The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-07
NOTHING YET DONE.
No Arrest For Murder of the Christmas
 Family.


 No Arrest For Murder of the Christmas
 Family.
 Dothan. March Especial )--Re- ports reaching Dothan say that several white families who have been residing in the Cottonwood community have moved away within the past two or three weeks, and 1t is said that this action or their part is an evidence Of disgust over the fact that nothing definite has been accomplished by the authorities concerning the terrible Christmas murder. in which father. mother, and child were foully slain while sleeping. These families who have decided to make their home else- where seem to believe that it Is dan gerous to live in community where such an atrocious crime can be com mitted and the criminal or criminals escape.
 In Dothan, too. there is surprise ex- pressed that there has not been the slightest result of the search made by the authorities. It seems strange that a crime of such unusual enormity could go undetented, especially as reward of Sl,5O0 was offered by enraged citi- zens of the community the day follow ing the commission of the crimn There have been many rumors to reach here regarding the case. and it is certain that several arrests have been made in connection herewith. but the susperts were released in every instance be- cause of lack of evidence
 Although the murder occurred just across the Florida line, and the Houston county officials have had nothing to do With the case officially, the interest manifested here has been intense from the first. Judge Christmas was almost as we'll known here as he was in his home village, and was liked by all who knew him. This city and entire county was mortified at the first news of the murder, and everywhere the hope was expressed that the criminals might meet with speedy apprehension and punishment It was not believed that they could long escape capture, and 1t was regarded as almost a certainty that. if taken, they would be lynched with little ado, as the people around Cottonwood were at that time tn an exceedingly dangerous frame of mind. They are still, for that matter, and if the murderers of old man Christmas and his family get Into the laws clutches they are very liable to be | snatched therefrom before getting to a place of safe incarceration. The hu- nor of Judge Christmas's neighbors has not been mollified by the fact that the law seems to have bungled In the premises.
 | Residents of Cottonwood who have been to Dothan within the past few days, seem much imbued with some dark suspicion which they hesitate to breathe, and so far no man has gone so far as to say, T believe So-and-So did it." but several have shaken their heads and declared there are some very peculiar phases of the crime. q have an idea about this thing" said prom inent Cottonwood man who was here today, but of course can afford to speak of it. l might do some man a terrible injustice.
 It is learned today that detective from Atlanta has just arrived on ths | scene, and he is devoting all his time and energy in an effort to solve what seems like so deep and terrible prob lem. He is not the only sleuth of the | law who has been to Cottonwood, some of them, no doubt tempted by the amount of the reward offered, but the Il others have evidently about abandoned hone. It seems that some primary facts have been established in regard to the matter. but when the officers have reached q certain point they have
 found themselves completely in the \ dark and unable to proceed further. Ir the mean time the greatest crime in the history of Southeast Alabama remains a mystery