Black Sheep Sunday - Part 10 (1951-1955) of From small town Georgia boy to notorious Texas (and beyond!) con man

 

This post is the 10th in a series of posts about the life of my cousin and con man Elridge Solomon Price, Sr.  You can find the other installments here:  

Part 1 (Preview up to 1913)  

Part 2 (1913-1930) 

Part 3 (1931-1934) 

Part 4 (1935-1939)  

Part 5 (1940) 

Part 6 (1941-1943) 

Part 7 (1944-1946)  

Part 8 (1947) 

Part 9 (1948-1950)

It is April 1951 and Elridge finds himself with a warrant and posting a bond once again.

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, Fort Worth, Texas,
Tuesday, April 10, 1951, Page 29

Newspapers.com, Standard Times (formerly San Angelo Standard-Times), San Angelo, Texas,
Tuesday, April 10, 1951, Page 1

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, Fort Worth, Texas,
Wednesday, April 11, 1951, Page 9

Newspapers.com, The Blade (formerly Toledo Blade), Toledo, Ohio,
Monday, April 23, 1951, Page 21

Newspapers.com, The Blade (formerly Toledo Blade), Toledo, Ohio,
Saturday, June 02, 1951, Page 7

Newspapers.com, San Angelo Evening Standard, San Angelo, Texas,
Tuesday, June 05, 1951, Page 1

WAIT!  Stop the presses!  Are my eyes deceiving me?! Surely, it's just a typo.  Does the highlighted area say that one of Elridge's attorneys is O'Neal Dendy, the prosecutor who humiliated him in court during the trial for West, the man acquitted of robbing Elridge, Edith, and their guests back in 1947?! Talk about strange bedfellows!

Then in the midst of all the craziness which was Elridge's life comes a small write up of a family nature - a normal event of a young girl's life... having a friend visit.

Newspapers.com, Sun Post News (formerly San Clemente Sun), San Clemente, California,
Friday, June 29, 1951, Page 3

Now back to the craziness...

Newspapers.com, San Angelo Evening Standard, San Angelo, Texas,
Friday, October 05, 1951, Page 8

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, Fort Worth, Texas,
Monday, October 29, 1951, Page 1

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, Fort Worth, Texas,
Tuesday, October 30, 1951, Page 5

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, Fort Worth, Texas,
Tuesday, October 30, 1951, Page 20

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, Fort Worth, Texas,
Wednesday, October 31, 1951, Page 1

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, Fort Worth, Texas,
Wednesday, October 31, 1951, Page 2

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, Fort Worth, Texas,
Wednesday, October 31, 1951, Page 1

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Wednesday, October 31, 1951, Page 23

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, Fort Worth, Texas,
Monday, November 12, 1951, Page 2

Newspapers.com, San Antonio Express-News (formerly San Antonio Express), San Antonio, Texas,
Tuesday, November 13, 1951, Page 19

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, Fort Worth, Texas,
Tuesday, November 13, 1951, Page 2

There is no news coverage for Elridge until March 1953.  Then I am confused because I do not know if this references new charges.  

Newspapers.com, El Paso Times, El Paso, Texas,
Thursday, March 26, 1953, Page 20

Ok it all makes sense now after seeing the next article.  This fine stems from the Federal case Elridge had in 1951.

Newspapers.com, Standard-Times (formerly San Angelo Standard-Times), San Angelo, Texas,
Thursday, March 26, 1953, Page 1

Newspapers.com, The Waco Times-Herald, Waco, Texas,
Monday, September 28, 1953

Newspapers.com, Standard-Times (formerly San Angelo Standard-Times), San Angelo, Texas,
Saturday, October 17, 1953, Page 16

1954 brings bankruptcy...

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Thursday, February 04, 1954, Pages 1 & 2

Newspapers.com, Standard-Times (formerly San Angelo Standard-Times), San Angelo, Texas,
Saturday, February 27, 1954, Page 9

1955 brings lawsuits.

Newspapers.com, Standard-Times (formerly San Angelo Standard-Times), San Angelo, Texas,
Sunday, January 09, 1955, Page 8

Newspapers.com, Standard-Times (formerly San Angelo Standard-Times), San Angelo, Texas,
Wednesday, February 02, 1955, Page 7

Newspapers.com, Standard Times (formerly San Angelo Standard-Times), San Angelo, Texas,
Thursday, February 03, 1955, page 8

Newspapers.com, San Angelo Evening Standard, San Angelo, Texas,
from the Official Records column, Federal Court, Judge William H. Atwell, presiding,
Thursday, April 28, 1955, Page 19

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Thursday, October 06, 1955, Page 26

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Thursday, October 06, 1955, Page 6

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Friday, October 07, 1955, Page 1

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Saturday, October 08, 1955, Page 13

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Saturday, October 08, 1955, Page 8

Newspapers.com, Standard-Times (formerly San Angelo Standard-Times), San Angelo, Texas,
Saturday, October 08, 1955, Page 9

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Sunday, October 09, 1955, Page 11

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Thursday, December 01, 1955, Page 17

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Thursday, December 29, 1955, Page 1

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Thursday, December 29, 1955, Pages 1 & 3

Newspapers.com, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas,
Friday, December 30, 1955, Page 15

Please note there are two articles included above.

So we leave Elridge sobbing on almost the last day of 1955 with the very strong possibility of losing his home to cover his tax liens.  As we have seen, he is very good at pulling out of tough spots at the last minute.  Will his good "luck" continue to hold in 1956?  Stay turned until next week to find out.

Black Sheep Sunday - Part 5 (1940) of From small town Georgia boy to notorious Texas (and beyond!) con man

 This post is the 5th in a series of posts about the life of Elridge Solomon Price, Sr.  You can find the other installments here:  Part 1,  Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

Yes, you read that correctly.  I will be covering only one year in this post.  That is because a huge thing took place in 1940.  Elridge filed for custody of his and Edith's youngest child - a daughter born in Alaska while he was on the run.  In 1940, she would have been 4-5 years old.  What I find interesting is that she was not the only minor child.  They had 2 sons who were 16 and 12 years old in 1940, but Elridge did not pursue custody of them.  Only the little girl.  

However, before the custody case, another newsworthy event happened to the Prices.  In May, Elridge and Edith were living in  Ballinger, Runnels County, Texas.  On a Sunday night, while they were asleep, a thief came into their home and robbed them. About $2,000 worth of jewelry was taken, among other items.  The crime did not make the news until Tuesday.

Newspapers.com, San Angelo Evening Standard, San Angelo, Texas,
Tuesday, May 07, 1940, Page 8

Newspapers.com, Standard-Times, San Angelo, Texas,
Wednesday, May 08, 1940

Newspapers.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas,
Wednesday, May 08, 1940, Page 18.

It sounds to me like law enforcement was suspicious of the robbery story.  I am too since there is no more mention of it after this.

On to the custody case:  It all started June 26 when a listing in the newspaper showed that Edith had once again filed for divorce from Elridge, this time in Olathe, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, which is where they were living at the time.  Immediately, Elridge sued for custody of their daughter. 

Perhaps the boys were with their father because when Edith left Elridge this time, she and the youngest daughter went and stayed at the home of Miss Lutie Davis, a Kansas city "woman lawyer" as the newspaper called her.  There was no mention of any of the other children living with her.  Elridge sued for custody saying that Edith was "unfit" to rear the daughter, and he used Edith's  friendship with Miss Davis as the reason for this. Meanwhile, the child was eventually taken from Edith and placed in the custody of a probation officer pending the outcome of the case.  

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Star,  Kansas City, Missouri,
Friday, July 12, 1940, Page 11

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Missouri,
Saturday, July 13, 1940

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Saturday, July 13, 1940

It only gets confusing from here.  A witness for the prosecution (Elridge) was brought in to testify about an assault she supposedly received from Miss Davis about 7 months earlier.  The following article outlines the testimony.  Just remember the names Lutie Davis (woman lawyer) and Miss Elinor Leonhardt (hotel manicurist).

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Monday, July 15, 1940

So now in addition to the custody case, Miss Davis was arrested on a morals charge and placed in jail pending a $7,500 bond.

To say Elridge went on the offensive in this custody case would be an understatement.  In addition to calling Edith "unfit," he also brought an insanity charge against her.  She was taken into custody of the Johnson County (Missouri) court pending a hearing on this charge.  Even the newspaper called  this "the many sided lurid child custody case."

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Tuesday, July 16, 1940, Page 3

The probate judge hearing the case spent part of July 16th interviewing the Price sons in private.

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Missouri,
Thursday, July 18, 1940, Page 8

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri,
Thursday, July 18, 1940, Page 7

A verdict is reached on the insanity charge against Edith on July 23.

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri,
Tuesday, July 23, 1940, Page 4

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Tuesday, July 23, 1940

The custody case continues with the Prices' former nursemaid testifying on behalf of the defendant (Edith). 

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Friday, July 26, 1940, Page 6

According to this article, the case has taken another strange turn.  Now Eldridge Jr. (age 18) has gotten drawn into the mess and has taken a morals charge out against Miss Davis. She was again held in jail.

And it continues to get stranger...

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Sunday, August 04, 1940, Page 2

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri,
Sunday, August 11, 1940, Page 4

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Missouri,
Tuesday, August 13, 1940, Page 7

Newspapers.com, Kansas 
City Journal, Kansas
City, Missouri, Thursday,
August 15, 1940, page 9

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Times,
Kansas City, Missouri,
Thursday, August 15, 1940, Page 7

                 

I was beyond shocked that they printed the child's photo, name, and her sister's address in the newspaper! This would be unheard of today. I would think that with Elridge's notoriety, protecting the child's privacy and keeping her safe would have been a priority.  I am sure he had a lot of enemies that would not think twice about going after his family.

So why did I publish it? Well, Jeamiesean "Jeep" has passed away now, and this all happened over 80 years ago.  

Then it was time for tit for tat: 

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri,
Friday, August 16, 1940, Page 3

Feel like you're at a tennis match yet?  Neck hurting from turning back and forth from a custody case to perjury cases?

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri,
Wednesday, August 28, 1940, Page 15

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Missouri,
Thursday, September 05, 1940, Page 18

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Missouri,
Tuesday, September 10, 1940

For those of us who are not attorneys, I asked Google Gemini to explain this article in layman's terms.  First of all, what is a Writ of Mandamus?

"Alternative Writ of Mandamus: An emergency order issued by a higher court (the supreme court) directing a lower-court judge to either perform a mandatory duty (in this case, certify/transfer the transcript to the district court) or "show cause" why they refuse to do so.

The Legal Maneuver Sequence

1. The Custody Order: The probate court granted custody of 4-year-old Jeamsiean Edith Price to her older married sister, Mrs. Lorraine Johnson, who then took the child to Texas after posting a return-guarantee bond.

2. The Blocked Appeal: Mrs. Price wanted to challenge this decision and filed a timely notice of appeal. However, Judge Jones refused to send the case records to the district court, arguing that his custody order was "not appealable" under the law.

3. The High Court Intervention: Trapped by the judge's refusal to pass along the paperwork, Mrs. Price's attorney (Thomas E. Joyce) bypassed the lower courts and went straight to the state's supreme court.

4. The Supreme Court Response: The supreme court sided with Mrs. Price's application by issuing the alternative writ of mandamus. This forced Judge Jones to either forward the transcript or explain his refusal in court by the designated answer day of September 25."

An excellent explanation in my opinion.

Now it's back to the morals and perjury charges:

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Missouri,
Wednesday, September 04, 1940, Page 6

Then another bomb drops! While the following doesn't pertain to the child custody case, per se, I do think the timing is questionable.  

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Monday, September 30, 1940, Page 1

In October, the probate court judge finally conceded to the Kansas state supreme court and filed a copy of the transcript of the proceedings with the district court.

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Missouri,
Tuesday, October 15, 1940, Page 6

Finally a little relief for Edith.

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Saturday, October 19, 1940, Page 2

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri,
Saturday, October 26, 1940

On November 4... nothing.  Elridge was up to something.

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Missouri,
Tuesday, November 05, 1940, Page 8

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri,
Sunday, November 17, 1940, Page 4

This is when we have to turn back to the perjury issues:

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Friday, November 22, 1940

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Saturday, November 23, 1940

Things begin to snowball at this point.

Newspapers.com, Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri,
Wednesday, November 27, 1940, Page 8

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri,

Thursday, December 19, 1940, Page 2

Newspapers.com, The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Missouri,
Saturday, December 21, 1940

At the end of 1940, the Price custody case was still dragging on.  Elridge has a warrant for perjury and no one knows where his daughter is.  Elridge is about to do what he always does... run.  Unfortunately, you will have to wait until the next installment to find out what 1941 brings in this saga.