The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-22
CLUE IS FOUND TO
 ROBBERS ENTRANCE
MYSTERY SURROUNDING THEFTS IN SELMA HARDWARE STORE IS PARTIALLY UNVElLED-OTH- FER NEWS OF SELMA.

Selma, Jifhe 21-(Speeial) )-Oficer Blan- ton has in measure unshrouded part of the mystery of the robberies that have recently occurred in the store of the Tis- ser Hardware company.
 It has been the theory that the robbers climbed an electric light pole at the rear of the store and thereby gained an en- trance from the second story veranda. Last night Officer Blanton, who is on the beat where the store Is located, heard, as he thought, footsteps on the roof of an adjoining building. Climbing tele- phone pole near the one story building at the corner of Washington and Water streets he found that by climbing wall about four feet high and walking across a narrow alleyway he could reach the roofs of the two story buildings fronting on Broad street, that run up to the lis ser Hardware companys three story building. On the roofs of the Broad street stores he found a number of cats that had undoubtedly caused the noise that attracted his attention from the street below.
 The main thing that attracted his at tention, however, was an open window of the Tissier Hardware company, open ing cut on the roofs and then it dawned upon him that while the police and night wacthman had been keeping their eye on the electric light pole near the second story ve-Gnda. the robbers had been en- tering via the third story window. Seeking for an easy way down from the one story buildings he found a ladder in private alley and the whole plot of the robbers was clear. How much the hardware com pany has suffered will perhaps never be known but no doubt many articles have been taken from the establishment by way of the window and the roofs.
 A Court Incident.
 This morning Judge J. W. Mabry of the city court rendered a decision on a motion of Solicitor Thompson that c. D. Walker of Polk this county, witness in blind tiger case" be sent to Jail for con tempt of court When on the stand yes- terday afternoon MT Walker made eva sive answers to the direct question of the solicitor as to what was in a bottle or dered last fall by MT. Walker for some negro employees of T. A. Simmons, the defendant in the case being tried. MT. Walker, according to the solicitor, had stated to the grand jury that he had or dered whisky for the negroes. On the stand MT. Walker stated that he had ordered something to drink for them but that he did not smell the bottle nor taste it and could not say what 1t was. It was his refusal to answer directly the ques- ton what he expected to get that caused the solicitor to ask for his committal for contempt Judge Mabry stated, fin rem dering his decision, that MT. Walker was a very unwilling witness and had not placed himself in an enviable light before the court but that 1t was not within the province of the court to say that MT Walker knew what was in the bottle in the face of his declaration to the contrary Mir Walker was not committed for con- tempt and the case against MT. Simmons was nole pressed MT. Walker being the only witness.
 Arson Case Nolle Pressed.
 In the city court today the cases of arson against Callie Martin and Henry McIlwain, two negroes were nolle pross- ed. The negroes were charged with setting fire to tho house of the Misses Blair last fall. There was not evidence enough to convict and the solicitor moved for a nolle prosse the jurors summoned for tomorrow when the case was to have been called being notified that they need not appear.
 Local and Personal.
 MT John Sanders mail carrier on the Central route who has been confined to his home by illness is able to be at his post again.
 Mrs. Charles L. DeBardeleben and children have gone to Big Bayou, La, for the summer.
 MT. w. T. Atkins. Sr.. one of the most popular travelling men of the state, and known all over Alabama, has accepted a position with Eliaberg Bros, of this city.
 Tommy Craig a negro youth who stole a gun some months ago from the store of F.. & Doster of this city was fined $lOO and given 90 days hard labor for the coun- 1 ty in the city court today. .