Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-04
CARROLTON.
and Pickens County Is in High Jinks The Lee Doss Case.

Carrollton, Ala, April 2.--(Special Cor respond 5nce. .)-Work began on the Mont gomery division of the Mobile and Ohio railroad at Columbus, Miss, on Monday, and 1t is repoted on good authority that Picksns will have line of railway thir- ty-tive miles in length within twelve months from this date.
 It is reported that th= lands through out Pickens were too hard to blow on Saturday, the same having been packed by recent r5ine, but it is thought that a shower which fell yesterday will put the fislds in much better condition for plant ing crops.
 The case of Lee Doss for killing Luther Ball is being heard before Judge Sykes, of Aberdeen, Miss, on a writ of habeas corpus. The question as to tha propriety of the prisoners reaTest after being ad- mitted to bail cannot be settled by the decision of circuit judge in Mississippi. This. matter can alone b. determined by the governor of Alabama on two grounds. The first is the legality of the arrest for the second time on the evidsnce befor- the magistrates on the preliminary trial. Secondly, whether the circumstances will justify the bringing the prisoner back to Alabama at the present time.
 The judge of the circuit court may ex- anime the whole question, and give an opinion of his views of the law from the evidence before him. He may require a larger bond and in default of bail com init thep risoner to jail. This will, of course, leave the entire matter to Gov. Johnston, to determine whether or not he will d=inand the surrender of the pris- oner.
 Some persons think that the bail bond should have been fixed a a larger sum than $2,0 900 by the magistrate, while they do not appear to have been impressed with the idea that the. offence charged was manslaughter, and that his bond would bring the defendant to trial It is difficult matter to determine how the circuit judge i'll Mississippi will view the matter Many express the opinion that Lee Doss should not be brought back here for s-eXamination until the present excitement has subsided. The governor of Alabama will give a patient hearing to the defendant and the interests of the state, if it becomes necessary to apply for a requisition. The eXtradition of the prisoner will, of course, depend on the demand of Gov. Johnston.
 Railroad men are si.orming Piekens at present. They are visiting the corps of engineers at present camped near Re form. The interest manifested in this county is considerable Engineers that have been prominently connected with the Plant system, the Mobile and Ohio, and Georgia Pacific have been visitors to Reform. It apepars that there is much interest in the building of the railroad through this county. They state that there has been but little work on new lines of railway of late, and they are here looking for business and employ ment.
 The corps of engineers is camped at Liberty Missionary Baptis; church, a bout eight miles north of Carrollton. The congregation is in charge of Dr. Duke O. Baird, one of the most popular and eloquent ministers of that order in the county. IL is noted place in Pickens, but is becoming more celebrated on ac- count of the recent visits of many en- gineers looking after their interests con- nected with the railroad Liberty church woke up one morning few days ago and found itself famous, as prominent men connected with building railroads are resorting to that point to s=e the corps of engineers in their camps. e.
 It now appears that Carrollton will not get the railroad, and that the line of surA vey will crop the public road leading north from this point at some place be- tween the eight and ten mile posts. It appears probable that there will be a depot at Reform or within two miles south of it. The general impression aap- pears to be that both Reform and Gordo will be within two miles of the railway.
 The people of Pickens are in much better spirits since it has been made evil dent that the railroad will be built. The era of good feeling has been fully re- stored, and all unite in expressing the
  tinue to labor to place Birmingham, Mo- bile, Montgomery and other points in the state before the northern people as the most suitable locations for various en- terprises demanding the investment of money. The democrats and populists are on good terms, and have forgiven or for gotten all that was said by political speakers during the last canvass.
 A leading populite in this county, whose wise statements have been often totn the failure of the last Legislature to step in between the party desiring to borrow money and the man having the cash to invest in loan, shows that the General Assembly tries to legislate for the good of the people. He Is proud of the credit of Pickens county, and attributes it's high credit to the fact that our legislators would not yield to the clamor to make a law interfering in private affairs
 Ii is reported here that Judge Sykes of Aberdeen, remanded Lee Doss to jail on the charge of murder. and 1t does not appear that he examined the witnesses to ascertain whether or not the case is bailable. This of course leaves it en- tirely to Governor Johnston to determine whether or not he will demand the ex- tradition of Lee Doss. Doss gave the bond here fixed by the justices of the peace, and went to Columbus, Miss. not as fugitive from justice, but to avoid violence from the friends of the deceased. It Is claimed by the advice of his friends, and attorneys. The propriety of the ex- tradition of boss will be settled by the Governor after full hearing.