The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-07
SELMA PRIMARY Is ID BE HELD FEB q Fonce Williams Escapes from
 New Prison FIRST 10 HAVE HE H0NOr Plans for New Christian Church Are Submitted and the struc-
 ture VIII Be Unusually
 Handsome.
FIRST TO HAVE HE H0NOr

Selma, February -(Special)-The dem ocratic party executive committee, ar it's meeting this afternoon, set February 2 as the date for the primary to nominate city officers. The date seems satisfac- tory to all concerned. The regulation CT years except the innovation of paying temporary election clerks s2 per day.
 First Escape From New Prison.
 Ponce Williams. young negro, has the credit of making the first escape from the new city prison. and when 1t is re- membered that the calaboose is located on the third floor over the fire department headquarters. and approached only by a narrow Bridge of Sighs," his ingenuity is commended if his escape does in the end cause him additional labor on the streets.
 This morning about 4 o'clock Officer White. at the request of Turnkey Ahern, went to the lookup and aroused Joe Sim mons, the trusty, whose duty 1t is to lock the prisoners in their cells every night, and he himself sleeps in the cor ridor. Joe is usually very easy to awaken, but this morning Officer White found him way around in one corner of the prison, and he had to kick him several times be- fore he could make him get up. While the officer was arousing Joe, Ponce, who had pi eviously been let out of his cell by , the negro, slipped out of the door and gained his freedom. In the mayors court tkis morning Joe stated that he had let Ponce Williams out of his cell to go to the closet and that while waiting for him to return he must have fallen back to sleep The mayor thought the story a trihe fishy and fined Joe $10 for aiding in the escape of a prisoner.
 The negro was in the lock-up for ninety days for having stolen a gun. His mother innocently disclosed the theft by offering the gun for sale.
 Plans For New Christian Church.
 The plans for the new Christian church. which is to be erected corner of Selma and Franklin streets, have arrived and show a very attractive structure. The 1 plan is of the Gothic architecture and does not show any tower or spire. There is large dome over tho center of the edfice and a smaller one ove' the main entrance, which is on the corner of Frank l lin and Selma streets. The Sunday school room is in the rear on Selma street, con nected with the main auditorium by fold ing doors. Beneath the Sunday school is i to be a basement which is to be used as ] the social and dining room. There will l be a kitchen and toilet rooms connected ] with this large room and here the social affairs of the church will be held. There i are five class rooms, ladies' parlor and pastors study on the first floor around the Sunday school. The church will be 1 of brick veneer and will cost about $15,- GOO. It will be very pretty and comfort i able and 1t is expected will be finished before October first next.
 Sentence Day in Court.
 Judge Mabry passed sentence upon ter prisoners today at noon, convicted o1 l Sunday offences during the past few weeks of the city court Eight of the l prisoners were negroes and they were given punishment commensurate witt l their crimes. The other two were George 1 Williams and Marin Brun, two hoboes who pleaded guilty to robbing a freight i car at Marion junction. Among the ar i tices stolen from the car was a pail i of shoes. which was found on the feet of one of the men. They were giver l each a year and a day at hard labor fol the county.