Booker T. Jr. Blames Wife Dances, Autos and Parties Broke Up Home, Says Booker T. Washington Jr. Was Not Cruel To Wife, But A Devoted And Sacrificing Husband
DOMESTIC OFFICIALS WINS CASE; DIRECTORS DECLARE DIVIDEND; REPORT According to reports coming to a Leader representative, the Domestic Life Insurance Company was victor in the suit brought against the officials of the company by a group of stockholders, charging mismanagement, etc. The case has been in court several months, but it was finally decided in favor of the defendants. It is also reported that the meeting of the stockholders of the company last week was one of the most harmonious in the history of the company, that the officers made fine reports and that it was recommended that a dividend be paid. The following directors were elected; G. P. Hughes, J. E. Smith, W. F. Turner, W. W. Spradling, Chas. H. Brannon, A. B. Ridley, O. P. Mack, Dr. C. H. Parrish, Clarence Young, Rev. R. D. Stoner, Rev. M. B. Lanier, Dr. R. H. Bacote, J. W. Dunn, George W. Martin, J. M. Shelton, Miss Nellie Frye, Dr. C. W. Snyder, John S. Davidson, Dr. J. H. Peters, A. G. Strauss and S. G. Washi  ngton. The Directors met and elected the following officers: G. P. Hughes, President; J. E. Smith, Vice President and Agency Director: Dr. C. H. Parrish, 2nd Vice President; Rev. R. D. Stoner, 3rd Vice President; George W. Martin, 4th ice President; W. F. Turner, Secretary and General Manager; O. P. Mack, Assistant Secretary; Clarence Young, Treasurer, W. W. Spradling, Auditor; Dr. C. W. Snyder, Medical Director. Executive Committee: Dr. C. W. Snyder: A. B. Ridley, O. P. Mack, Clarence Young, W. W. Spradling, G. P. Hughes, J. E. Smith, W. F. Turner, Chas H. Brannon, Dr. C. H. Parrish.
TESTIMONY OF EMPLOYER SAVES SUSPECT Frank Robinson, 28, 1121 E. Washington Street, was arraigned in Police Court on a charge of stealing caol from the B. & O. Railroad. The arresting officer claimed that Robinson had mounted a passing freight (Continued on page 8)
LEADER SECURES NEEDED HELP TO PUT OVER PROGRESSIVE PROGRAM Cooperation Of Readers, Business Men And General Public Asked In addition to the improvements and installing of new matchinery as announced last week the Leader management is acquainting its readers and the public with some of those recently connected with the company in its program of progress and expansion: The Leader's bigger and better service effort calls for reinforcements in its executive editorial, news gathering, circulation and mechanical departments, and we carry the likeness of Mr. John H. Thompson, a former Chicago newspaper man. JOHN H. THOMPSON Mr. Thompson has had wide experience in the game, having worked on the editorial staff of the Chicago Whip, the Chicago Bulletin and the Cincinnati Bulletin as an editor reporter and circulation manager. Mr. Thompson comes to the Leader as manager of the Circulation Department but who give each department the benefit of his knowledge and experience. Mr. Samuel Jo  rdan, the other young man whose likeness appears in these columns is a well known Louisville boy, a product of our Central High School he entered Chicago University where he began a course in journalism. He received some practical training with the Chicago Defended and the Chicago Whip. Returning to Louisville he connected himself with the Louisville News as reporter. He is now City Editor of the Leader and assistant in the Advertising Department. Mr. Simmons Wood of Danville, Ky., doesn't like to show himself, but he brings to the headed ability, experience and initiative. Wood is the son of Dr. J. E. Wood, President of the National Baptist Convention, leading Kentucky pastor and editor of the Danville Torchlight. Young Wood not only managed his father's plant, but was one of the indispensible men in one of Danville's leading daily news papers plants. He is in charge of the Leader's new machinery and assistant to the publisher in the printing department. Mrs. Jessie Payne Lyons, who started with the Leader some years back but more recently with the Louisville News is now back on the job in the printing department. SAMUEL JORDAN All these are recent additions, more to be announced later. The Leader therefore continues to carry out its policy of making more opportunities for members of the race. Mr. Thompson and Mr. Jordan will have business with our readers, business men and the public generally and we are sure they will be courteously received.
THIRD TIMER ESCAPES LIFE Roosevelt Swanager, who pledad guilty to a charge of storehouse breaking, and on  whom the grand jury twice, escaped the monotony of a life in prison, by the skin of his teeth Tuesday. Swanager, who is alleged to have burgularized a west end store of the A. & P. Co., is up for his third felonious offense. Upon his previous sentence to prison, the trial judge warned him that another offense would bring the maximum penalty on his head, but the defendant violated the sentence for a third time, accordingly he was liable to a life sentence from the jury.  But owing to recommendation of clemency on the part of the Commonwealth Attorney Swanager (Continued on page 8) 
HAZEL HARRISON HERE FEBRUARY 14 Louisvillians are to be given one of the rarest of treats on Thursday evening, February 14 at Jones Temple. Sixth and Walnut when Miss Hazel Harrison, America's foremost pianist is to be presented in recital by the Race Artists Concert Co. Miss Harrison gets as much credit and praise from the European press as from the big American papers, for she is not only a national but an international artist of first rank. Miss Harrison was born in La Porte, Ind., and studied with Victor Heinze in Chicago, going to Berlin later where she made her debut with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Later she was a pupil of the great Basori and Egou Petri. Busoni's interest in her was manifest by his conferring on her a scholarship. Miss Harrison has not appeared in (Continued on page 8)
Family Miraculously Escapes Storm
STORM BARELY MISSES MAUD FAMILY Houses And Trees Taken Away; Many Farmers Suffer Heavy Loss Day by day reports are struggling in from different parts of the state which were paralized and laid wast by last Friday's storm. Word comes from Elizabethtown, Sonora, Uptown and similar towns along the main line that homes, barns and farms were completely wrecked.. One of the most miraculous of the many escapes from injury or death by the storm of last Friday afternoon was that of the family of J. W. Hughes of Maud, Ky. Mr. Hughes is the father of Mrs. J. R. Ray, wife of the cashier of the First Standard Bank. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have been confined to their beds for several days with influenza, and Mrs. Ray and two other daughters were at their bedside when the storm hit that section about 5 o'clock Friday. The Hughes are prominent and prosperous farmers at Maud. Their home is surrounded with attractive trees The storm took up several of these trees by their roots; the tobacco and stock houses which set out from the home, were taken away to other parts. A man who was busy out in the lot was car (Continued on page 8)
SIMMONS UNIV. CHORUS TO SING FOR DE PRIEST The coming of no person to Louisville during our time has created as much interest as that of the coming of the Hon. Oscar De Priest, Congressman elect from Illinois, as the first Negro to sit in the United States law making body at Washington in more than twenty-five years. Mr. De Priest comes as the Lincoln-Douglass Day speaker sponsored by the Louisville Branch N. A. A. C. P. for the benefit of a fund necessary for the progress of the work of the branch. The members of the executive committee and the members and friends of the organization are cooperating in every possible way to make the coming of Mr. De Priest the greatest of all occasions. The latest move towards bringing this about was the announcement of Dr. C. H. Parrish, President of Simmons University chorus of many voices, trained and directed by Prof. R. Todd Duncan, popular artist, would be glad to furnish music for the occasion. An enthusiastic meeting of the local branch membership was held at the Y. M. C. A. last night and all pledged unqualified support and cooperation. Tickets ore now being purchased and as many as will are urged to buy tickets now and be on hand early to avoid the last minute rush and the possibility of having to wait in line, and then not be able to get a good sort. Tickets at 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children may be secured at the Louisville Branch office, 610 W. Walnut St., Phone City 6422 and from Mrs. Bessie Etherly, Secretary, 1921 Magazine St., Phone Shawnee 1072-.
Says He Is Not Guilty of Murder
ASKING JUSTICE JOHNIE KELLER WRITES LETTER FROM JAIL FOR HELP Sentenced To Die In Electric Chair, For Murder Of Nightwatchman A letter from Johnie Keller, who with Richard Edmonson and James Grigsby, was convicted and sentenced to be electrocuted for the murder of a nightwatchman at the Community Laundry on the night of November 13. was sent to a prominent citizen declaring his innocence of the crime and asking for help. Keller thinks he has not had justice and wants to carry his case to the Court of Appeals. The letter which was sent from the Jefferson County jail was turned over to the President of the local branch N. A. A. C. P. It is reprinted below without the use of the persons name to whom it was sent. 
Louisville, Ky, Jan. 10, 1929. Dear Sir: This is from Johnie Keller and I am asking if you would please sir help me some way in my trouble. I am one of the three tthat were sentence to die in the electric chair on March the 8th of this year for the murder of Mr. Long. a night watchman at the Community Laundry on the evening of November 13. 1928. I am innocent of the crime, but I was framed in such a way that I could not help myself and was ignorant of the fact that the boy that worked there was going to to such. His name is Richard Edmondson, who said he was going after a truck at 10:30 o'clock P. M., which he had been getting often, and going out. He asked another boy to go along with him. whose name is james Grigsley. But Richard himself killed the poor man and the Commonwealth found him guilty of wilful murder without him or us talking in the case. Now Mr. -------, this fellow Richard was tried three days before I and James Grigsby was and sentenced to die and then the Commonwealth had him to false swear against  us. The jury found us guilty of the same and senttenced us to die in the electric chair the 8th of March. The jury was only out on us twenty minutes and Mr. ------- I really [illegible] think that I have had justice [illegible] now, Mr. ------- will you please [illegible] me as much as you possibly can [illegible] you know the time is passing fast I am now in the Jefferson County jail, but I don't know when they will take us away. I am 26 years of age and I never have been in any kind of trouble before. I have a family that I labor for each and every day. The lawyer that I have in trying to carry my case to the Court of Appeals but I am a pauper and haven't money to do this with is why I am asking you to help me. Could I receive an early reply from you? Yours sincerely. Johnie Keller Tier 4 C. 514 West Liberty. NOTE: Any one wishing to help Keller may see him at the above tier at County Jail.
ST. JAMES CHURCH BURNS, BUT SERVICES TOMORROW; INSURANCE COVERS DAMAGE The news of the burning of the St James A. M. E. Church at 18th and Chestnut Sts., last Tuesday morning quickly spread over the city and the shock brought expressions of sadness and sympathy from every side, as few cittizens were ignorant of the efforts the pastor. Rev. J. A. G. Grant, and his officers and members put forth to make the church the beautiful place it was, the task it was and the sacrifices made to accomplish the task. The congregation just spent $10,000 to make the additions and improvements a few months ago, and is is said [illegible] at the damage from the fire was $10000, the pastor announces, however, that the damage is covered with insurance, and that the repairing will begin at once. Services will be held in the annex until the damage to the main auditorium is completely repaired. The actual cause of the fire is not yet determined, but Rev. Grant, the pastor, was of the opinion that it was defective wiring, that the blaze started in the roof of the main auditorium, where the damage is centered. The fire was noticed by Jake Goldberg, J. W. Thomas and S. B. Wilhite, a letter carrier, who turned in the alarm. The firemen did good work, but were slowed up in getting the fire under control because of the trouble in getting to it with water. Holes were chopped in the slate and the water was finally shot through from the top Rev. Grant thanks the members of the Fire Company and the Salvage Corps, the three persons who put in the alarm and all sympathizers.
Negro Bankers Sponsor Thrift Week