Following Speeches About Immorality, D.A. Strayhorn Subpoenas Aldermen Salmon, Harris, Carpenter to Give Details So Arrests Can Be Made, Aug. 10, 1922

Three Aldermen Summoned Before Squire Riley to Tell What They Know About Alleged Immorality

Declaring it to be his intention to delve deep into the question of immorality and vice which, according to declarations by city aldermen at their meeting last Monday night, has its center within a stone’s throw of the police station, Prosecuting Attorney Isaac R. Strayhorn yesterday morning issued a testificandum subpoenas to bring Aldermen J.T. Salmon, A.M. Harris and J.E. Carpenter into court this afternoon at 4 o’clock to give testimony regarding their statements at the last aldermanic session. The subpoenas were turned over to the police department yesterday afternoon. It could not be learned last night whether they have been served. Alderman Harris, one of the trio of councilmen included in the sweeping effort of the prosecuting attorney, said last night that he had been served with no subpoena.

The three aldermen, according to Mr. Strayhorn, will be summoned to appear this afternoon before Squire S.O. Riley, clerk of the recorder’s court. There will be on hand a stenographer to take down the testimony. The prosecuting attorney will immediately afterwards turn the evidence over to Judge P.C. Graham in order that bench warrants may be issued, in case the aldermen provide information in a sufficient quantity to bring about arrests.

It was stated by the prosecuting attorney that the hearing this afternoon will be public, and that if any citizen knows of any immorality or vice in the city, he will be welcome to come forward and present it at the hearing.

“My action in this matter,” Mr. Strayhorn said last night, “is not an effort to ‘show up’ members of the city council. Instead I am and have been anxious all along to get at the bottom of wild charges of immorality and vice in Durham. In the past my efforts have failed. The statements the aldermen are reported to have made at last Monday night’s session lead me to believe that they know something that will help the officials in their efforts. If the aldermen summoned to appear before Mr. Riley give evidence that will warrant the issuance of warrants or if they can give the names of citizens who told them the things they said at Monday night’s meeting, the officials will have something upon which to proceed, Mr. Strayhorn declares.

The aldermen at their meeting Monday night submitted no specific charges. They dealt entirely in generalities, and the blow was aimed particularly at alleged inefficiency of the officials.

From the Durham Morning Herald, Thursday, Aug. 10, 1922