The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-23

in newspaper work Captain Screws wrote a bur1esque The Loil Legisla- ture of Alabama" purporting to be history of the so-called Legislature composed of ignorant negroes and alien white men who met under military pro- tection at the Capitol in 1868. This burlesque was widely circulated and attracted much attention for its satir- ical finish.
 Member of Legislature. Captain Screws represented Mont gomery County in the House of Repre- sentatives of 1SsO-e1, of 1S94-s5, of 1S98-99, and of 1900-01. In November. 1902 he was elected to the State Senate by the people of this county and was member of that body when he died. It Is doubtful if Captain Screws had an equal in the State as speaker. In the use- of poetic metaphor he was in comparably gifted. Whenever he rais- ed his voice to speak of his comrades of the Confederacy and the cause he loved so well, the veil which concealed his soul seemed to be lifted and he spoke with the fire of genius. Wher- ever he went he was in great demand as an orator and he frequently had more invitations than he could accept. His very soul melted within him for love of the men with whom he The traditions. the institutions. of the South and especially of Alabama were dear to his great heart.
 "Of which camp of Confederate
  ber7" asked the writer yesterday of a grzzled old soldier whose face was still wet with tears.
 Ben Screws belonged to both of I them," he answered brokenly He was
 as dear to the men of Camp Lomax as he was to those of Camp Falkner. In
 love for Ben Screws all of us joined He
 loved us and we loved him" Popular in All Walks.
 In every walk of civic life Captain
 Screws was prominent and popular. He had been a magistrate many years and
 his decisions were always just and
 clients and litigants were his friends | because they honored his integrity and knew his intellect.
 A man of such unusual popularity it
 was but natural that Captain Screws should have taken leading part in
 the fraternal organizations of men. He
 was a member of the Knights of
 Pythias, the Odd Fellows, the Improved
 Union. In none of these organizations
 did he play the part of laggard. He knew the merits of each of them and on many occasions these merits were publicly exploited by his eloquent
 Many years ago Captain Screws be- | came a member of the Court Street Methodist Church. He believed in the
 died secure in the salvation offered by | the Redeemer of Mankind. Leaves Large Family. October 8, 1S6S,<a at Wetumpka, Cap
 tain Screws married Miss Emma Mo Neil, a daughter of pr. Daniel McNeil and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Jeffries McNeil. Mrs Screws died fifteen years ago and her memory was revered | by Captain Screws. as only men of his great nature could revere.
 Six daughters and one son survive | Captain Screws. They are: Mrs. Thorn ton Garrett and Mrs. C. A. Gar
 rett of Beaumont, Texas, Mrs. Nj. N. Gilmer of Savannah, Ga, Mrs. O. w. ! Thomas of Blakely, Ga, Miss Bessie Screws and Miss Addie Screws of Mont gomery and Michel H. Screws of Mont gomery, Recording Secretary to the | Governor of Alabama.
 | Mrs. M. J. Screws, the aged mother of | Captain Screws Is living at Clayton and he is also survived by two brothers. Major W. W. Screws of Montgomery. MT. II. P. Screws, of Hartford, one | sister, Mrs. J. N. Willims of Clayton,
 and a number of grand children. | The funeral services will take place
 at the Court Street Methodist Church l Friday, the hour has not been fixed.
 All of yesterday evening great
 streams of people called at the Screws
 residence on North McDonough Street and with bowed heads and wet faces l spoke their great sorrow at the death
 of Captain Screws.
 When a man so impresses his | character on a whole community as to
 cause sincere and universal sorrow.
 said one of his friends. He has not lived in vain. Such a man was Ben Screws"