The age-herald., 1898-02-11
HE TOOK A LIFE SENTENCE In Preference to Standing Trial
 for Murder. A DAMAGE SUIT FOR $50,000 Filed Against the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham Railroad Company-Du-
 bose Owens Acquitted.

In the criminal court yesterday morn ing, Burk Lee, a negro, charged with murder, agreed to take life sentence in the mines, in lieu of standing trial. Some time ago Lee was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge, and yes terday withdrew the plea and pleaded guilty with the understanding that the solicitor would recommend a life sentence and thereby save his neck, which was &C., cordingly done.
 Lee shot and killed John Dalson at Stockton Mines, during the Christmas holidays in 1895, and immediately fled the scene of his crime. He was sent up from Barbour county a short time afterward under an assumed name to serve an eigh- teen months sentence at Coalburg. While serving sentence at that prison he was identified by woman named Lucy Col lin, who was visiting another prisoner. She reported the matter to Deputy Sherin Love, who brought it to the attention or the grand jury and an indictment was found.
 Lee is a powerfully built man and is said to have earned $500 for extra work while in the mines. Each prisoner is given a task of so many tons per day, and for all coal mined over this amount they are allowed wages.
 Lee will be taken back to Coalburg to serve his long sentence.
 Dubose Owens was found not guilty on a charge of rape, and was released. He was charged with criminally assaulting Emma Collier 16-year old colored girl, near Ensley. The case was concluded yes- terday and given to the jury, which, af- ter several hours deliberation, returned a verdict of not guilty. Owens was repre- scented by Attorney B. M. Allen.
 The weeks docket being completed. the juries were discharged
 In the City Court
 n;vo, administration If fhe eSt ate of w. E. Snapp, deceased yesterday en- tered suit in the city court against the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham Railroad company for damages in the sum of $50000
 The deceased was employed as a loco- motive engineer for the defendant and it is alleged that while employed in that capacity on Nov. 2, 1897, the locomotive was derailed and upset, causing injuries which resulted in his death. The accident oc- cured at a switch one mile west of Car bon Hill, and is alleged to have been caused by defect.
 The case of R. H. Hagood vs. R. H. Thomas, assumpslt, which was tried in the first division, resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of $603.33
 The case of R. T. Hulsey vs. the Postal Telegraph company, damages, was taken up and is on trial. This case was tried some time ago and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff for $l0000, which, on an appeal to the supreme court was reversed and remanded.
 The plaintiff alleges that he received in- juries while engaged in constructing lines for the company.
 A number of cases were passed to be re- set and several were dismissed for want of prosecution.
 In the Circuit Court.
 l.. V. Allen, who was confined in the county jail a charge of grand larceny, was before Judge Banks yesterday a writ of habeas corpus and was discharg- ed. He was also charged with wanton mischief in the criminal court. and was recognized by Judge Greene.