Argument waxed hot in the police court Monday morning when trouble between Gus Geurukos, who owns a shoeshine shop on South Tryon street, and a negro employe, Walter Witherspoon, was in the process of being thrashed out. The result was that both Gus and the negro were found guilty of an affray and fined $5 and costs.
The trial brought into the limelight the alleged disorderly conduct among the negroes of various Greek shoeshine parlors in Charlotte. Complains have been heard from many sources concerning treatment shown customers in these places by the negroes. Those who are not considered prospective tips are spurned by the shoeshine boys while those in whom they see a likely tip are quickly waited upon. This has resulted, it is alleged, in frequent affrays between the Greeks and the negroes.
The trouble in this case began when an old man went into Gus’ shop Sunday morning about 11 o’clock for a shine. Witherspoon was nearby, and it was his job to shine the shoes. But the old man did not appear to be a likely tip, and Witherspoon made no effort to wait upon him. Gus then came over, according to the evidence, and tried to force the negro boy to get to work. The boy refused. Gus grabbed him by the arm, and the boy attempted to grab a knife, which it was alleged he had concealed in his pocket. Gus then slapped the boy on the head. In the ensuing scuffle, the knife was brought out, but snatched by Gus and his brother, George. George held the negro until the police arrived.
Witherspoon testified on the stand that the Greeks had promised him nothing for his services except the opportunity to get tips. He stated that this was the method used in employing all the shoeshine boys int he place, and that unless they were able to get tips they were simply out of luck. Gus denied this statement, asserting that he paid the boys $5 and $6 a week in addition to the tips they received.
From the front page of The Charlotte News, Monday, August 1, 1921
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