The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], January 13, 1922, Image 1

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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BIRMINGHAM WEATHER
Fair today.
BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD
THE GREAT FAMILY NEWSPAPER OF THE SOUTH
The Age-Herald carries the full
day and night Associated Press dis
patches seven days a week.
VOLUME LI
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1922
14 PAGES
NUMBER 253
DEFENSE IN LYNCHING CASE TO CLOSE EARLY TODAY
ft * ft
ft ft ft
Newberry Is the Winner in Senate Election Contest
FORMER PRESinmr POINCARE MAY BE
NE W HEAD OF THE FRENCH GO VERNMENT
Makes Lengthly Statement in
Justification of His Action
at the Conference at
Cannes
By Associated Press
Paris, January 12.—Aristide Bri
and today resigned from the premier-!
ship, and Raymond Poincare. former
President of the republic will likely
succeed him.
.VI. Briand’s resignation came with
dramtic suddenness in the Chamber |
of Deputies for the premier, return- i
ing this morning from his confer- i
euces with the British prime minister ■
at Canne had brought th eopposing
members of his cabinet into accord ;
with his policies and, by a powerful ^
speech in the chamber, had apparently !
won over the great majority to his |
side. His blunt eloquence evoked a
tiemendous ovation, and when he
abruptly declared his intention of!
withdrawing from the government,
the members of the chamber seemed '
ov erwhelmed.
Although the retirement of Pre
mier Briand was unexpected, It was i
apparent from the very beginning,
that he felt keen resentment against 1
the many obstacles placed In his way!
in the important negotiations in j
which he engaged.
fie had the appearance of a man
aged and physically fatigued through
out his entire speech.
Great Eloquence
Notwithstanding this however, sel
dom has M. Briand risen to the high \
pitch of eloquence attained today j
when in a voice trembling with ill- i
suppressed emotion, and facing his I
colleagues on the minsterlal benches, I
he said: “A statesman has no right
to go to his post of battle if he has
not the certainty that he shall not
iContinued on Page Two)
SINN FEIN WILL
TO DECIDE POLICY
DeValera Predicts Split in
Organization Over the Irish
Treaty — Delegates to x
Gather February 7
By «\R*ociateU Pre»»
Dublin, January 12.—The king’s
] oclamation of amnesty, announce
1 silt of the departure of the auxil
i ries and the resolution of the Sinn
l'ein executive council to summon an
extraordinary convention for Febru
i y 7, to decide upon the future of
t -e organization and policy after
Lamon DeValdra, had predicted a
i nlit in the organization, where the
chief developments in the Irish situa
tion today.
Behind the Dai! Eireann stands
the Sinn Fein organization of nearlv
l.r*CG clubs from every district in
3 ' land. It is responsible for the
s’ « f‘es8 o1 tht parliamentary and
• tht*r c'c»tions and is re«,\ r.< 1 i*fi
t i a;i!h«ptic popular voicj by ?• 1
• ' ip Feiners. DeV’alera is still its
1 vsident a nr. all its machiner’ no < -
t< .ore has been directed exclusively
lo’.var 1 indc| endence.
The morning session of the exccu
ti\e body of the Sinn Fein was de
voted to the election of a standing
cm mmittee which meets in Dublin for
a)’, routine work of organizing. The
election did not follow strict party
lines but its membership will be can
vassed throughout the country to
morrow, to ascertain whether its in
fluence will be used for or against
the supporters of the treaty.
Col. Bibb Graves in Race for
The Governorship of Alabama
Sets Forth Declaration of
Principles, Chief Among
Them Being Abolishment of
Board of Tax Adjusters
By FRED H. UORMLET
Montgomery Bureau The Are-Herald.
221-2 First Xatlonul Bunk Building
Montgomery, January 12.—(Spe
cial.)—Col. Bibb Graves of Mont
gomery, will be a candidate for gov
ernor in the democratic primary, Au- I
gust 8. He made this positive state
ment late Thursday night on the eve |
of the meeting of the state demo- '
cratic executive committee for the ;
purpose of providing for the pri- j
mary.
Colonel Graves didn't announce but
did state that at the opening of j
the campaign he would become u •
candidate, in his formal statement
he set forth a declaration of prin
ciples. Chief among them being a
reduction of taxation by the aboli
t.on of the tax adjusters and the
placing of the duty of equalizing
taxes oil elective officials, the aboli
tion of the state board of control,
the discontinuance of all exemptions
except to churches, grave yards,
schools and charitable institutions,
the adjustment of freight and pas
senger rates, the calling of a state
democratic convention for the pur
pose of writing a democratic plat
form, an equitable appointment of a
liberal appropriation l'or public edu
cation, the bringing of pressure on
the national government for an ev
servico men’s bonus, the proper sup
port of the health ahd child welfare
departments and the maintenance of
all prohibition laws now on the
siatule books.
Another plank, about which Colonel
Graves said little of the much that
could be said, was the maintenance
of an American Sunday. He said he
would prevent Its being commercial
ized by" amusements run for money.
He also favored the equalization of
the- effect of all laws In order that
voters, men and women, might have
the same opportunities of participat
ing in affairs of government.
Favor* Bund Issue
Referring to highway construction,
Cole nel Graves said he was for the
bond Issue which will be submit
ted January 30 and if elected gover
nor would see that the pledges now
being made would be carried out to
the letter.
Or labor, Colonel Graves said lis
was for the open shop, “open to all
men. union men and non-union men.”
and favorable to the maintenance of
a freedom for all men, a freedom
which would permit bargaining
•cither individually or collectively.
Colonel Graves closed his state
ment with an appeal to the people,
if they place the duties of the gov
ernorship upon him, also to give him
a legislature which would abide in
oairying out the policies which he
outlined. He further said he would
r.sk for a platform founded upon hir,
principles if a state convention be
called.
Colonel Graves' announcement
caused much surprise. It had been
reported for many months that he
would be a candidate; but time passed
and not a word came from him. Ht3
friends during the week revived the
rej ort. but there had been no IntLma
tioi that he would get into the ct n
•cst 075 the evening preceding the
I meeting of the democratic commit
tee.
German Economic
Expert Addresses
Cannes Conference
By Associated Press
Cannes, January 12.—1The allied
supreme council adjourned In
definitely tonight after receipt
of news of the resignation of the
Brland cabinet.
Adjournment wu token after
Walter Hatheaau. German fin
ancial expert, had ftniahed ad
dressing the council, and no ac
tion or comment was made npon
j his remarks concerning Ger
many's default at her January
reparations payment.
Positive Foundation Laid
For Business Development
In 1922Reserve Board Says
By Associated Press
Washington, January 12.—The most encouraging feature of the busi
ness situation at the opening of the,new year is that a positive foundation
has apparently been established upon which to build banking and business
development during 1922, the federal reserve board declared tonight in
its monthly bulletin for January.
Policies to be pursued during 1922,
the board asserted, should therefore
be constructive rather than merely
conservative, "and will probably
show the results of this constructive
quality in the form of proper en
largement of banking accommoda
tions. greater case and liberality in
the money market, and better pros
pects of business and economic de
velopment.’.’
The progress of business recovery
during the past year was declared
to have been “exceptionally uneven,”
but “in those lines of industry which
-upply the immediate needs of the
-cuerai public a very satisfactorj*
, <V-,nand for goods has' been expe
V..need, and productive activity ha&
fstiiadUy grown.”
tinrope Improving
> ”tt continued to be true, however,"
gie board continued, “that no com*
vials or general recovery of dosses*
tic business win no pu=»iu«: s«i«
through the rectification of foreign
conditions. The economic outlook in
the leading European count: ies at
the opening of 19-2. however, is evi
dently better, except In one principal
element, than it was six months
ago.”
This element, the board explained,
was the failure of Germany to fulfill
the reparations agreement.
"Aside from the menacing develop
j ments on Germany.” the board con
] tended, "and the maladjustment in
prices and exchange, which is gen
erally conceded to be closely related
to the terms of the reparations agree
ment, economic conditions show im
provement of the state of things six
months ago. The improvement is du.
to an actual revival In the demand
for good*, and has occurred in th<
face of very aerlouf credit and cur
rency condtti
U. S. POLICY ON THE
ECONOMIC PARLEY
Resignation of Briand May
Cause Further Delay in
Determining the Admin
istration’s Attitude
By Associated Press
Washington, January 12.—Determi
nation of the administration’s atti
tude toward participation in the inter
national economical conference called
to meet at Genoa in March may be
delayed as a result of the resignation
of Premier Briand of France, It was
indicated today in high official cir
cles. It is the intention of the ad
ministration to avoid haste in decid
ing its course in connection with tho
economic conference, according to
high officials, and it is believed that
the change in the French ministry
would be another factor to be con
sidered before a decision as to this
government’s attitude will be reached.
So far the United States has not
agreed to participate in the Genoa
conference, it was said at the state
department ;oday In response to in
quiries arising from the statement
by M. Briand in the chamber of depu
ties at Paris that the American gov
ernment had agreed to take part In
that meeting.
The administration, however, is un
derstood to consider the resolutions
adopted by the allied supreme council
in calling the conference as couched
in the terms of an invitation to the
United States to participate and to
be without division of opinion on its
attitude toward the present situation.
Until the scope of the contemplated
conference discussion are known the
United States also scarcely will be
able to determine the advisability of
taking part In the proceedings.
Committee Investigating Al
dermanic Form of Gov
ernment Present Data
The Junior Chamber of Commerce
at a regular meeting held last night
in the auditorium of the Chamber of
Commerce went on record as being
unanimously in favor of the re-open
ing of Pershing pier at East Lake
next summer for public dancing. Ap
proximately 60 petitions were drawn'
up calling for a referendum and will
be placed this morning in the im
portant down town stores by the
members of the Junior Chamber
where everyone in favor of the pub
lic dancing can sign.
A committee header by Edgar
Bowron. Jr., and composed of R. H.
Shaddick, Chappelle Cory, Jr.. J. K.
Taylor and Donald B. Wood, was ap
| pointed to have charge of the clrcu
lation of the petitions and to have
! charge of presentation to the city
j commission when the proper number
of names have been secured.
A report of the committee which
has been Investigating J»e city gov
ernment of over 100 cities of over
100,000 population was presented by
M. K. Sterne, chairman of the com
j mit tee. Mr. Sterne produced several
questions which lie had written to
the secretary of the chamber of
commerce in the different cities and
also their answers. This informa
tion was turned over to the commit
tee which is studying the aldermanic
form of city government and which
will make its report at the next meet
ing.
Approximately 73 members were in
attendance lost night and during the
evening short speeches being made
by several prominent Birmingham
citizens, among them being Commis
sioner W. L. Harrison and former
Commissioner Arlie Barber.
liAHVKl AHKKSTKU
New York. January 12.—Marcus
Harvey, negro president of the Black
i Star Line and head of the Universal
i Negro Improvement association, was
! arrested today charged with using
'the mails to defraud. He furnished
1 $2,500 bail before Federal Commis
| sioncr. Hitchcock and was released,
f pending examination next Thursday.
GISTOFTHE NEWS
tifiNGRAIi
i Defense closes argument In trial of
| Arthur Burch.
Smoot amendment to the Fordney
i hill would give Harding brood power.
.South again fights for return of
920U.O00.tNK) Illegal tax.
8TATK
legislature can give more fees,
court nays.
Negro preacher la held for killing
at Selma.
Fraak Moody la aew president of
Tuscaloosa bank.
Life and SO years must be served
toy Jefferson county convict.
LOCAL
Cold weather drives men and boys
to city hall.
Referendum petition on dancing
under way.
Realtors plan for Improvement ®l
city.
Funeral services ef victim of brutal
axe murder.
Non-Jews to raise fund for V. H
H. A.
Sulphnr by water to Acid makers
of Birmingham.
Railroad Officials
Appear Before the
Commerce Commission
By AiMclttsd l'rei#
Washington, January 12.—Two rail
road presidents completed statements
today in opposition to railroad rate
reductions at the interstate commerce
commission's investigation Into the
reasonability of transportation rates
and also underwent prolonged ques
tioning from commissioners who
heard their arguments. Daniel Wil
lard, of the Baltimore and Ohio, dur
ing a long exchange with Commis
sioner Each, insisted that lower costs
of railroad operation could not be
attained by abolition of passes for
railroad employes, private cars for
executives, or similar alterations of
policy, because their relative im
portance was little.
S. M. Felton, president of the Chi
cago Orest Western, however, in
answer to questions from Commis
sioner Lewis, said that railroads can
not be efficient in the employment of
labor until the railroad labor board,
which controls them under the trans
portation act, allows them to estab
lish rates of pay which correspond
with wages paid workers of similar
occupations in the communities which
the railroads serve.
Japan and China Make
Further Agreements on
the Shantung Matter
By Associated Press
Washington, January 12.—Direct
ing their efforts to settlement of
minor phases of the Shantung dis
pute while awaiting word from To
kio and Peking regarding compro
mise proposals submitted by Arthur
J. Balfour and Secretary Hughes for
a solution of the cpnt-ovsrey over
control of the Taingtao-Tsinanfu
railway in the Klaohow leasehold,
the Chinese and Japanese delegates
today agreed to the disposition of
concessions for extension of the road.
The two groups, however, failed to
reach an agreement concerning the
opening of the port of Tsingtao to
the commerce of the world on equal
terms. Another attempt will be made
tomorrow, it was announced.
The Chinese proposed that Tsingtao
be a "seif-opened" port, as distin
guished from a "treaty" opened port.
To this the Japanese tentatively
agreed but desired more time to
consider terms under which the port
should be opened and administered
by China. No great difficulty is
looked for In arriving at a solution
of this question, however, but the
many details involved tn it, It is said,
will consume a good deal of time.
Arkansas tornado
Results in Death
of Three Persons
By Associated Press
Pettigrew, Ark., January 12.—News
reached here today of the death of
three persons and the destruction of
farm houses and other property
worth thousands of dollars In a tor
nado that struck Fallsville, a remote
settlement in Newton county January
4. The scene of the storm is in one
of the wildest sections of the Ozark3,
without railroads or telephones, and
tlie courier who brought out news of
the tornado reported that many per
sons are in need of assistance
The dead are: William Nichols and
his wife and Mrs. John Donahoo, his
mother-in-law.
Miss Estelle Donahoo, 16. a cripple,
and Edna May Donahoo, 7, were se
riously injured.
-Mrs. Donahoo’s body was blown 300
yards and parts of the log home were
found four milts away. Other houses
i were destroyed or unroofed and the
| tornado destroyed a large amount of
timber as it tore a wide swath
I through the virgin forest.
Army Transport Is
Fighting to Reach
American Shores
By Associated Press
New York. January 12.—puffete 1
by mountainous seas, leaking and
I partially disabled by engine trouble,
i the army transport Crook tonight
jdoggedly maintained her fight to
i reach land with her 1,000 foreign
! rervice veterans, war brides and
children. Wireless messages picked
up at Governor’s Island reported the
troop ship still several hundred miles
j at sea, but steaming toward New
| York at a two-knot clip. Up to ea.’ly
! this evening, the St. Miliiel, sent out
to aid the Crook, had not reported.
Dispatches from the transport de
clared the morale of all on board
wasdfciigh, unshaken by last night':
orders to man the lifeboats and pre
pare to desert the floundering ves
sel.
Women, they said, hung over the
rails, laughing and joking with the
men, who sang as they made all ready
to meet the catastrophe, it it should
occur. Many, however, were sea
sick.
CHILD FATALLY BIRRED
Ashland, January 12.— (Special.) —
According to reports reaching Ash
land today, the 6-year-old child ol
Mr: and Mrs. Alonzo Daugherty, ol
about 15 miles south of here. Wat
burned fatally in an open grate Tues
day morning, death resulting yester
day. The child’s name is not knowi
hers.
FORD MEETS WEEKS
FOR A CONFERENCE
ON SHOALS TODAY
Discussion Will Likely Bring
to Conclusion Negotiations
on the Detroit Manufac
turer’s Proposal
Rj Tress
Washington, January 12.—Secre
tary Weeks arranged today to con
fer with Henry Ford and his advisors
tomorrow in an effort to adjust dif-,
ferences between government offi
cials and the Detroit manufacturer i
purchase and lease the nitrate and
waterpower projects at Muscle
Shoals.
The conference was expected to re
sult In bringing the long pending ne
gotiations to a conclusion and make
It possible for the war secretary to
take final action within two weeks.
J. \V. Worthington, who asked for
the meeting In Mr. Ford's behalf, de
clined to comment on what attitude I
the Detroit manufacturer would take
with respect to the request that cer- |
tain modifications he made in the pro- |
poBal in order to make it acceptable, !
and officials of the war department '
declared they had no information as j
to what changes if any would be j
made. It was stated definitely, how- ;
ever, that unless alterations were i
agreed to In the conference the offer !
could not be submitted to Congress j
with a favorable recommendation.
HurMtionnutrp Prepared
®4dt*etary Weeks also was knovtn to
have prepared a questionnaire Which
he would present to Mr. Ford for
answer. The result of the answers. ,
it was said, would go far toward
bringing the two groups to an under
standing and determining what dis
position of the proposal the secretary
would make.
While officials declined to say what
the questions wrere in advance of the
conference, they described them as 1
being to the point and aimed directly
at provisions of the offer dealing with j
future operation of the plants at Mus
cle Shoals. One was said to involve
the future use of plants In trie event
the experiments proved after reason- j
able trial that commercial fertilizer
compounds could not be manufactured
at a profit.
Week* Hu rut ion*
Along this line of questioning, it i
was understood, the secretary w'ouln
ask what Mr. Ford would decide upon
as a substitute, whether it would be
something for the national good and
how long he would be willing to
manufacture fertilizer at a loss and
whether he would be willing to give
a sufficient surety bond to the gov
ernment to guarantee production of
fertilizer compounds despite possible
(Continued on Page Two)
DENBY MAY AGAIN
HUNT IN VIRGINIA
By AHorlatfd Preea
Washington, January 12.—Another
delicate situation has been cleared
away, and Secretary of the Navy Den
by will. In consequence, be able to
hunt as often as he desires in Vir
ginia. At least, so says a letter the
secretary received today from M. It.
Hart, secretary of the Virginia de
partment of game and inland fish
eries.
Recently Mr. Denby was reported
as having engaged In a game hunt
in Virginia without having a state
license, and Mr. Hart wrote him.
asking an explanation. In the ensu
ing exchange of notes the navy sec
retary showed that he had had the
required certificate, and Mr. Hart's
reply today said:
■'We trust that you may visit Vir
ginia on hunting trips frequently,
and wish to assure you it will give
this department pleasure to assist
you in making your visit enjoy
able.’
In discussing the incident todav,
Mr. Denby was reticent in telling the
number of shells he used in bring
ing down each bird, but declared it
] was not over an average of 5R. He
only stopped shooting, he said, when
I he began to fear he was filling up
the nearby river with lead and form
ing an obstruction to navigation.
WARD ENTERS RACE
j To Manage Own Campaign for Ag
riculture Commissioner
Montgomery. January 12.-—(Spe
cial I—Judge John B. Ward of Abbe
! ville member of the house of ropre
sentatives from Henry county in 19f>
and former probate judge of the
same county, today entered the race
for commissioner of agriculture of
Mahama. He Is the third candidate
for this office and the fourth to he
mentioned for it.
Judge Ward notified William P.
robb. secretary of state, that he will
manage his own campaign and will
receive and disburse all funds .rhlch
will be used in the furtherance of
his interests.
James M. Moore, supervisor of the
division of food, feed and drugs of
the state department of agriculture,
was the first person to qualify for
this race. James A. Wade, former
commissioner of agriculture, filed his
declaration lust before Christmas.
Robert F. Seale, member of the
house of representatives from Sum
ter county, has informed Ills cr|ent)
that he is considering making the
race and would have a definite state
ment during the next few days.
NINE G.O. P.’S VOTE
Vote Is 46 to 41—Democrats
Are Solid in Opposition
to Seating Michigan
Senator
By Associated Press
Washington, January llv—Truman
H. Newberry of Michigan tonight
finally won his long fight for a seat
in the United States Senate. y
The right to the seat was de
termined by the Senate itself, which,
by a vote of 46 to 41 on a resolution
sponsored by republican leaders, as
serted that Mr Newberry was en
titled to his seat.
All who voted for him were repuo
licans, while nine republicans and 32
democrats voted against him. Three
senators were paired for and three
against the resolutions and three sen
ators did not vote.
Adding to the resolution declaring
Mr. Newberry entitled to his seat
and denying the claims of Henry
Ford, the defeated democratic con
testant In the 191S election that be
cause of campaign expenditures Mr.
Newberry was not entitled to sit in
the Senate, was a statement of pub
lic policy by which the Senate "se«
verely condemned and disaproved"
the use of excessive sums in behalf
of any candidate.
Mr. Newberry, himself on the floor
only once during the long battle,
and then to speak in his own defense
last Monday, telephoned his support
ers at the capitol loniffht after the
result was determined, that ho re
garded the results as a •‘complete
vindication and an exoneration of
myself and all concerned."
*evrDerry * mmemem
"My heart Is filled with thankful
ness.” he said, “that the three years
and four months of persecution has
ended in a complete vindication and
an exoneration of myself and all con
cerned.”
His announcement definitely an
swered statements made during: the
closing hours of debate that Mr. New
berry did not approve of the resolu
rion In Its final tortij. His supporters
had held that the condemnation or
the use of excessive sums of money
appended -to the original resolution
merely restated what the majority of
the investigating committee had writ
ten In its report and what Senator
Newberry himself had said. Demo
crats and republican opponents, how
ever, contended that it placed the
Michigan senator under a cloud and
there were insistent demands that he
Continard on l*nge 'lHrol
OF ARMS TREATY
Conference Discusses Effect
Briand’s Resignation Will
Have on Negotiations.
Americans Apprehensive
By Associated Press
Washington, Januray 2.—Further
details of both the naval treaty and
the Shantung negotiations were
ironed out today, but the arms dele
gates gave up hope of a plenary
session this week to announce defi
nite results.
The “lug five" completed B* first
revision of the naval convention ami
sent the text back to its legal ex
perts for a redraft of the changes.
They will meet again tomorrow,
and a virtually completed treaty may
be ready for the full executive ses
sion on Saturday or Monday.
In the Shantung conversations fur
ther supplemental agreements were
reached by the Japanese and Chinese,
and a new promise of progress on
the central question of the Teingtao
Tsinanfu railroad was held out by
a series of compromise proposals
suggested informally by Secretary
Hughes and Arthur J. Balfour.
Word of the resignation of Pre
mier Urland of France created a mo
meulary stir in conference circles
but the disposition in French quar
ters tonight was to minimize ,ts Im
mediate effects on the Washington
negotiations. Albert Sarraut, head oi
the delegation, announced he would
go ahead with his conference outtes
pending instructions from the now
cabinet, and indicated hts belief that
the change of administration would
n,,t vitiate the agreements projected
here.
Krlnnd'a Itetireiiienl
Among American officials in the
conference, however, there was ap
, prehension that M. Briand's retire
ment might have it far-reaching ef
fect on the naval limitation program.
It was pointed tint that the retiring
premier had been directly responsi
ble for France's withdrawal of hei
USD,000-ton capital ship proposal, and
that the temper of the succeeding
cabinet on that subject could only be
conjectured.
Included In the few treaty provi
sions not yet finally accepted In tlu
informal conversations of the “big
five” are understood to t><^ the sec
tions relating to disposition o;
scrapped ships and fixing a "statu:
quo for Pacific fortifications. Or
the former however, the chief dele
gates are said lo he in virtual agree
rnent while in regard to fortifica
tions the instructions awaited froo
Tokio are generally expected to luakt
an eari,j- settlement possible.
BLOOD IS DRAWN
AS WITNESS AND
ATTORNEY BATTLE
Itjr DOH.I.AS ii. TINM-HV
Hamilton, .lannnry I-.—- (Spe
cial. »— Blow* wrrr passed br
lwpfn Horace Uilklnuon, spe
clal assistant aMorney general fn
charge of the prosecution of Hob*
ert I,alienator for the mnrder of
William Hal rd. and Meat. L B.
McBride, iiltneaN for the de
fense. thin afternoon on the street
here. The affair la aaid to have
grown out of a clash between the
nttorney and the witneae In court
early in the day, while Me Hr Ida
««» testify lug. During croaa ex
amination of Mcllride, W ilkin
■on naked MeHrlde If he didn't
make a certain atateincnt at the
former trial, rending from a
stenographic report of the first
trlnl. “I don't know whnt was In
that book nnd whnt you put In
it.*' McBride replied. Wilkinson
jumped to his feet and told the
court i •*! resent this witness In
sinuating that 1 put anything la
this hook. It 1s the official rec
ord of the former trial, aud I
intend to Introduce It at the
proper time. If he'd make that
statement out of court I'd knock
his head off."
l.ate this afternoon, daring a
recess of court, according to wit
nesses. McBride accosted Wil
kinson on the street and struck
nt hint. In the exchange of blows
blood was drawn from the attor
ney's nose. They were separated
by bystanders.
EVE OF MEETING
McDowell’s Friends Lay Plans
for Fight, While Conven
tion Plan Advocates
Are Active
By FKEI> II. GORMLEY
Montgomery Bureau The Are-Herald. i
221-3 First National Hunk Building
Mpntgomery, January 12.—(dpe
cl*J )—Gossip about candidates for
office in the democratic primary
August 8 became general among
lookerson here for the meeting of
the state democratic executive com
mittee at noon Friday following the
announcement late Thursday fror
Col. Bibb Graves that he would be
candidate for governor.
Friends of Senator Charles S.
| Dowell, candidate for Lieutenant
i ernor. began their plans for a . .gut,
i believing another entry in the race
: for governor will mean another entry '
| for lieutenant governor. B. T. Phil*
: lips, state senator of Lee and Russell
counties, was prominently mentioned
in the hotel lobbies during ths «v,.
ning as the probable running mats
of Colonel tirav'ea. SenRtor Phillips
is In Montgomery and some of nis
friends admitted that he was cons'd1*
ering becoming a candidate for a
state office."
Convention Advocate* Huey
Supporters of the convention plan
for the nomination of candidates for
Judges of the supreme and appellate
courts will make a sincere and hard
fight to have the state committee
adopt their suggestions. The execu
tive committee of the Alabama Bar
association in. special meeting Thurs
day afterncln named a subcommittee
and charged it with the duty of pre
| paring the resolution calling the
> convention which will be among the
| first matters to be submitted to the
I committee.
Candidates and particular friends
of candidates, including those who
will be in the. race for the supreme
court and appellate courts, are fight
ing the proposal. The contention Is
that the plan was put forward in the
interest of persons who would seek
the nominations In a convention but
who vv;ould not have a chance in a
primary.
r#ookerson have reached the con
clusion that the convention resolu
tion will not receive many votes.
One thing is certain: the committee
is determined to put up the bars and
to admit only those who voted the
1 democratic ticket in the last general
election.
.Tames H. Webb of Mobile, will be
named chairman of the committee as
the successor of W. D. Nesbitt. of
Birmingham, unless something un
usual happens. No opposition has yet
developed.
LANCASTER DENIES
PARTICIPATION IN
KILLING OE BAIRD
Defendant Declares He Was
Asleep on Cot in Barracks
at Hour Lynching Said to
Have Occurred
Hr DOI'Gt.AS O. TlNSLEt e
Hamilton, January 12.—(Special.)
Absolute denial of any participation
in the lynching of William Baird,
striking miner, in Walker county
a year ago, was the answer today of
Robert J. Lancaster, Alabama
guardsman, to the state’s charge of
murder, on which he .is being tried.
Lancaster took the stand tn Ms own
defense thin afternoon at 3:16, Vor
more than an hour, under the a
auco of A. H. Carmichael, cdHdr
for the defense, he related to ,% Ma
rlon county Jury in detail hls move
ments on the fatal night and tcTd
them that he slept on hls barra
oot from midnight until morning.
Crowds of spectators packed the
room and hung o\er the railing* a*
the accused soldier told hls story and
underwent a grilling cross examina
tion at the hands of Horace IS. Wil
kinson. special assistant attorney
general in charge of the prosecution
The crowd leaned forward and fo
cused every eye upon (he uuused
man when Mr. Carmichael asked him
the direct question if he and other
soldiers had together raided the Jas
per Jail, taking Laird out and shoot
ing him to death.
mirarr, me
fli't’iufd soldier faced the 12 men
who will decide his fate, and In a
• voice, audible over the en
tire room, replied:
•*l did aot.M
The defense will close He case thn
morning, after which the elate wil,
offer rebuttal testimony, and argu
ments will b© made, followed bf
■fudge Gamble’s charge.
Lancaster’s fate will probably bs
in the hands of the ju * r.i«v
afternoon.
Lancaster** *1
Sergeant tncaiU
he lived,
and jol'
guard
tllf H
the
ies
F r*
Str
ewn;
'at outfit, wneru Ui
' !Ui Wh-:n the oo«l
. .less testified. h
T ' /fia, where bt h«u
to his d i sch ur g<»
He drove a tax! for
called out on strike
>mpany M. Fourth Ala
try. He first did duty
iley, in Walker county, he
and later at Townley, with
inent of about 80 men. De
was on strike duty from
September 17 until the Baird killing
i The barracks where the detachment
' was quartered were about three
quarters of a mile from Townley, de
fendant testified. There were three
V*08ts, he testified, one at the bar
racks. another in Townley and the
tihird at the junction point, where the
3r1king miners received supplies,
fiese were taken care of by several
^trols, in placing which there was
n<> formality,
re.
he
10 tli
ter d<
patro* i
whet* fi
he test!
thenoe i
Whei|
th ink o.f
Larnast
His c<
the f1r»:
head n<p
cn and
with Hi
slept V
ant M *
On Duty Till Midnight
8 o'clock on the night of Jan
1.M1, defendant went on
h hisgpatrol, he tes
to 12 there was no
at the barracks. Us
aced two men at tho
During the time he
be on duty he stayed
About 12 that night
ifled, and went back
ti . th his patrol. Lancas
ig Leslie West at any
at Knox’s drug store
i Defendant took his
i camp via the railroad
ft ff duty at 12 o'clock,
the union joint, and
*oad.
ived there he got a
o.i' a and went to his room,
l ;i the jury.
n the corner next to
iff. ie testified, with the
e fire. Sergts. Whit
son and Clyde Kitch*
VIoore shared quarters
taid.
•r ( en went to bed and
mah ut the night until
v* it morning by Lieuter;
ule, he testified. This was
« 'T ».e said, and he got up
abo it ' He denied asking
our \ a scabbard or send
anyone for *e». His shoes wer-f
v/et trorn ti. *ain in which he did
t\, v nv 1 night, he said. I*an
. w n iled tatins at breakfast
i b t ; he oing to cut a notch
( n y * p iat the man who told
I nottvu
on Page Two)
My Favorite Stories
By IRVIN S. COBB
An Earnest Cry for Help
Our town—I mean the one where I was born—formerly abounded
in characters—“types” they’d call them in a larger place. One of our
local institutions 20 years ago was a black driver named Abe, but
’ called Old Abe for short. Abe was popular with both races, good
1 natured, loud mouthed and friendly. He had one social shortcoming,
though. About once in so often he would slip out on a dark night and
acquire something of value without the formality of speaking to the
owner about it. Kor awhile he escaped a penitentiary sentence.
But eventually he was caught with what the grand jury and the
prosecuting attorney regarded as the goods, the said goods consisting
j of a stray calf. He was lodged in the Blue Eagle jail to await trial.
1 His cell was in the upper tier. On the Sunday afternoon following
; his incarceration his wife, accompanied by five or six of Abe’s pick
aninnies, came to pay' him a visit. It was the first time she had seen
him since his arrest. ,
On her way out she was halted by the deputy jailer, whose name
was Grady. ,. , ...
“Dora,” he said, "have you hired a lawyer for Abe yet?
“Naw, suh,”-*he said, “effen Abe was guilty, right away I'd git him
a lawyer. But he p’intedlv tells me lie ain’t de leas' bit guilty. So, of
co’se, dat bein’ de case, he «in’t needin’ no lawyer to git him clear.”
From the floor above, down the iron stairwell, came floating the
voice of Abe: .
“Mr. Grady, oh, Mr. Grady!—you tell at fool nigger Oman down
thar to git a lawyer—an’ git a dam good one. too."
(Copyright, 1922, by the Central Press Association.)