The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-02
SEVEN. PRISONERS
 GET OUT OF JAIL Bore Hole in the Wall of At-
 Ianta Prison STATEMENT BY SANFORD Rome Man Claims He Can Not Secure Fair and Impartial Trial
 In Floyd County,
 Georgia.

Georgfa.
 Atlanta, January 1.-(Special )--Seven prisoners, charged with state offenses, made their escape at an early hour this morning from police headquarters brick wall. and then sealed the high fence outside by means of buggy which they took from the stables.
 Six of the escapes, James Robinson, Claude Garner, Andrew Bates, Walter Perry, Gus Garrett and Charlie Williams, were held on burglary charges, while the seventh, Arthur Bailey, was wanted for murder. Garrett and Williams were re- captured this morning but the five others are still at large and the police have not secured any trace of them.
 There were fourteen prisoners in the ward set apart for those charged with state offenses and all of them had been turned Into the corridors for the night instead of being locked in their cells. The remaining prisoners say the plot was matched and worked out by Bailey who is charged with participation in a recent homicide The negroes bored the hole in the brick wall with some pieces of steel wrenched off cell bunk and piece of water pipe. It must have taken good part of Sunday night.
 Two prisoners, Baskin and Carr, gave the alarm when they heard the prisoners going out, but 1t was too late. When the turnkey arrived with assistance the seven negroes had all gotten over into the alley in the rear of the station house, and made their escape. Williams and Garrett were arrested shortly after wards as suspicious characters, and 1t was found that they were two of the escapes.
 Good Bank Report.
 During the year just closed State Treas urer R. E. Park, who is also state bank examiner, has examined total of sOt state banks, out of s25 which have reported to him. This does not include the new banks chartered within the last two months which brings the total num- Der of state banks up to about S5O
 The state bank examiner today gave out a statement showing the compara- Eve standing of the state banks of Geor- gia for 1901 when he first went into or flee and at the close of 1905. This state ment is interesting, as showing the mar velous growth of the states financial in- stitutions during tho last five years
 Board of Health to Meet.
 The state board of health will hold it's annnal meeting tomorrow morning at Il n clock in the offices of the board at inc state capitol officers will be chosen and considerable important business Will probably be transacted. The board will probably discuss and plan important work for the new year
 Will Move Headquarters.
 The department of the gulf. U. s. A, which has had it's headquarters for the last two years in the old Layden house or Peachtree street, will be moved to- morrow into the new Candler building at Peachtree and Pryor streets. The depart ment will occupy the entire fourteenth floor. including twenty-eight rooms. The Candler building will not be ready for other occupants for some six weeks or two months yet.
 Georqla Division Meets Tomorrow.
 The Georgia division of the Southern Cotton association will hold it's annual meeting at the state capital on Wednes- day. January 8, and all reports indicate a large attendance of delegates as well as others interested from every section or the state The division will at this meet ing elect officers to serve for the ensuing year. will pass a number of resolutions of importance and will select members or the executive committee from Georgia for the main association, this executive committee being the governing body. Sim liar conventions will be held at the cap itals of all the cotton states on the same day.
 New Law Firm.
 Robert L. Berner of Forsyth, today be-. comes associated with the law firm of Hoke Smith, and the firm will be known as Smith, Berrer. Smith & Hastings, com posed of Hoke Smith, R. l.. Berner. Ma rian Smith and Jack Hastings. An in- teresting feature of this combination Is that Colonel Berner is himself we'll known in Georgia politics, having been can didate for governor in the race in which Allen D. Chandler was elected over Judge Spencer R.. Atkinson. MT. Berner has also been several times a member of the legis- lature.
 Sanford Fears Unfair Trial.
 Vincent T. Sanford of Rome. who is in jail here awaiting his second trial on the charge of the murder of George Wright, gave out an interview today in which he made some severe charges concerning Floyd county officials.
 Tt will be impossible for me to secure a fair and impartial trial in Yloyd -coun- ty" Sanford declared. "as long as Moses Wright Is judge and w. F. Ennis solicitor general, because they are well known po- litical enemies of mine of long stand ing.
 "Out of about 15OO letters which have received since I have been in jail, many of the writers declare that unfair and improper practices were used in the eff fort to convict me. These letters have come to me from all parts of the Uni ted States, and many of them are from lawyers There is no doubt about the fact that politics Is at the bottom of the whole thing.
 however | am satisfied tBkt hy second trial will result either in dacauattal or