The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-01
NEGRO HANGED FOR
 MURDERING A NEGRO
JOHN WESLEY BROOKS CON- PISSED TO THE CRIME FOR WHICH HE DIED JUST BEFORE GOING TO THE GALLONS.

John Wesley Brooks, a negro, was hanged in the county jail yard yesterday morning for the murder of William Me- Kinsler, an aged negro man. He confessed to the crime of which he had been convicted just before he was taken out to the galiows, which is rare thing for negro criminals to do. He said he had no grudge against the old man, and did not want his money, but the devil just happened to be in him and that was the only reason for the killing.
 There were a few spectators i'll the jail yard as the trap was sprung which sent the criminal to his death. On the scaf- fold he made a short talk, saying he was ready to go, and that he had gotten religion.
 The crime of which Brooks was con- victed was unusually atrocious. The old negro was driving home in his wagon with some groceries when he was set upon by l Brooks and killed. Brooks then took his wagon and horse and drove toward Chat tanooga. On the way he sold the wagon and horse and bought another horse, on which he rode to Chattanooga. It was 1 in Chattanooga that he was captured and brought back to Birmingham for trial. | --------------------~---~- only chemists, or people who have stud | jed chemistry will understand. Oxygen ] in the pure state as this in these tanks is, will burn a piece of steel wire just | like fire will pine knot Thus one can readily understand what the bursting of these big tanks meant at the fire yes terday. The hydrogen is almost as bad. There were thousands and thousands of cubic feet of these gases in the tanks, as it is compressed under powerful machin cry.
 At the Bjou.
 "As I said before, they are worthless and dangerous now when electricity can be used. For instance, here at the Bi- jou, we use nothing but electricity. Only a few of the cranks of the stage, actors who have regulations of being freaks persist in using these calcium lights. Sometimes . big company will come to theater with half a dozen of these heav- | fly charged tanks, carrying them all over the United States. It would be cheaper, easier and safer for them to use elec- trcity
 Another thing about that theater fire in Chicago. The modern fire-proof the- ater is no safer than the old ones. This was modern in every sense, and look at the loss of life The difference is this. With the steel frames, certain amount of heat will warp the iron pillars. They will bend and crush under the weight Of the roof ard upper floors. The old wood- en structures will burn much longer and allow more time for escape The wood en rafters will hold longer than the iron ones. The Grand Opera House in Nash vile is good example of that It burn ed for about forty hours.
 Useless Legislation. One of the effects which this fire is go- ing to have is to start up all kinds of l legislation In every state Tn the Union | there will be bills introduced in the leg islatures by men who know nothing about q theater or the erection of one. They will get up thousand and one schemes for the protection of the people, and will make managers spend thou- sands of dollars. and the theaters will be worse when they finish than when they started.
 "One thing more about the calcium tanks, which hold the gases. Every one | has seen these tanks used to hold the | carbonated water in saloons and soda water stands. These gas tanks for call cium are just like the carbonated water tanks, only larger and much stronger so that they will stand a greater pressure. Every theater needs Illuminating gas but that is ! different proposition. Sup pose the electric lights give out, gas is needed. but than that is no more danger ous than in a private residence