court
believe, that the mere act of enter
Ing a plea of guilty to this Indict-
ment should be scoepted ss evi-
dence mitigating punishment.
"Speaking for the grlef-atrlcken
(amlllea of Mary Dalton and Bessie
Moars, and for ths people of the
state of Illinois, thousands of whom
are massed out beyond that win-
How wilting for ths law to take
Its course, I My that, no such
quibbling, no such trickery shall
pervert/ this court sort chest the
fetfla
believe that
gttfitt'attar dodging ths law,
attempting to amrder the officers .......
■"" TJT RS.T«Sw
be designated by the name under
which the indictment was drawn.
Mr. Max, I think you should allow
the state's attorney to continue."
"There's nothing further I hare
to say, your honor," Buckley said.
"If It pleaaea the court, I am ready
to call my wttneaacs."
"How msny witnesses have yon?"
Max asked.
"Sixty!" Buckley aald.
"Tour honor," Max said. "Big-
ger TtomsK haa entered a plea of
■ullty. It aeema to me that sixty
wltnasasa are not needed."
"I intend to prove that this de-
fendant is aana, that he was and
la responsible for these frightful
Crimea," Buckley said.
The court will hear them," the
Judge said.
Tour honor," Max ssid. "Let
ma dear this thing -op. As you
kuaw, tha time granted ma to pre-
pare a defense for Bigger Thomas
is pitifully brief, so brief as to be
without eutuple. This besrtng wis
rushed to the top of the calendar
that this boy might be tried
while the em per of the people Is
white-hot ,i
'A change of venue la of no
value now. The asms condition of
hyettria exists all over thla state
These drcumatanoae have plica!
ma Is. a position ef aet doing what
I think wisest, tat of doing what
If anybody
ana in tne lermory joo^ up0B as eridei
It, we believe, through. u„t ^ nnniahment 1
1 efforts of the tea^r*. ^
evidence mltlgat-
this Is
I—< — insult to-the - urt and to the la- . -m«h. i. .
organisation haada aed-ttee gettoe <MMyeot neoele of thla stats! If treiise yonth. his Mental and anso-
. . I«I II1V 1WP" w 1IA, .mJ MIUV. .k. ha
Friends, Tesans, countrymen,
head our pies The army needs
icssp metal lu booth across the
Jfto- —
With the approval of Gen. I/e^f's
B. Hershey, director of selective
service, Lt Col. Campbell C. John-
son, Negro adviser to the director,
in 1W1 wrote the editors ef sll
newspapers aasurlng then that
due consideration would be given
aU cases of newspaperman
deferment to avoid misuse of
authority.
Newspapermen, however, are sot
the only onas whose work OS/
make theui essential, and there-
fore would warrant deferment It
was explained that Individual
cases must be weighed aud
MRS. I'AI LINF, R. BROWN
named to extension staff
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas —Dr. E.
R. Evans, state leader of exten-
sion, has announced the addition
of Mrs. Pauline R. Brown to the
state staff. She will be *salatant
district sgent working With Mrs.
I. W. Rowan, supervising district
home demonstration agent.
Mrs. Brown entered co-operative
extension service June 1, 1933, as
county home demonstration agent
of Gregg county with headquarters
at Longvlew, Texas.
8he was tranaferred to the state
office at Prairie View, October 1,
1M2, to serve as acting aupervls-
Ing district home demonstration
agent On February 1, 1043,"Mrs.
Brown became assistant district
agent wlion Mrs. Rowan returned
to the service from a semester's
leave to study.
Every bomb must have a metal
lining so give your scrap and keep
tho front lines firing.
Now It can be told, the scrap
metal story—It's needed now to
*tWia fas Old fllom ..jSiaiif*—-
euoh Crimea admit of isch
fanae, if ihla fiend's ltf* la spared
because of such a defense, I shall
rsstga my ofttce and toff those peo-
ple out there In the streets that I
can no longer protect their llvea
and property! i shall tell them
that our eourte, swamped with
mawkish aentlmsnlalny. are
looser fit instruments to safeguard
the public peace! I shall teil them
that we have abandoned the fight
for civilization!
"After entering auch a plea, the
counael for the defense indicates
that he shall ask thla court to be-
lieve that the mental and emotion-
al life of the defendant are such
thst he does not besr full respon-
sibility for these cowardly rapes
and murders. He asks this court
to imagine a legendary No Man's
Land of human thought and feel-
ing. He tells us that a man Is sane
enough to commit a crime, but Is
uot sane enough to be tried for it!
Never In my life have I heard such
sheer legal cynicism, such a cold-
blooded calculated attempt to be-
devil and evade the law In my
life! I say that this shall not be.I
"The state shall insist that this
man be tried by Jury, If the de-
fense continues to say that he Is
insane, ft his plea Is simply
guilty, then the state demands the
death penalty for these black
crimes.
"At such time as the court may
indicate, I shall offer evldenco and
put witnesses upon tho stand to
testify that this defendant is sane
and is responsible for these bloody
crimes. . .
' "Tour honor!" Max called.
"Tou shsll have time to plead
for your client!" Buckley shouted.
"Let me finish!"
"Do you have an objection?" the
judge asked, turning to Max.
"I do!" Max said. "I hesitate
tn Interrupt the state's attoniey,
but the Impression he Is trying to
make Is that I claim that this hoy
is Insane. That is not true. Tour
honcr, let me state once again that
this poor boy. Bigger, enters a
pies of guilty. . . .'*
"I object!" Backley etouted. "I
object to the counsel for the de-
fendant speaking of this defendant
before this court by any name
other than tliat written In the In-
dictment. vjuch names as 'Bigger1
and 'this poor boy' are used to
arouse sympathy.
"Sustained," the judge said. "In
the fatan toe lieCeMant should
the
a Najro
to crests
go deeper Into thla when I asm
up. It la because of the atum&t
Instinctive nature of theae crimes
that I say tbat the mental and
emotional life of thla hoy la im-
portant In deciding his punish-
ment But as the taate v iets the
appetite of the mob by needlessly
parading wltneaa after wttneas he-
fore thla court as the state In-
flames the public mind further with
the ghastly detalla of thla boy'a
crimes, I shall llsteh for tha State's
attornsy to tall thla coOtf why
Bigger Thomaa killed. *.-•
"Thla boy Is young; nOt onljr In
years, but In his attitude toward
life. Hs Is not old enough to Vote.
Living In a 'black belt' district ha
la younger than moat boya of his
age, for hs has not come la con-
tact with ths wide variety and
depths of Ufa Ha haa hid' but
two outlets for his emotions; work
and sex—and he knew these la
their most vicious and degrading
forma.
'Mr. Max," the jud«« said: "Ton
may proceed to caU your witness."
The defanss does not con teat
the evidence latroduoed hen," Max
— * "I therefore waive the right
to call witnesses. As 1 stated be-''
fore, at the proper time I Shall
present a la Bigger Tbomaa'
behalf."
The judge Informed Buckley that.
hsur
that I aa going to
no wit
the eta ad. I shall be
Bigger Thomas. I
it to show that Us
-i-#"
f
9
Ji:
I sc
li-
lac With the
"The la
altlee of
al
tlofthl Rfb. and the reason why he
haa pleaded guilty, ahould and
most mitigate his punishment
The states attorney has sought
to create tha ballet that I'm try-
ing to spring some snrprlae upon
this court by having my client en-
ter a plea of guilty: he haa sought
to fosUt the notion thst soma
legal trick la Involved In the of-
fering of evidence to mitigate this
boy's punishment But we hare bad
many, many such cases to come
liefore the courts of Illinois. The
Loeb snd Leopold case, for ex-
ample. This Is a regular proced-
ure provided for by the enlight-
ened and progressive lsws of our
stste. Shsll we deny tbLs boy,
tiecauae he la poor and black, tha
same protection, the same chsnce
to be beard and undemtood that
we hare so readliy granted to
others?
"Tour honor, I am not a
coward, but I could not ask that
thla boy be freed and given a
chance at life while that mob
howls beyond that window. I ask
what I must. I ask, over tbe shrill
cries of the mob, tbat you spare
bis life!
"The law of Illinois, regarding
a plea of guilty to murder before
a court, Is as follows: the court
may Impose ths death penalty, Im-
prison tho dofendant for life, or
for a term of not less than four-
teen years. Under this law the
court Is able to hear evidence as
to tbe aggravation or mitigation
of the offense. The object of this
law la to caution tbe court to seek
to find out why a man killed and
to allow that why to be tbe meas-
ure of the mitigation of the pun-
ishment.
"I noUoed that the state's at-
torney did not dwell upon why
B.igger Thomaa killed those two
women. There la a mob waiting,
he aaya, so let us kill. His only
plea Is that If we do not kill, then
the mob will kill.
"H# did not discuss ths motive
for Bigger Thomas' crime because
lie could not. It Is to his advan-
tage to act quickly, before men
have had time to think, before the
full facta are known. For he
knows that If the full facts were
known, If men had time to reflect
he could not stand there and shont
for death!
at motive actuated Bigger
Thomas? There waa no motive as
motive is understood nnder our
laws todtb your honor. I shall
evMeoca
by tbe
eaeigjr^esmgsl
the death ssa-
Thoauia, this 4e- .
epollsr of woman!" L v
"Mr. Max will yon be pespared
to present your plea tomorrow r
the judge asked.
"I will, your honor.'*
Back la his cell, Bigger limiting
lifelessly onto hta <*L gsoa„lt'U-,..
sll be over, he thought. Toshowott
might bd the lsst day; he hoped
so. His sense o£ tiwe km go.-icj
night and day were merged sow.
The next morning ha was awake
In his cell when Msx cams. On his
way to court he wondersd what
Vax would say about him. Could
Max really save hta Ufa? Ia the
act of th'nklng the thought, be
thrust lt from him. If he kept hope
from his mind, then whatever hap-
pened would seem natural. As ha
waa led down the hall, paat win-
dows, hs saw the mob and the
troops atill surrounded the Court
house. The building was atlU
Jammed with inuttsrlng people. Po-
licemen had to make an aisle for
him In tbe crowd.
A pang of fear shot through hint
when he saw that he had been the
first to get to the table. Max waa
somewhere behind him, lost la the
crowd. It was then that be felt
more deeply than ever what Man
bad grown to mean to blm. He
was defenseless now. What was
there to prevent those people from
coming across those raUlugs ag.d
dragging him iuto tbe street, now
that Max was not hers? He sat,
not daring to look around, poo-
sclous thst every eye was upuu
blm. Max's preseuce during- the
trial had made him feel that seaje-i.,
where in tbat crowd thst stored,
at him so steadily and resentfully,.
was something he could oUng to,
if only he could get at k. There -
smoldered in blm the hops that:
Mai had made him feel tn. ths -
first long talk thoy had ha'd. '
he did not want to risk trying to
make it flare into flame bow, not
with thla trial aud the worda of
hate from Buckley, Bui ueuuet
did he snuff it out; he s'irsed ty-
k pt It as his list refuge.
When Max came. Bigger saw
tbat bis face was pale and drawn.
There were dark rings beneath tha
eyes. Max laid a hand on Bigger's
knoe aud whispered:
"I'm going to do all I cau, sou."
Court opeued and the judge
said;
"Are you nail# to proct Mr
Max?'
"Yes, your honor." -
.4
$ ;-v„— V
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Andrews, U. J. San Antonio Register (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, March 26, 1943, newspaper, March 26, 1943; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth399499/m1/4/: accessed May 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.