The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25
WOULD COMMUTE
 DEATH SENTENCE Some Favor CIemency for Will
 Johnson WEDDINGS IN GADSDEN Telephone System of Etowahs Capital Is Being Rebuilt Throughout.
 New Boilers at Water
 Works Station.
WEDDINGS IN GADSDEN

correspondent is in receipt of information from reliable source that several eiti- gems have been talking of the advisablity of securing commutation of the death sentence of Will Johnson, one of the negroes condemned for the murder of Mrs Jane Smith on the ground that they think he is innocent of actual perpetration of the crime, but that he had knowledge of the crime. Will Johnson Is the shrewd- est and best educated of the three ne- groes. and many believe that he is the actual leader and instigator of the deed. Gadsden has passed the mob period in this crime and the better class of people want to see the negroes hung and a close put to the most horrible crime ever per petrated in Etowah county.
 Christmas Weddings.
 The Christmas weddings among the rural belles and beaux was commenced yesterday with a double wedding, Chiet Clerk Forney Hughes of the probate of- fee making four hearts happy. J. H. Smith was married to Miss M. A. Broth CTS, and his brother. G. r. Smith, was uni ted to Miss Eula Barnes. All are citizens of Chandler mountain. Soon after this double wedding G. w. Seares and Miss F. N. Edmondsbn of Mountainboro also called upon MT Hughes and he quickly made them one.
 Prosperous Days in Gadsden.
 Gadsden is experiencing the most pros porous Christmas in it's history. For the mast week the streets have been thronged with happy people buying Christmas pres ents. and money was plentiful. Everybody had big roll of greenbacks, and the mer- chants were busy. but Friday and Satur- day were the banner days. It was almost impossible to get along the streets, while tbe stores were overfiowed and regular jams were experienced at many places It was bad enough all day Saturday, put at 4 o'clock the various mills, manufactur- ing plants. cotton mills, steel plants, saw mills etc. paid off, and the people fiocked 10 the city and the streets were crowded to the overfowing point. Every body was in good humor and while whisky was flowing freely, there were very Ie" arrests. Practically every manufacturing plant in the Gadsden district ana In the city shut down Saturday, and none or them will resume work until Iuesoay' while some will be idle for a week Sev- oral thousand workmen will be idle for inc holidays, and with pockets full or money they will enjoy the Christmas hol- days to the fullest
 Rebuilding Telephone System.
 Last Saturday the manager or the Southern Bell Telephone company showed yo,1r correspondent warehouse full of Inc construction of new telenhone system for Gadsden by his comnany There are a number of car loads of all kinds of material from spikes to the latest automatic telephones, and the entire system is to be rebuilt from one end to the other The entire system of wires will be carried by lead cables and considerable underground work Will be done A new switch board Is being especially constructed for the Gadsden system. There are at present gang of fifty men here at work and will be for several months or until the entire system is rebuilt and the very best tel ephone plant placed in operation.
 A high board fence is being built around the city prison, which is in the rear DOT ton of the new city hall. The fence Is some twenty-five feet tall and Is fln- ished with several strings of barbed wire. This fence is built for the purpose Of preventing the prisoners from seeing or being seen by outsiders and prevent the passing of anything to them to aid in their escape
 Report on Light System.
 recent report on the electric light svst.m in Gadsden shows that in a large number of cases the insulation is worn and in many cases in deplorable condi- ton and there are several instances where the insurance rates have been ad- vanced on Gadsden property within the past three weeks 25 per cent on account of the poor electric light wiring
 Two new boilers of 125 horsepower each have inst been installed by the Gadsden Water Works company at their pumping station. which, according to the manager of the company will give them plenty of mower in case of breakdowns or any emergency like a disastrous fire. in which case they could pump water direct in stead of through the reservoir.
 Harry Todd and bride arrived in the city Friday night from Tacoma. Wash, where they were married few days ago. There Is a very romantic side to this marriage A year ago last summer MT. Todd spent several months in the old country and on his return trip he met a young lady on the same ship en route to Tacoma Wash, on a visit to her sister. If seems to have been love at first sight, as after few days courtship on board tba Atlantic liner the two young people became engaged and they parted at the steamship side to meet again year later at the altar.
 
 Hardie Seav Promoted