The age-herald., 1902-04-05
THIS WOMAN TAKES
 OLD AGE H0NORS
SHE WAS BORN IN t771, LIVED
 THROUGH SIX WARS, REMEM- BERED GEORGE WASHINGTON
 AND ALL OTHER OLD INCIDENTS

Anniston, April 4.-(Special.)-Th old est living person is found very often in different parts of the United States every few months or years. and 1t Is quite diff hcult to determine just who is entitled to the honor, On last Sunday beyond doubt the oldest living person in Talla- dega County, or this section of Alabama, died. This person was Mary Hlston, negro woman, who lived near Eastaboga- It is stated on good authority that she was born In the year 1771. making her at this time one hundred and thirty-one years old at the time of her death. Her children and great grand children number more than one and fifty. The cause of he death was due to old age. She saw the beginning and the ending of two oen- turies. Several years ago she lost her sight, and a few years later was blessed with second sight, and for quite a while she enjoyed this blessing. At the time of her death. however, she was blind and had been for several years. She could remember the days of George Washington, and has lived since before the beginning of the nation and through six wars
 The City Council met last night in a called session and adopted a tax rate on real and personal property for the city at one-half of one percentum for the year 1902. A large amount of business was passed on at the council meeting.
 Lawson Morton, the negro under in- dictment for the murder of William Byrd, another negro, Is on trial now in the Anniston City Court, Judge Thomas w. Coleman presiding. One-half of yes- terday was spent in the securing of jury, near fifty jurors were summoned, and this venire was exhausted and the two regular juries called in before the jury was selected. Yesterday afternoon was spent in the hearing of witnesses and today the attorneys will probably finish and give the case to the jury. Morton is charged with the murder of Byrd in the Iron Queen saloon here last December by stabiDng him l. the neck. In the confusion that was caused by the cutting Morton escaped. Byrd died in fifteen minutes after the affray. Mor- ton was captured a few weeks ago at Hamilton, Ga, and brought back here for trial. His attorneys are making plea of self-defense.
 |. Herz, a white man, was arrested at the Winner Hotel last night about ! O. clock on a charge of embezzlement and locked up in the county jail The arrest was made by Constable Sweets on a war rant sworn out before Justice J. F. Green It is alleged that Herg embezzled a34 from the firm of Shoot & Bell. Her8 wife Is proprietoress of the Wilmer Hotel and the arrest of her husband caused con- siderable talk around the city last night.
 The wheels of the two box cars and the caboose of a south bound Southern freight on the Mobile division, left the tracks about two miles south of Merrilton yes terday afternoon about 8 o'clock and tore wrecker of the Louisville and Nashville railroad of the shops here was sent to the scene of the wreck and the track cleared. Traffic was delayed until after midnight by the wreck among the delay ed trains was the north bound passen- ger which is due here at 4:45 p. m., which will not get by the wreck until 12:15 a. m.
 The machinery for the enlargem ent of the plant of the Anniston Cordage has commenced to arrive. On yesterday nine car loads were received and the other Is expected daily. The machinery Is being unloaded and installed as rapidly as pos sible. The plant Is being doubled in capa- city and the machinery is being sent here from Chicago.