This page was created by Anonymous.
Frank DeThomas' candy store looted
Wade was clearly not the only person to have looted the store, as DeThomas claimed $745.25 in losses. He was among the twenty white store-owners to bring the first suits against the city for failing to protect their businesses identified in the New York Sun. By the time the city Comptroller heard testimony from those bringing suit, 106 owners had sought damages. DeThomas is not among those whose testimony appeared in newspaper stories about that proceeding, nor does he appear in any of the trials to test the claims. The claim for $745.25 in losses is just above the median reported claim of $733. The city lost the test cases, so DeThomas likely was awarded some amount of damages, but based on those case it was likely only a small proportion. It is not clear if he was able to remain in business. The MCCH business survey does not include any businesses at 101 West 127th Street in the second half of 1935. The Tax Department photograph of the address in 1939-1941 also shows a business, but the angle and distance do not allow any details of the store to be identified.
Wade appeared in the Harlem Magistrates Court on March 20, when Magistrate Renaud ordered him held for the grand jury without bail. While only ? of those charged after the disorder were denied bail, Wade had been convicted three times since 1926, including once for unlawful entry resulting from a charge of burglary. The grand jury indicted him for burglary on March 22, and five days later he appeared in the Court of General Sessions having agreed to plead guilty to the lesser offense of petit larceny. On April 8, Judge Donnellan sentenced him to six months in the workhouse, a decision reported in the press as well as recorded in the 28th Precinct Police Blotter.
This page has tags:
This page references:
- "Transcripts of Police Blotter - Precinct 28, March 19 & 20, 1935," Folder "MCCH - Juvenile Delinquency - 1935-36," Correspondence (Roll 13), Records of Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, 1934-1945.
- Harlem Magistrates Court docket book
- "Continue Inquiry At Courthouse As Three Men Are Sentenced To Workhouse For Riot Activities," New York Age, April 13, 1935, 1, 2.
- "Claim $38,000 Riot Damages," New York Sun, April 23, 1935 [clipping]
- District Attorney's Closed Case Files, 203997 (1935) (New York City Municipal Archives)
- "3 Negroes Sentenced For Looting in Riot," New York Times, April 9, 1935, 44.