The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-05
BE FOUL PLAY
MAN RUN OVER BY SOUTHERN
 RAILWAY TRAIN.
Passengers Bring story To Selma Head of Victim Was Severed by WheeIs-Murder Theory
 Js Advanced.
Advertiser Bureau.

Advertiser Bureau. Selma, April 4
 Passengers arriving here this morn ing on train No. 21, the midnight train on the Southern Railway between Bir- mingham and Mobile, report that this morning after 1 o'clock and when just the other side of Bessemer, that a man whose name is given as B. Drake was run over and killed On account of the accident the train. which was due in Selma at 4:25. did not reach here until about o'clock this morn ing,
 From what the passengers say, there is the indication of mystery surround ing the killing of the man who appear ed to be a very well dressed and re- spectful looking white man. They say that he was well dressed and on his person there was a valuable gold watch while close by his side there lay knife, the blade of which was open.
 Some of the passengers think that the man met with foul play and say they think that they saw blood spots . otter than those which were made when the engive severed the head ai- most from the body. They think that the throat of the man was cut by some enemy just before the train was due to pass at that point and that the
  the evidence of crime would be oblit- era ed by the passing train.
 Other passengers think that the man was drunk and that. as he was walk ing to his home, he became drowsy and lay down upon the track to sleep off his drunk. The body was sent back to Bessemer
 The Southern train was in charge of Conductor w. A. Cobb and Engineer To- haI lAvA about ten minutes when, by the head light on his engine. Engineer Green saw the body of a man stretched across the track. But the engine could not be stopped before it had passed over the body and nearly severed the heao from it. The body was till warm whel the train crew examined 1t.
 In Readiness for Spring Festival.
 Preparations for the holding of the Selma Spring Festival which will open here on Monday is progressing smooth Iy From present indications 1t Is ex- pected that large crowds will come to Selma every day during the week and the entertainments offered will be of the best kind.
 The shows of the amusement compa- ny. which has been wintering here, will form one of the chief attractions Il. which have been wintering here are be- ing added to every day. Two new shows with seventyfive people arriv- ed last night and others are expected before next Monday.
 White Man Heavily Fined.
 A white man named Hans E.delston, while under the influence of drink. sought to make bed on the sidewalk in the retail part of Broad street late yesterday afternoon Just as he had made himself comfortable Police Off, cer Henry Smith came along and placed him under arrest. The man refused to go to the city prison with the officer and began fighting. He was finally subdued and locked up.
 This morning Ellison was arraign- ed in police court of charges of being drunk and disorderly and for assault and battery. For being drunk and dis on the streets and on the charge of or fifty days on the streets.
 Will Investigate Bribery Charge.
 At the February meeting of the City Council. Councilman J. c. Norris. of the third ward, made the assertion in open meeting that he had been ap- preached by citizen who offered him $50 to vote a certain way com mittee, consisting of Councilmen Agee, Quinn and Wilby. was appointed to investigate this charge.
 Since the appointment of this com mittee no action had been taken until today, in investigating the charge on