davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
SNEAK THIEVES TRY
SOME SMART TRICKS
WILLIAM A. PlNkERToN, THE FA-
NOUS DETECTIVE, TELLS OF
THE METHODS OF WITTY CLASS
OF ROBBERS.

Hot Springs. Ark, Saturday.-In a talk
before the convention of police chiefs
here, William A. Pinkerton said he did
not know of even one sneak. thief who
was prosperous.
The expert professional bank 'sneak"
thief and his associates, he said, first To-
cate a place easy to rob, where they con-
slider they will get some return for their
effort. They study the habits of employees
to determine when-usually the noon hour
the greatest number are absent from
the building, and from this decide how
many confederates will be necessary to
engage the attention of the remaining en-
ployes while the sneak thief noiselessly
steals into the vault or tellers cage and
commits the robbery. The confederates
are usually of good appearance, under
stand business methods, can discuss loans,
mortgages, etc, long enough to allow the
sneak to operate without discovery. A
favorite rule Is for one confederate, with
a crutch, or a female, to drive in car
rage to the bank to be robbed, and, with
this as preteXt, have some passer-by
ask the cashier or some other official to
step out to the carriage. This is usually
done at the noon hour, when few of the
employees are in the bank or store.
Another device is to hold a large blue
print of some property on which 1t is pre-
tended loan is desired, or bundle Of
maps offered for sale, in such a position
that the view of the official being inter-
viewed is INSTRUCTED, thereby covering the
sneak and giving him opportunity to
operate
A more recent trick is the use of the
telephone The confederate of the sneak :
at an appointed time calls upI the bank
and requests that the paying teller be
sent to the phone, OBTAINING him in con-
versation While the sneak thief operates.
other confederates engaging the attention
of employees, as may be necessary In diff
ferent parts of the bank. A favorite
scheme especially in savings banks, Is for
one thief, while a person is counting
money received from the teller, to call
his attention to a bill the thief has
dropped on the floor for the purpose, and
while he stoops down to pick ii up be-
lievlng 1t is a part of his money, another
thief steals the then unprotected money
he was counting Often these profess
sional sneak thieves have posed as bank
clerks or porters, wearing office coats or
porters' uniforms.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
FACTS ABOUT NEGROES.
Doubled in Numbers Since 1880-Half
as llliterate as Then.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
Negroes form II per cent of the total
population of the United States. Ninety
per cent of them live in the south,
where they form one-third of the popu-
lation. Eighty per cent of them live
in rural districts or in small towns.
Mulattoes form from ninth to a
sixth of them, according to location.
Beginning in 1860 with an illiteracy of
almost 100 per cent, this proportion
has been decreased to Al per cent for
the country at large, and to 4S per
cent in the south.
Notwithstanding the Improvement in
percentage of educated negroes, there
are actually more illiterates today in
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas and the District
of Columbia than there were in 1860.
The explanation lies in the increase III
population. In 1860 the negro popula-
ton was 100000; in 1900 it was s.
10000
The majority of the leaders of the
colored people are mulattoes, and over
80 per cent of the students of the lead
ing schools for negroes are of mixed
blood. But the Hampton investigators,
from whose records the above facts
are taken, say that this does not prove
any inherent superiority in the mu.
latto, but is due to the advantages he
has received by reason of his mixed
blood
A study of the records of Hampton
institute has failed to show any
marked difference in the percentage of
high-grade students of the two classes.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06

some crackers in the hotel, and took
them with me. | noticed the lights
were all out, and found some candles,
which | also took. | went around all
that day and until late at night. L
walked until l could walk no longer.
There was no place to go. | lay down
in gutter and rested my head on the
curbstone. That was the way l spent
the first night. | didn't sleep, but
was out of the way, where people
wouldn't step on me-"
But you had money" said the
banker. 81 see yot had used your let
ter of credit"
ooh, yes" said the Englishman. Il
mad $500 in gold with me, but it wasn't
of any use. l couldn't buy anything
with 1t. In the morning, after | had
lain in the gutter all night, | was very
thirsty, and | wanted bath. | walked
along and came to a house partially
wrecked. The door was open and no
body was about. | went in and found
bathroom. l didn't suppose there
was any water in the pipes, but when
| turned the faucets the water came.
| leaned over and drank out of the
bathtub. There was no other way to
get the water. Then | got in and had
a good bath. | was very dirty"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
Swamped With Stamps.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel
Pension Agent Coe is in a quandary
as to what to do with the postage
stamps being sent to him from all
parts of the northwest. AS the same
time he is seriously thinking of hiring
additional help to take care of his cor
respondence The trouble arose over
a postage stamp. Some time ago B.
A. Man, a notary public of Winona,
Mimi. sent Mr.. Coe a batch of twenty
three pension vouchers under one
cover, ON which there was insufficient
postage. In accordance with the rules
of the department Mr.. Coe notified the
notary that the vouchers would be
held until the two cents due postage
had been repaid the government. In
stead of renting, Mr. Man wrote his
two United Stataes Senator's every
Minnesota Congressman, President
Roosevelt and leading newspaper of
his state, in which he complained of,
the way he had been treated, and
asked for redress. The newspaper
article brought results. Since it ap-
peared Mr.. Coe has received many let
tiers, each enclosing postage stamp,
but at the same time filled with strong
language against the governments al
legged i'll conduct toward old soldiers.
Mr.. Coe cannot accept the stamps,
and his Office force is so taken up
with other work that he cannot detail
any of his clerks to answering these
letters and returning the stamps.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
THREE BRIEF CENTURIES.
Congressman Towne on jamestown
and Its Celebration.

BY Charles Frederick Stansbury of Nor
folk Va.
No Virginian could have spoken more
eloquently or more impressivey of the
glorious traditions of the Old Dominion
chan did Congressman Charles A. Towne,
born in Michigan and representing New
York in his speech in support of the
Jamestown exposition of 1907.
Passing over the brilliantly eloquent
passages in his address, it may be inter
esting to observe how he annihilated our
usual conception of time in the following
statement:
'''rhree hundred years seem a long
time as we speak the words, yet. in the
life of nations it is but a little while.
There are five members in the House of
Representatives that could clasp hands
and unite the settlement of jamestown
with this proposed celebration. The pres
ent senators from two of the states OF
the Union could compass the interval,
with ten years to spare
Commenting upon this ingenious
method of shortening the centuries IN the
minds eye, the Baltimore sun THINKS
that the senators to whom MI IoWhe
referred are probably Edmund WINSTON
Pettus and John Tyler Morgan of Ala
hama and Thomas Collier Plat and
Chauncey Mitchell Depew of New YORK.
Mr.. Pettus will be 50 years old on July b
next. Mr. Morgan will round out mis-
send year on June 20. Mr.. Platt Will pe
n years old on July 20; Mr.. Depew VIII
alIn his 72nd year on April %. Inc con-
Rressional directory shows that the com,
bined age of Representatives Bankhead
of Alabama r.. Stevens Henry. Nehe-
miah d. Sperry and Ebenezer j. HUI OF
Connecticut and Hiram Rodney Burton
of Delaware is 337 years The youngest
man in this group of Representatives is
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06

81 years old. Another group of states
men In the House, whose ages in the
aggregate exceed 800 years. composed of
Speaker Cannon, 20 years; Representa-
tive Livingston of Georgia. "a years; Rep
resentative Hit of Illinois. IA Repre-
sentative Halliday of Indiana, 81, and
Representative Hedge of Iowa, GO years
There is a considerable number of young
men in the House, but not as many
of that class of representatives as there
are statesmen who have passed middle
age. OF the elder statesmen" of the
House little is heard nowadays, but in
the Senate they are frequently in evil
dence. Mr.. Morgan of Alabama is al
ways ready to speak on any question
before the Senate, and at so his brain is
as clear and strong as it ever was.
In the 800 years which have passed
since the jamestown settlement there
have been nine generations of Ameri-
cans, estimating the life of a generation
at thirty-three years. But as mathemati-
clans do not approve any arbitrary
method of estimating the life of gen
Grafton 1t may be possible to illustrate
Mr. Towne's suggestion in another way.
In the 800 years which have elapsed
since the jamestown settlement there are
, four 75-year periods. each representing
a type of longevity which is not uncom-
mon even in this day. If Mr. Morgan
had been born in 1907. Mr.. Platt in 1852,
MI DepeW IN lfoi ana MI GelluS IN
1892, the cycle would be complete, and
the lives of these four men would COM
pass the birth and development of this
nation. In these 800 years the world has
seen the later settlements in other parts
| of this continent expand if by magic
J into power second in material wealth
and greatness to none of which there is
| record in history, the celebration of
which is to appropriately eliminate in
| the jamestown exposition on the shores
! of Hampton Roads, where was witnessed
the birth of the nation.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
HE GOT HIS BATH.
Engishman In Earthquake Entered
Deserted House In Frisco.

From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
An Englishman entered a banking
institution of St. Louis yesterday and
presented his credentials. He carried
with him a letter of credit for 100000.
His papers were all right and fully
identified him as the general manager
of one of the largest industrial Cor
porations of Australia. When business
had been transacted the conversation
turned upon San Francisco. In few
words, matter-of-fact as to tone, the
Englishman told his experience to the
president of the bank.
81 was at the st. Francis" he said,
land asleep when the kick-up came.
OF course, | got out as soon as the
llick-up wouldlet me. There was great
confusion. 1t occurred to me that there
might be trouble about getting some
thing to eat. | found some cheese and
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
aking No Chances.

From Tit Bits.
1t Is one of the functions of the cautious
subeditor on a newspaper staff to save
his paper from all sorts of legal actions
for damages by the discreet and careful
wording of news. One chief was never
tired of mpressing on his assistants the
virtue of a frequent use in any doubtful
matter of the word alleged" But to his
amusement and chagrin, he saw, on look
ing over the paper one day, the following:
alleged Mad Dog Scare at Hampstead
An alleged mad dog, said to be the
property of an alleged butcher named
Frost. of Atlanta avenue, is alleged to
have broken his chain yesterday after
noon and attacked the alleged daughter
of Thomas Drewsbury, who claims to be
a tailor in the same street. The girl is
alleged to have been treated by DIR. Tup-
per- an alleged local practitioner. for the
alleged severe bites on both hands and
legs. 1t is further alleged that the al
legged butcher was last year sent to Jail
for week by a magistrate in the North
western police court for not keeping his
alleged ferocious dog under CONTROL
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
FARCE OF MEAT INSPECTION.
First Hand Revelation of System That
Menaces Public Health.


In the May Worlds Work, DR.. W. X.
Jaques, formerly director of the Chi
cago laboratory and in charge of the
emat inspection at the stockyards, tells
of the inefficiency and corruption of
the local inspection and how the health
of the nation is menaced by these con-
ditions. Among other things, he says:
During the first month in which |
was city director, one meat inspector
made only one condemnation for that
month, and that of an immature calf.
Another inspector made no report to
me of any work done during my entire
term of office, and | vas powerless to
compel him to do so because of his
political backing. 1t is needless to say
that he drew his salary regularly. Still
another meat Inspector was engaged
in profitable side line of buying
quarantined beef for packers"
The accuracy and thoroughness of
the work of government inspectors can
be judged when it is estimated that
from 1000 to 1000 cattle are often
killed under the eye of a single in
spector In day from eight to ten
hours. Walking back and forth
through the killing beds. the inspector
can give only the briefest glance at
the animals that are being converted
into food. In this glance he is sup
posed to detect evidences of disease
which Psychologists may require hours
to find took pains to ascertain if the
government inspection were, sufficient
to guard the public. To this end |
made frequent and unannounced visits
10 he orIe annocfn,, I &c
there at 4 O'Clock in the morning and
visited the Standard Strengthening com
pany, the company which kills the dis
eased animals condemned by the city.
government, and state inspectors. |
saw load of meat Just leaving this
place. but was near enough to identify
it. When | entered the house there
was no one in sight; nor could | find
anyone for fifteen minutes. Then |
found the Waterman, who could not
give me any Information about any
thing. Hanging in the room, In full
sight unguarded, and open to the pub
lie. were two sides of beef having on
them the slashes of the state inspector
and the government tag of condemna-
ton But the meat was not under lock
and seal as required by government
regulations, nor was there anyone to
prevent its being carried off. | sent
one of my inspectors to slaughter
house with orders to kerosene all meat
he found unfit for use. He returned in
state of great Indignation and excite
ment, saying that the men fought hard
and long to keep him from using kero-
sene. why said he. 81 drew out
seven hogs that were diseased with
cholera, and went to get my Kerosene
can. When | returned. ths~e were
only two left. Where are the other
five?' | asked, and the man replied,
oh, they are in sausage by Thu, time. ;"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
Ways of the West.

Ralph d. Paine in The Builders in
The Outing Magazine.
The steam schooner a vessel whose
build and habits are peculiar to the Paci-
fic, often goes to sea with her load-line
over her hatch.'' Which means, that after
her hold has been crammed with cargo,
a deck-load of lumber is piled half way
up the masts, so that her skipper puts
out with the water washing green over
his main deck. and an occasional comber
frsking across his battened matches
Along the harbor front of Seattle runs the
story of a passenger who Hoped down to
the wharf in a hurry to get aboard a
departing steam-schooner. He balanced
himself on the stringpiece for an instant
looked down at what little he could see
of the laden craft, and hove his grip
sack down the only opening in sight He
was about to dive after it when a lounger
on the wharf shouted:
Hi there. Where do You think you're
jumpin to? That's the smoke-stack you
tossed your baggage down"
He'll" gasped the passenger Il
thought 1t was the hatch.'
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06

the carriage in which he was returning
from Neuilly after a regimental dinner,
may be said to have brought about the
downfall of his dynasty and to have
changed the entire course of the history
of France for sixty years. Hundreds of
other instances of an analogous charac-
ter could be cited, and will doubtless oc-
cur to my readers. Those mentioned will
suffice to call attention once again to the
freaks of fate in so often reserving the
most inglorious endings for the careers
of the Morlds greatest men.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
New Art.

From the Columbus Dispatch,
II tell you,' said the tall man with the
carroty whiskers the Chinese are get
ting wiser every day
81 should say they are" replied the
short man in the green suspenders why,
my laundryman has actually taken up
typography"
you don't mean it?"
Eyes. his speciality now is burning de-
signs on shirts
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
MORPHINA-CURA
CURE yhUH HADllOu
A POSITIVE, PAINLESS AND PER-
Feet CURE.
HupOdermiC or Internal Use
For Cure of Opium, Morphine, Coca
caine, Laudunum, Paregorc and All
Other Drug Addctions-Two Dollars
Per Bottle at Your Druggist.

Thousands have been cured by the use
of MorpEina- Cura, which Is prepared for
hylodermic or internal use. 1t matters
not how long the drug has been used
quantity of drug metaphysical condi-
ton of patient or number of previous
faiures-M Morphine Cura will cure any
case of drug addiction il administered
hypodermically or taken internally, ac-
eordng to directions, which accompany
each bottle
AS am evidence of our faith i'm Nor
phina-cufa we have supplied all Birmng
haln druggists, with a limited number OF
free. trial treatments, which they will
cheerfully give to applicants. Persons
who cannot call at the druggists are re-
quested to white in confidence TO the
Delta Chemical Co.. Colonal-Security
Building, St. Louis. Mo-. for free trial
treatment, which will be sent in plain
cover postpaid
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-28
ACCUSES THE POLICE.
PatroImen Charged With HaviD
 Hand in Murder.

Hand in Murder. sl
 New York, Feb. 27.-An unusual slt3 uation, temporarily overshadowing thf real issue. in the case, confronted ths court and jury when the trial of Bertha Claiche forthe murder of Emil Gerdror was resumed in the criminal branch oi the Supreme Court today. z
 This was the inquiry into the part which certain policemen are alleged tf have had in Gesdron's death. Charges were made at the opening of the trial yesterday by Assistant District Attor9 iiey Ely that two members of the DO. lice for,e aided the girl in her deed and promised her immunity. -
 The largest part of the opening or the day was spent Investigating this rhase of the case. MT. Ely brought evidence that letter was sent to Ge-dron before his death and that af1 ter it $500 was reported to have been stolen from the body. Although he ob- tained no evidence to show who wrote the letter or took ths money. the pros ecutor charged that policemen were re- sponsible in both cases and that by the letter Gerdron was lured to the place where he was shot while undsr ar rest
 Berthe Claiche herself apparently had only a minor part in the first days proceedings except as spectator. She frequently appeared to be greatly az itated, especially during the prosecu- tors arraignment of the policemen.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-28
COMING
MACK's TEAM ARE ON ROAD TO
 MONTGOMERY.
The Champions Are Due Here Tonight and VIII Be on Exhibition at the Park Next
 Saturday.

If there is any virtue in the early bird adage, Connie Mack and his Ath- letics should be able to look cheap by the time the American League season
 The Athletics are the first of the American League teams to hike out for the South, having left Philadelphia at The Advertiser last Monday, should be here tonight. The party that left Phil adelphia in a special Pullman car yes- terday consisted of J. D. Shibe, bus: mess manager; Thomas Shibe and Samuel Erwin, directors; Thomas Richter Philadelphia North American; R. Rawlings, Philadelphia Inquirer catchers Schreck and Powell; pitchers CTS Davis, Murphy, Monte Cross, Old ring, Knight and Hannifan; outhelders Seybold, Hoffman, Lord and Daily:
 Plank boarded the train at Balti- more and Myers at Wilmington, mak- ing twenty-three in the party by the time the train reached Washington.
 Catcher Byrnes will come from San Francisco and will join his team mates Riggs and Armbruster, the two out felders from Cincinnati are expecte today. Weldon Henley will probably join the Philadelphia party at Josper Ga, and should reach Montgomery to- night Loaxley, the other pitcher, who has been wintering at Deland, Fla should also get here either tonight or tomorrow.
 Arthur Brouthers has been in Mont gomery since last Thursday and has had the benefit of several days prac- tice at Athletic Park. Including the manager this will make twenty nine men in the Philadelphia party, twenty three ball players, three catchers, seven pitchers, seven jnfielders' six outfield' | CTS
 Niles was turned over to the St. l Louis Browns several months ago ane l Connie Mack has an idea that McAleel | thinks so well of him that he will give | him a thorough ryout at second. II he shows anything like the form oi last summer Harry Vaughn has abou' as much chance of getting him back al straw hat has in driving rain | storm.
 I Williams was to have had a try fol third base on the Athletics this sprint but he got chesty and demanded sal ary with so many "O's' in it that Maci promptly let him go back to Charlie Frank and ne will be in the New Or leans inheld at a gaudy salary thii summer. This Is another case o Chubby Charlie sticking religiously tS the $2,70A salary limit this summer. Another man who wanted more money than Connie Mack was willing 1 to pay was Zimmerman. Charlie Franl is also paying him a minor league 1 salary and he will play for the Peli cans this summer Funny how New Or
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-28
LEM BAILEY AGAIN
VETERAN soUTHPAw TO CoACH
 SEWANEE.
WIggins VIII Again Do the Catching for the Purple Squad and Will Cap tain the Team-Sewnnee VIII Play in TuAcaIoOsa May
 2Sth and 29th.

Nashville, Tenn, Feb; 27.-(speeiaD Assistant Manager. Telfair Knight has about completed Sewanee's baseball announcement of which is made today for the first time. He has booked many games with the leading amateur clubs Of the south. and the team expects
 L. c. Bailey, better known as King" Bailey. the old Southern League slab man, has been engaged to do the tain shortly and the training. of the material will start at once M. s. Wigeins will captain and catch for the Tigers. There will also be a mum ber of other old men back, which. with the new candidates, will give Sewanee a good varsity nine.
 Tho schedule follows:
 April Is and l7-Cumberland in
 April 24 95 and 2s-University of Nashville in Nashville.
 May and 5--University of Nashville
 May II and 12-Vanderbilt in Nash
 May IS and 1s-cumberland in se-
 May ea, 2s and 24-wOfford College
 May 2S and 2s--University of Ala bama in Tuscaloosa. . Manager Elgin is still at work on the University of Nashville scheoule He has booked a number of games i ano expects to have the list filled within the next few days. ..,, Suits and other baseball maternal VII VII be issued to the thirty or more canal, dates at Vanderbilt this week wnsr practice in earnest will begin. Tht students are anxious to get on the nelI ontbiIsiasm at the Westside camp. NJ coach has yet been engaged by thu Commodcres. Several men are unde, % consideration, but no contracts nav l bea,, closed for instructing the boys. l may be that there will be no regular coach.