The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-04
TAX ASSESSMENTS ARE MUCH TOOLOW Lower in Morgan Than Any
 Other County WILL GIVE AN OPERATTA Entertainment Will Be Given By Musi- clans of the Decaturs for Organ
 Benefit Fund-lnterestlng
 Damage Suit.
| WILL GIVE AN OPERATTA

Decatur, May 3.-(Special.)-A. J. Mitch ell, chairman of the state assessment board, has been in Decatur for the past few days, meeting with the board of county commissioners and together they have been investigating the tax assess ments of Morgan county.
 MT. Mitchell says that the assessments of this county are from about 40 to 50 per cent of the actual valuation of the property and that these assessments are the lowest of any in the state He ad- Vised that these assessments be raised to about 60 per cent of the valuation of the property. This raise will make the assessed valuation of the county some- thing like $12,OOO 900 said Probate Judge Williams E. skeggs.
 The Decatur Land company owns many lots within the city of New Decatur For many years these lots have been assessed as acreage property it is said, and as a result the assessed value of the lots has been about from s to $11. each, when the lots are worth perhaps from s15O to $3JJ each and other parties have been as- sessed anywhere from $30 to 50 per cent of the value of their lots. It Is under stood that hereafter the land company will be compelled to pay taxes on as- sessed values of lots, the same as other parties pay, and that they will no longer be allowed to assess their lotted property within New Decatur as acreage prop erty.
 This increased assessment of property will increase the revenues of Morgan county several thousand dollars annually.
 
 A charming little operetta, ".The Ferry Queen will be played in the Decaturs next week for the benefit of the organ fund of the First Methodist church of Decatur The cast will be made up of the best musical talent of the Decaturs There will be seventy-five in the cast. ranging in ages from 1 years up to grown men and women.
 Miss Marie Boucher of Decatur, will be the Ferry Queen and she will be attended by a number of charming maids and other attendants.
 Mrs. Annie Anton of Memphis, Tenn, will be the musical director and she is now rehearsing those who are to take part in the cast Mrs. Anton Is a lady of charming personalities and a profess sional in this line of work
 On next Thursday night the play will be given at the new Lyceum theatre in Decatur, and on Friday night at the Payne theatre in New Decatur.
 Joe Scheuerman of New Decatur but formerly of Nashville, is suing William Scharfenberg, well known New De- catur merchant, for $5OO0 damages in the circuit court here.
 The case Is one of more than ordinary interest on account of the peculiar fea- lures connected with it. and also on ac- count of the intricate points of law which are involved in the case. It is quite prob able that there was never before tried In the court Of Alabama damage suit of a like nature.
 The bases of the suit are founded on the fact that about three years ago the plaintiff was shot In the back yard or on the premises of the defendant and that the shot came from a trap gun. which was set by the defendant in his store. At the time of the shooting the plaintiff and his father were occupying apart ments over the defendants store. The plaintiff was shot about the head and chest one shot entering his eye. He re- covered from the shot These are the con ditions surrounding the case But as to how the gun was fired is the question for the jury to say The plaintiff says he was tripped on the rear stairway, as he was going down for water, by a loose plank, and that he fell against the win oOW anu luc gun WAS ulScndTReu. on the other hand the defendant says the gun could not have been discharged un- less the window was raised. He says the window was raised on this occasion.
 MT. Scharfenberg says he had been missing money from his cash drawers in the store and that he was unable to apprehend the guilty party and that this is why he set the trap.
 The judge charged the jury in the case at noon today.
 The jury this afternoon brought in verdict for the defendant after being out only a few minutes.
 This morning Judge Aston of Birming- ham, who is holding circuit court here for Judge D. W. Speake refused to grant a re-hearng in the case of Clarence Daniel, against the North Alabama Trac- tion company. Judge John C. Eyster, at torney for the Traction company, filed a motion yesterday for a re-hearing and the motion was argued last night, but the judge reserved his decision until this morning. Judge Aston gave the Trac- tion company thirty days in which to file a bill of exceptions. It is understood that the Traction company will appeal to the supreme court.
 MT. Daniel sued the Traction company for carrying him beyond where he de- sired to leave the car. so he claimed. The jury gave him a verdict for $175O.
 The Morgan County Medical society held meeting yesterday afternoon in the office of the secretary of the society, Dr. J. L. Gunter. in New Decatur. There was large attendance of the members present. Only routine business was trans acted The society will meet again in New Decatur on June 6. and it Is ex- pected that business of much interest to the medical profession will be disposed of at this meeting.
 Editor Walter M. Grubbs of the De- catur News, who was seriously injured by being thrown from his carriage a few days ago while out driving with Mrs. Grubbs, is still confined to his room, with one leg In paster cast. His leg was dislocated at the knee joint.
 Miss Jem H. .. oakley of the Nashville Banner, was in the Decaturs today in the interest of her paper.
 Miss Lois Jones of Marshall, Tex, is