The age-herald., 1898-09-29

Two PrIvates in Tight Place
 Privates John Melia and Patrick Murphy, members of the Second Alabama regiment. ire locked LID at the police station charged with assault and battery upon the person of Private W. c. Hall of the same regi- ment The row occurred in Vesuvius about o'clock last night, and was soon afterWard reported to the police Halls injuries are rot very serious, due possibly to the iact that he succeeded in escaping from his as- sailants at an early stage of the fight.
 The story, as told the police by Hall, Is understood to be as follows: Hall was de- tailed on guard over the defendants Tues day night, who were at the time prisoners. They, according to Hall, attempted to prlpe the guard with the hope of being liberated This did not work successfully. Yesterday afternoon Hall came to the city In search of friend whom he thought was under the influence of liquor. Failing to find him here' Hall was returning to camp through Vesu- vius. There he continued the search, gong inside a saloon. Coming out, he met ms former prisoners who inquired if he was | going back to quarters. Being answered affrmat lively, the trio started toward camp | Before going very far Hall says one or the men struck him with some hard substance. | felling him to the ground. Then both or them Jumped on him and proceeded to do | h.~l up." Hall succeeded finally in escaping | by outrunning his assailants. | A Strong Law Firm
 Hon. Thomas H. Watts, Hon. Alexander | Troy and Col Francis G. Caffey have | formed a law partnership under the firm name of Watts, Troy & Caffey which sue | ceeds the late firm of Tompkins x Troy or | this city.
 This is one of the strongest associations | of legal talent in the state.
 Alabama Crops
 
 The agricultural bureau here today issu | the following crop report for the week; | Very nearly normal tenn. .eratures lre- vailed by day but the nights wsre rather l cool; on the whole, however, the tempera- | ture conditions were favorable, with an 1 average amount of sunshine over the cen- l tral and northern sections, a1d deheie cy in sunshine over the southern section. TOO much precipitation occurred generally over southern districts. but SC where only light showers were the rule. Cotton has open d rapidly, and about thre> >~fourths of the crop is open in the southern counties, Of which about one-haf has been picked about one-half is open in the more nortE- erly portions of the state, about one-hl of which has been picked.
 The quality of the cot on is poor and the yield is considerably below the aver age. Some sprouting of boils is still re- ported from the soutrern counties. Re- ports indicate very generally a poor out look for top-crop Of this stap.e. N much corn has been gathered but good yield is still assured; complaints of rot in the car are, however, bec ming more numerous in the southern co" nies. me hay and fodder are still being save1 g. gar-cane is being made up in some oclli- ties, and Is yielding very satisfactorily. Peanuts promise very good crop, but | very few have been gathered yet. r. ghum is yielding very well. and sweet po- tatoas are satisfa ctory. Prer aratiors are | being made for large acreage of wh at.
 Brigadier-GeucrnI Oates
 General William c. Oates. commanding the Second brigade, first dyson, Second | army corps in camp near Harrisburg. Pa., reached the city at 10:30 o'clock ths morn-s | ing. General Oates came to the city for the | purpose of accompanying Mrs. Oates and | Master Willie. his son. back to his post. | The party will return Sunday via Atlanta.
 In conversation General Oates said wth | reference to the proposed removal of his brigade that nothing definite had been de- cded upon by the war department He | said however, he was inclined to believe | the entire division to which his command be- | longs would be removed south about the l latter part of October. Just where the | camp would be located he could not tell. 1 He is well pleased with the present camp ste. but realizes the weather will be too | cold later
 
 | ment a few days since fin the interest of | certain men whom b> dcs'red appointed on | his staff, which is yet incomplete. He was l anxious that the remaining vacancies be rendered officers from the regiments of his | own state but the president and secretary | of war were not incl ned to acquiesce. Gen. l eral Oates was accompanied there by Lieu | tenant Martin, of the First Alabama regi- | ment, whom he introduced as an efficient man for a place, but the "cold shoulder | was given.
 | General Oates was under the impression | he would be allowed to select his staff else | he would likely have declined his commits | sion. His brigade Is slated for continuous service and the commander says he will re- | main with it.
 | At the State House Governor Johnston has received letter | from Governor Culberson of Texas, calling l attention to the fact that the farmers | tonal congress will meet in Fort Worth | December 6-14, and stating that Alabama was entitled to 750 delegates. Any Alabama | farmers desiring to attend the congress | should send their names to Governor John- 1 Ston.
 Director Martin Dodge of the Good Roads l Bureau of the department of agriculture | at Washington has written to Governor | Johnston asking him to appoint at least | four delegates to represent Alabama at the | National Roads parliament which will | meet October 8 in the Auditorium of the | Trans Mississippi exhibition at Omaha. | Persons desiring to go should write to the | governor.
 | The state railroad commission is in ses- | sion today. The principal business is to | pass on the complaints of citizens of New | berne Marion and Greensboro against the