The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-19
WILL PROBE STORY OF STORE ROBBERY Court of Inquiry Named in
 Montgomery MEDAL FOR MARKSMAN Rifle Shoot Will Be Conducted Thurs day at Pickett sprlnss-Dates Ar
 ranged for Farmers
 Institutes.
MEDAL FOR MARKSMAN

Montgomery, July 1S.-(Specal. 1.-The l military authorities from the governor
 down. have determined to investigate the alleged hold-up of the negro clerk in the
 store of J. s. Holmes on the Red Bridge
 road, night before last. in which 1t Is
 said that three men in the uniforms o'
 soldiers forced at the point or bayonet the negro to permit them to take money
 out of the cash register and whisky and
 cigars from the stock, also charging that
 800 In money was taken from the safe
 Governor Jelks today gave orders that
 the matter be probed to the bottom.
 Immediately after having the talk with
 the governor. Adjt. Gen. William W. Bran
 don issued orders to Col. E. H. Graves
 of the Second regiment, in camp at Elec- tric park, to organize a court of inquiry to be held at the store of the negro and determine, if possible. what was actually taken, and to have the men of the com pany from which one of the men Is said tc have come presented to the court that they may be seen by the negro and identi- fed if such can be done.
 There are one or two weak places in the story of the negro clerk. One is that the
 men were out at almost daylight with their guns The rules of the camp are such that the men cannot take guns with thems and if that were not so, 1t does not lool.
 reasonable that soldiers goYnS out on a frolic would want to lug a gun with them. It is also pointed out that the negro
 says he sold them drink and took money for it on Sunday morning, which would seem to be a case for the police to look into.
 Colonel Graves does not put much con. fidence in what the negro says, and is not greatly impressed with the idea that
 the store was robbed by his men, but he is doing everything he can to help ou. In the Investigation ana will see that | nothing is done to keep the guilty from punishment If they are discovered.
 Medal for Marksmen.
 Robert F. Ligon, inspector general on the staff of the governor and the state military board, has offered a handsome medal for the best shot in the National Guard, to be contested for at the rife shoot arranged for next Thursday at the camp of the First regiment at Pickett Springs A prize of the same kind for the second best shot will be given by the Montgomery Advertiser.
 on this date the Clark trophy. g1VeE by Gen. L. V. Clark of Birmingham. brig adler general of the whole state forces,
 will also be contended for All the officers of the National Guard are taking interest in the shoot and hope to see large at. tendance at the contest. II .s recognized and so expressed by all the officers, from the commander-in-chief down, that there is great need for better rife worK. Farmers Institute.
 Maj J. H. Harris of Chambers county and others have had arranged A list of dates upon which farmers institutes will,
 be held in the state. There will be some
 good speakers and practical farmers in the party, and 1t is regarded by the comms" sioner of agriculture that the teachings
 will be good for all the farmers. The fol- lowing are the places and times: Union Springs, July 4; Scale, July 25; Roanoke. July 26: Tuskegee. July 27;
 Dadeville. July 2s; Kellyton. July 20; Troy, August '; Ozark August g. Dothan, Au- | gust g: Geneva, August 10; Andalusia, Au- gust Il; Greenvile, August 12.