POLICE POWERLESS

Grey River Argus, 26 April 1937, Page 5

POLICE POWERLESS

NEGROES ON TOP Scenes at Divine’s Court Case HARLEM A PANDEMONIUM. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received April 24, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 23. Scenes rarelv viewed in New Fork occurred at “Father” Divine’s arraing. ment. He was releasel on bail of five hundred dollars. Several hundred' police were required t 0 keep order in the streets ad. joining the Court. Many thousands .of negroes assembled. The authorities feared a riot. Divine pleaded not guilty. He stated he had no knowledge of the stabbing of the companion of the ptoce.->s server at his “Heaven.” “Saint Mary” Bloom provided the bail. Great, cries of “peace!” and “God!'’ arose. when Divine appeared in -he streets after the hearing. The negro city itself, was swept w th paroxysms of joy and' religious hy.-teria. Divine then ’made a triumphal procession tn a roll s lovee car through the c ity. Several journalists attempted to em r.er Divine’s “Kingdom of Heaven.’ Thev were mobbed, but they were res. cued with d flieulty by the police. Anyone seen with notepaper or makiiio- notes was in danger of his life. The followers of Divine screamed “don’t, write lies!” A ten-cour.-e “victory” dinner was seived in the “Kingdom of Heaven." Some of Divine's female followers spent the night before the criminal court, and the doors of the “Heaven. Thev were bowing, and crying “peace! Divine is God!” I_ator in the- dny Divine himself was compelled' to 'caution the crowds ot gathered negroes in the Harlem streets, against excesses. The police were compelled to confess that they were powerless. Divine’s Bluff LOST ON “FAITHFUL MARY.”

(Received April 25. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 24

Faithful Mary, (Angel number one at Divine’s “Kingdom of Heaven,”) while en route for New York, was bruised in a motor collission. When informed of the accident, “Father” Divine t-aid: “That is just a sample of what will happen to anybodv trying to double-cross me! They are' onlv double-mossing their own lives. Anybody sympathising with h"r will be under the same curse.” The Angels held a meeting, and they formally revoked Mary’s Angit status. Undaunted by this-, Faithful Matt spoke over the’ radio, saying: “Divine is not God. He had nothing to do with my motor accident. God' in Hen. ven above prevented me from being killed.” The celebration at Divines “Heaven” continued throughout) the night. It was aided by an oi chest ra of' twenty instruments. Divine’s “Sub-Heaven” burnt down in country. KU-KLUXER’S blamed. (Received April 25, 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 24. Fire has razed “Father Divine’s.” “sub-Heaven’” in Ulster County, New York. I I( wa-i a two-storey structure, ot frame construction, -with 22 rooms. The tire- caused many _ singed “Angels” to jump from the windows, and tto descend Tain pipes in their nightclothes. None of them wa s injur, ed. Rumours that the fire, was started by their enemies were immediately circulated. This is due to the activity of the Ku Klux Klan m the vicinity several years ago, and to the fact that the establishment! of this negro retreat, has been unpopular with many of tin-’ neighbours. The sheriff and bite Chief, however, discounted' the story. They expressed the belief that the outbreak was accidental, and that it originat’ed near a chimney on tne second floor. , „ “Father” Divine’s' headquarters staff of “Angels” were ready to retire, atter the night’s celebration, wnen they were notified, by radio, of the- fire. They sped to the scene in a Rolls Royce cai. The loss is estimated at' twenty-five thousand dollars.