The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-05
SHERIFF ID OPEN
 BRIGHTON SCHOOL Climax Approaches in an Ugly
 Controversy THE TERM OPENS TODAY Principal, Teachers and Many Patrons Locked Out of the School Build
 ing at Brishton-Trouble
 Expected his Morning.
THE TERM OPENS TODAY

Bessemer, September 4-(Speeial )-To- morrow is the day set for the opening of the public school at Brighton and when Prof. B. F. Crump arrives at the build ing with his corps of teachers he will find two sets of locks on all the doors and the windows nailed down on the inside. | He has the keys to the regular locks and is said to be authorized by ma jority of the school trustees and patrons of the school to enter the building and open school but to do so he will have to break locks said to have been put on the doors by the chairman of the board of trustees, Dr. E. l.. Edmondson and other patrons of the school who object to the opening of the session as announced.
 Professor Crump, the regularly elected principal of the school, Is backed by c. B. Edwards and D. S. McLain. the ma jority members of the board of trustees.
 They claim that Professor Crump has been regularly elected as principal of the school and that they shall stand by him and support him in the contention. They have called upon the sheriff of Jefferson county to send deputies to the scene to- morrow morning to secure the opening of the school and prevent trouble
 pr. Edmondson and his followers say that the doors shall be opened only by force and if this is done the parties break 1 ing the locks will be crlminally prose- cuted.
 Dr. Edmondson could not be found by your correspondent this afternoon, but i several of his supporters in the matter admitted that Dr. Edmondson placed, or had placed, the second set of locks on the doors. It was stated that the oppo- sition was not against Professor Crump but these unusual steps were taken for l the purpose of getting the whole matter pertaining to the school into the courts.
 PetltIoned for Five Trustees. It seems that Dr. Edmondson and oth- CTS had petitioned the county board of education for the election of five trus- tees of the Brighton district. that the county board had refused to call the election and when the people had called a mass meeting and elected two addi- tional trustees the county board had re- 1 fused to recognize them. It is claimed that by preventing the opening of the school tomorrow the county board can be forced to recognize the two additional | trustees.
 Professor Crump and his two support CTS on the board of trustees claim that the election of the two additional mem- bers was illegal and they have adopted the ruling of the county board of educa- ton.
 Feeling is running very high in the matter and trouble is expected when Professor Crump attempts to open school Professor Crump at s:30
 Professor Crump, in discussing the mat ter today said
 Crump Makes Statement.
 T am very sorry that the trouble has arisen in the school and hope that all difficulties will be surmounted without further friction but I shall open the school session tomorrow morning.
 ''I have been regularly elected by a ma jority of the trustees and so far as I am able to learn we are in our legal | rights when we open the school and proceed with the session. We have the approval and support of the county board of education and if necessary will have officers on the ground tomorrow morning to keep the peace and assist in the busi- ness of the day. The two trustees of the school that are supporting me and a majority of the patrons have asked the sheriff for deputies to be placed at tho building tomorrow and I have no fear but that the school will open without trouble.
 My three assistants, Miss Rosa Strlck-
 
 l Olive Benham will be on hand and will take their places fin the school They, Ike myself were regularly elected by the board of trustees at the same time as my own election. I have heard no objection to myself or my assistants.
 T wish to state that after the cos- ing of the last term of the school of which I was principal, c. B. Edwards and D. s. McLain. members of the board | made of tba hot. - Dr. E. L. Edmondson. that he call a meeting of the board for the election of teachers for another term. The chair man disreearded these requests and fln- ally. MT. McLain the secretary. called a meeting and sent MT. Edmondson a no- tice. Mir. Edmondson did not attend stat ing afterwards that he was sick and could not be present My assistants and myself were elected at this meeting" l It Is understood that both factions have employed attorneys and both sides seem determined to win out
 The children reporting for school tomor- row morning will likely be accompanied 1 by their parents and Brighton is expect ing the most auspicious and sensational opening of aschool term in It's history.
 Notes and Personals. In an election held today the citizens of Jonesboro authorized the incorporation of the town. The vote was 45 in favor l or incorporation and 3 against incorpora- ton. The election passed off quietly.
 The grand jury for the Bessemer city court was empaneled and charged by Judge William Jackson today. After re- ceiying the charge the jury adjourned un- | til tomorrow morning. The regular dock ct of the court will not be taken up until September 25.
 Mrs. J. c. Johnston and two children left today for Selma, where they will spend few days visiting the formers mother, Mrs. Hatcher
 Mrs. w. H. Porter will give tea party Thursday afternoon at her home on Fifth avenue for the benefit of the Ladies' Aid society of the Baptist church.
 The Bessemer Beavers and the Bfrming- ham Indoor Baseball club will play a l game at the Beavers hall in Bessemer tomorrow night. which promises to be very interesting.
 An unknown negro boy was thrown l from a passenger train on the Alabama l Great Southern railroad at Jonesboro this l afternoon and his leg was cut off by the | wheels of the train. The boy had swung on the train and was thrown under the | wheels, 1t Is said. as he attempted to | jump off. The boys name could not be | learned.
 The Rev. MT. Glass, pastor of the Bap- 1 tist church at Jonesboro, is conducting very interesting series of meetings l at the church. He is being ably assisted l by the Rev. Mir Holmes, pastor of the | Methodist church.
 | The local lodge of Elks gave an interest | ing social session at their hall tonight. A scented. Refreshments were served and l all who attended rpnorf a -,ltasant even