The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-07
Young HighwaYman Had l35 Years to Serve NARROWLY LYAVERTED DEATH Jury Stood Eleven to One for Death Penalty at Trial of Man Who
 Robbed Citizens
 Here.


 Lankford. considered one of the most desperate young criminals ever arrested and convicted in Jefferson county, has escaped from the lumber camp of the Henderson Lumber company at Sanford, where he has spent most of his time since his conviction for highway robbery in this city.
 The young criminal was convicted at the last term of the criminal court in this county on two charges of highway robbery. One of his victims was Benja- min M Brazeal and the other Edward Simon His punishment for the first of fense was confinement in the state pen- itentiary for nnety-nine years and in the latter case he was given thirty-five years, making total of 134 years.
 During the months of January and Feb ruary of the present year the citizens of Birmingham and vicinity were much alarmed by the boldness of highwaymen in this city. The officers were dumb founded for several weeks in their efforts to hunt down the guilty parties and for a time grave doubts were entertained as to the identity of the culprits. Detectives Samuel Hamilton and George Bodeker were detailed on the case by Chief Wier and after weeks of work during days and nights, the officers finally came to the conclusion that Lathem and John and James Blackstock were the guilty parties. The three youths because not one of the trio has yet reached the age of 23 years, were shadowed by the detectives and f. nally run down in Besemer February 10, where they were arrested by officers of that city at the request of the two detectives. The young men were placed in the Birmingham city jail and con fession was secured which implicated ev- eryone of the trio. The three were given a hearing before Judge Feagin and he remanded them to the county jail without bail.
 Lathem was indicted for highway rob- bery with the Blackstook boys by the grand jury June IS, last. the arguments Of the attorneys were completed and the case was given to the jury. He was tried jointly with James Blackstock for holding up with pistol one MT. Brazeal and rob- ping him at his own gate. On the witness stand the victim of Latham and James who had compelled him to thrsw up his hands while he was relieved of all of his 
 Throughout the trial Latham was the most unconcerned man in the court. Pre- vious to being tried for robbng Mir Bra zeal he had been convicted of robbing Ed ward Simon, and punishment of thirty five years in the penitentiary was assess ed against him.
 Heflin's Warning.
 The most interested man in the trial of Latham was Solicitor H. P. Heflin, who gave his close personal attention to the prosecution of the young criminal MT. Heflin made a strong plea in behalf of justice in his closing argument. After reciting the facts in the case, he showed that a highwayman Is worse than a mur- derer and cited incidents to substantiate his statement
 MT. Hef1in in discussing the difference between murderer and a highwayman said that in nearly every case where a man deliberately shoots down another fel- lowbeing, that down in the depths of his heart there exists pang of jealous feel- ing or resentment of some character. Mr. Hefiin stated that no man ever walked up to another whom he had never seen, and killed him without some cause for feel ing in the matter. With a highwayman he stated that the coward who during the night meets another In the roadway and with the assistance of a pistol compells an unarmed man to donate all his be- and would commit murder if nessary to accomplish his purpose, de- served no consideration from fair minded men,
 T say to you, gentlemen of the jury, that man who will commit highway robbery is more dangerous to communi- ty than murderer said MT. Hefiin. "A highwayman will place weapon in front of your face and command you to throw up your hands. If you refuse he will not hesitate to assassinate you, though he has nothing in the world against you, and in all probability has never before laid eyes upon you.
 "In this case there Is no middle ground. II ID cithei d5ocs5 thc utdtH pendlty Of acquit the defendant I ask you gentle men to do your duty in this case and do not let sympathy interfere with justice. This is a desperate man and if he is con victed without the death penalty he will as surely escape from prison as the stars shine in heaven and the moon lights the night''
 Eleven for Death.
 Latham was defended by able counsel and great legal battle was put up in his behalf. but the evidence was over against him. The fate of the young criminal was placed in the hands of the jury on the evening of June IS and on the morning of the 18th verdict was rendered imposing life Imprisonment.
 It Is understood that every ballot taken by the jury previous to the last was eleven for the death penalty and one for life Imprisonment.
 During the time the jury was consid- ering what verdict to render in the case, and with his life in the hands of twelve of his peers, Latham did not display the least concerned He laughed and Joked with people in the court room.
 While Latham was full of joy and pleasure, seated by his side was little woman who continually shed tears of sorrow during the trial. That woman was the sister of the criminal. She remained