The age-herald., 1902-02-11
ALLEGED CROOK
 KNOWS SOMETHING
ANNISTON POLICE HAVE A MAN BELIEVED TO POSSESS IN- FORMATION OF THE WHERE. ABOUTS OF FRANK DUNCAN.

Anniston, February 1O.-(special.) )-The capture of Joseph Hiltz here by the chief of police Monday afternoon may prove very lucky one, as it is believed that he is an all round crook and has informa- ton that will prove of great benefit to the people of Alabama, Tennessee and other states that have been terrorized for some time by band of organized thieves.
 Hiltz, 1t is believed, is a member of the famous Miller Duncan gang and If he could be induced to tell the whereabouts of Frank Duncan and the other persons who succeeded in escaping from the Jeff ferson County jail a few weeks since. It will be remembered that Hiltz was accompanied here by a pal. who succeed ed in making his escape before it was known that he was interested in the crooked transactions of Hiltz in this city.
 The man according to Hiltz's own state ment belongs to the Duncan gang and knows where the much wanted criminal is at the present day. He says that this fellow assisted in the escape and furnish ed the prisoners with the files and other utensils for the accomplishment of their purpose.
 Strange to say, notwithstanding the in- innate terms of Hiltz and this unknown confederate, he does not know his name. At least this is what the man now serv- ing aSsentence in the city chain gang says.
 This part of his story is not believed te arlaf lo oil Al. transaction and owing to promises made to the members of the clan he refuses to furnish the authorities with any in- formation, proving the old saying that there is such thing as honor among thieves.
 Hiltz was convicted in the mayors court here on three charges-vagrancy larceny and carrying concealed weapons. The cause of his arrest and the charge upon which he was afterwards found guilty was for stealing some clothing from the Wimer hotel where he, with a pal. were guests. He sold the clothing to a Tenth street merchant, and upon the merchants identification was ar rested. He is now serving a sentence of six months on the streets of Annston. He came to this city from Memphis, and appears to be about IS years old, He claims his father is a hack man of Atlanta.
 The rebuilding of the system of the Southern Bell Telephone Company in this city has been started. The work will be under the supervision of Mir. w. T. Warlick, the local manager. The con struction crew will be under MT. D. c. Mims of Atlanta. The system will be re built as rapidly as possible. Every tele- phone Tn the city will be equipped with long-distance connections. The entire system will be placed on a metallic cir cult, new poles wires ftd cables will be put in. which will make 1t one of the most complete systems in the country. The switchboard at the central office will be very much improved. new section Is to be put in which will greatly facilitate the transaction of the company's busi- ness. All the material for the proposed improvement has arrived and nothing will retard the work
 The recruiting office that has been open here for the past week closed Saturday night after securing twelve recruits The recruits who were received were: W. l.. Gilbert, C. l.. Brewer, J. c. Bailey, J. H. Pepper, A. McCarron, l.. Cofield, w Gum, R. D. Watson. J. D. Rose, Mack Hartsfeld, w. G. Slaughter and L. K. Brooks Jr. Most of the recruits have volunteered as landsmen. The recruiting party left yesterday for Port Royal S. C.. where they will report for duty. The recruits from this place have been sent to a number of points along the Atlantic coast.
 A big fire was narrowly averted in the Smith building here at late hour Sat urday night. The fire caught in the apartments of Prof. E. M Murphy. It burned through the floor into the Famous, a large clothing store. before 1t was dis coveEed The room of Professor Murphy was stripped by the fire and large amount of damage done to the Famous by water. Five hundred dollars will be the loss, fully covered by insurance.
 At a recent meeting of the Oxford City Council the Anniston Gas and Electric Company of this city was granted a fran chise to build and maintain an electric light system in that place. Oxford has for some time past been trying to get city street lights, but so far had failed. General Manager H. w. Sexton of the Anniston Gas and Electric Company will begin at an early date to install the sys- tenn for Oxford. which will be the same as that used in Anniston.
 Methodist pastors of the Talladega dis trict will hold a district pastors insti- ute in Oxford from the 18th to the Sth of this month. Presiding Elder Britain of Talladega will act as president of the institute while in session. The institute will be attended by pastors from all over the northeast portion of Alabama.