Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-05
ALABAMA,
CRAWFORD'S APPOINTMENT.
Governor Oates Says He Was Appointed a Member of the Board, but Not
 the Chairman

Montgomery, Jan. 4.--tspecal.)-T latest tangle in the Birmingham police commission is exciting it's share of inter- est here. Advocates are found here on both sides the question.
 The State Herald correspondent called at the capitol to learn if any formal com- mission had been issued to MT. Craw- ford. None had been, the letter from Private Secretary Walden to MT. Craw- ford being the credent.al.
 Governor Oates stated to a State Her aid reporter tonight that he had express ly appointed MT. Crawford a member of the police commission and not chairman of it. He says that he so wired MT. Crawford before Captain Vaidens mes sage was sent him, that he had read the law, thoroughly understood it's privis- ions and made the appointment accord ingly. He instructed, he says, his sec retary to forward MT. Crawford's com mission as member of the board but the secretary misunderstood the direc- tion and sent the telegram published in today's State Herald
 Governor Oates was strongly impor- tuned today to commute the deal tn sen tence of the negro who is sentenced to be hanged at TuSkegee for wife murder next Friday to imprisonment for life lie positively declined to interfere, how ever. The governor believes that no good excuse can be offered for wife mur- der
 Governor Oates today granted. commit tations of sentence to John M. Wilson of Cherokee and to Forrest Watkins of Lawrence. The first named was con- victed of assault with intent to murder and some other crime and pleaded guilty with the understanding that he was to receive the lowest fine. He was, how ever, sentenced to eight years in each case. Upon the recommendation of the judge and solicitor in the case the gov ernor reduced the sentence to four years each Watkins was convicted of murder in the first degree in Lawrence county five years ago and was given d. life sem tence. It has since developed that the crime was not murder in the first degree and the governor has reduced the term Of imprisonment to ten years.
 Three negroes came to the governors office today and gave the details of the murder of James Morton, Lowndes county ne=ro. few days ago. They said that Morton and his brother-in-law, Archie May, had quarreled about a boundary line between their farms. Bad blood existed and trouble between the men was expected. As Merton was pass ing along the road about dusk May, con- cealed in field near by, fired on and Killed him, then approached the dead body and fired several shots into it, after which he repaired to his team near by, where his wife, Mortons sister, awaited him and drove away. The negroes who called on the governor were unobserved witnesses to the killing. May escaped. The governor offered reward of $10O for Mays arrest.
 Painful Operation.
 Dr. G. w. Andrews of Troy submitted to an operation yesterday which, while 1t an operation yesterday which, while 1t resulted in the entire destruction of one of his eyes, probably saved his life and certainly relieved him from intense suf- fering. Fifteen years ago the muscles about his left eye became paralyZed and since that time he has not been enabled to close the lids and protect the eye from dust, etc. In consequence 1t has been con- tinually sore. Early in last month ex- posture to the cold weather caused infla- nation to set in and an ulcer formed at the back of the eye ball. The doctors performed the operation of cutting two incisions through the eye ball and al- lowing the corrupt matter behind it to escape. The patient Is greatly relieved and while of course he will lose the eye his friends throughout the state will re- joice to know that the operation places his life beyond threatened danger.
 Fighting the Saloons.
 Rev. w. D. Gay, very enterprising young Baptist minister here, announced at the meeting of the Law and Order League last night that he intended to prosecute all saloon men who had not complied strictly with the state law, which requires that before license to sell whisky can be granted the dealer must present a petition to the probate judge, signed by twenty householderS and free holders, residents of the beat in which the business is to be conducted. It ap- pears that it has been. customary for sa- loon men to secure the sigma lures of twenty good citizens without any espe- cial regard to their beat of residence and 1t is on this irregularity that the !, minister will institute his investigations
 Montgomery Pants Factory.
 Messrs. Steiner 6 Lobman, the whole sale dry goods merchants on Commerce street have concluded arrangements to establish by next month the Montgomery Pants factory, and will employ fully 100 hands in that enterprise
 Personal
 Miss Mary Matthews of Matthews Sta on High street.
 Miss Maggie Lovery of Birmingham Is visiting Mrs. T. w. Lee of this city
 Mrs. w. c. Fuller has as her guest Miss Mary Underwood of LaGrande.
 Misses Nellie and Mary Joe Wilkerson are visiting friends in Americus, Ga
 Misses Matte Bibb and Carrie Brow der are visiting Mrs. R. c. Mason at Snowdon.
 Misses Pauline Cameron and Willie Roberts are the guests of Miss Gamer on's aunt, Mrs. Capt. J. M. Faulkner.
 -O-
 AUBURN.