The age-herald., 1902-01-29
Penn Loses Libel Suit
 Against The Age-Hcrald

In the Circuit Court yesterday the jury Herald Publishing Company, a suit for $5OOO damages for alleged libel, brought in verdict for the defendant. The plaintiff E. A. Penn, claims of the defendant The Age-Herlad Publishing Company, a corporation, five thousand dollars damages for falsely and ma liciously publishing of and concerning him in newspaper published at Birm- ingham, Alabama, called "The Age-Her- ald' the following matter with intent to defame the plaintiff, to-wit: Penn mysteriously disappears. Was a buyer of script for B. M. Allen and oth- CTS. Intrusted with considerable sums of buyer and a former member of the police force Is missing and with him several hundred dollars belonging to parties with whom he was associated in busi- ness. MT. Penn disappeared about ten days ago without leaving his address and his present whereabouts are un- <<%<>%<<~~:-><%% Birmingham was mighty sick. She owes g. 000,0O0 and Dr. Collins is prescribing us as medicine for her, but what, gentle men, is to become of the medicine. Uaughter).
 Sees No Advantages.
 'T can't see any advantage to be de- rived" he continued, Fifty cents of the Sl tax of Birmingham goes to pay inter- est on her public debt, leaving only fifty centg to run the town on. This knocks in the head the theory that a town can't run on a fifty cent tax. If Birmingham can do it, we can. don't think 1t is right and reasonable to ask the suburbs of Birmingham to pay it's bonded debt or interest, when they haven't received one scintilla of benefit from 1t. would rather he as I am and be free to improve my property when I have the money instead of sometimes being obliged to do so by the city when I haven't got It."
 He favored North Birmingham becom- ing Incorporated on it's own account rath- CT than going into the city. He was ap- plauded as he concluded
 After MT. Hansberger's remarks no one seemed incline to speak. The science was broken by some one exclaiming, 'Where's Brmingham's representative?' This was greeted with laughter.
 MT. W. T. Folsom then spoke in favor of local incorporation. MT. Hansberger's s suggestion to this effect seemed to have struck popular chord and nearly every speaker who followed favored this idea. MT. Folsom said a local incorporation would be better than going Into the city. We have no water here he said for a fire department to use. I don't believe there would be any police pro- tection if we are annexed. Policemen out |. l. It looks to me like a case of the spider and the fly. When you get in the web there's no way of getting out. (Applause).
 Favors Local Incorporation.
 MT. J. s. Smith favored local incorpora- ton and building up the town for them selves Dr. Collins then arose and said he had not understood that this ques- ton was before the meeting but that he also was in favor of local incorporation if 1t could be accomplished.
 The Rev. w R. Hendricks said that 1t was doubtless easier to live without the burdens of incorporation. That the peo- pie of North Birmingham had for a long time paid country taxes and enjoyed the benefits of a city but the easy-going days were fast passing. The time was at hand when the well being of the community absolutely demanded its regulation. It
 
 should look ahead and have an eye to the moral welfare of the community. (Ap- plause).
 MT. E. W. Murphy said he had not studied the question of annexation and its advantages but he thought the best interests of the community would be served by becoming locally incorporated. He thought, however, that if this could not be done 1t might be well to go into the city. He spoke of the needs of good school and its beneficial effect and thought this could best be secured through local incorporation.
 MT. W. A. Lindsay favored local incor- poration and Mir. J. F. Knight spoke in favor of local self government. Birming- ham was big enough and all right as 1t was and he did not think Greater Birm- ingham would add anything to Birm- ingham.
 Fight for Ourselves.
 MT. W. G. Durritt favored local incor- poration and A. w. Hawk also spoke in it's favor. He quoted Spartacus.
 If we must fight" he said, ''let us fight for ourselves and not for Greater Birming- ham, He also spoke of the need for a school and said local incorporation would give 1t to them sooner
 Mir Carlos Owen a citizen from across the creek favored local incorporation.
 The motions of Mir. Cole and Mir. Hans berger were then unanimously adopted on voce votes and MT. Hansberger was elect ed a delegate to the meeting in place of MT. Tarrant
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