The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-03
CONTRACTOR DIES
IN THE CITY JAIL
J. L. Mitchell of PaloS Has
Neck Broken
SUPPOSED TO HAVE FALLEN
He Was Locked Up Saturday After
noon For Intoxicatlon And Found
Dead in the Cell Early Sun
day Morning.
SUPPOSED TO HAVE FALLEN

J. L. Mitchell, 80 years old, contrac-
tor and builder of Palos, was found dead
early yesterday morning IN the first cell
of the city jail. where he was placed Sat
urday afternoon in a state Of intoxication.
According to the coroner, who made
preliminary examination of the body at
Gaudin & Co.'S undertaking rooms, where
1t was taken yesterday morning, Mitch
ellis neck is broken The regular in
quest will be held this morning. The sup
position is the man In his befogged con-
dition had fallen back against an iron
bunk and struck his head Just at the base
of the brain, where there was a blue
mark, which evidently, as there are no
other marks or wounds on the body, was
the cause of death.
Found In Capitol Park.
Answering a telephone call to the effect
that there was a drunken man In Capitol
park, who was creating some disturbance
there among the children, Policeman De-
vine went to the park. found Mitchell
lying on the grass with his hat and coat
off, and locked him up at $40 o'clock Sat
urday Afternoon. 1t is SAID that Mitchell
had been drinking beer in the park with
another man, concerning whose identity
the police are uniformed. AS stated by
Policeman Devlne and Night Warden Tom
Williamson, who was on duty at the time,
Mitchell when he arrived at the city
jail, was in such helpless condition that
he had to be held up while he was being
searched and then carried TO the cell by
the "stevedore''
The lower bunk in the bell the only
one of the three ever used, as the other
two are kept chained up against the side,
was occupied by prisoner named An
DIRE, locked up for vagrancy.
Mitchell was placed on the floor of the
cell and he fell asleep. According to a
statement made by Andree he did not stir
until about o'clock In the night when
he got up, caught hold of the bars of
the cell door as though attempting to
climb and then let himself down to q
sitting position.
Left Him Snoring.
Andree said there was no fall, but Nit
chell lay back easily ON the floor and in
a few minutes was snoring This snoring
was 80 loud Andree said that he could
not sleep and lay in his bunk smoking
cigarettes until about IL o'clock when he
went out into the corridor. During this
time Mitchell continued to snore. At 1870
o'clock Sunday morning as shown by the
entry on the docket. p. w. Hilley,
charged with being drunk was put in the
cell with Mitchell. He slept on the bunk.
About $50 Sunday morning TIilley told
the "stevedore" that the man on the floor
In the cell was dead
The body was taken to Gaudln & Co.'S
undertaking establishment and the bruised
mark the back of the neck at the
point of juncture with the head was no.
tlced and upon examination 1t was found
that the neck was broken.
Mr.. Mitchell leaves a wife and five chill
dren at Palos. He was highly thought of
in Birmingham. The coroner's inquest
will be held this morning at o'clock.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been
made.