The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-01
"TRIX|E" MASCOT
 AT THE CITY JAIL
Is Remarkable Prophet of Guilt
 or Innocence
HAS REMARKABLE HISTORY
In Three Years Residence at Jail She Has Seen Sun But Once, and 1t Frightened Her Nearly
 to Death.

Inefe IS an Oftlclal ol the cily or BIT mingham, in fact one of the most com petent, whose duties do not call her to public attention, nor is she concerned with any but one class of people. Yet she is a most perseverng and deserving individual.
 'Trixie" is her name, and Jail Bird Prophet" is her title. Her perception is wonderful, for it is said by persons who ought to know that her prophecy has never failed.
 The 'Black Maria" draws up at the door to the warden's office, and the crim- inal negro is hauled out and pushed against the wall of examination, which is already worn through the clustering by the backs of the drunken and disor- derly boarders who have applied at the at the city jail since it's erection.
 When the negro has been relieved of all the valuables and weapons he may happen to have, he is showed toward the fatal door to the inner temple. For a moment he halts, looking through the iron grat- ing, and faces the unimpeachable judge.
 Passes Sentence on Prisoners.
 She stands on the inside on her four legs, with tail stretched straight out, ears cooked back, and bright eyes pene- trating the mind and thought of the un- lucky fellow. If he be innocent she drops her tail. gives him a pleasant look of invitation and retreats.
 If though, he be guilty, there rolls from her throat the deep gutteral notes of con- demnation, and then she breaks out into d fierce bark The truth of this saying has been tested time and again, and never has it failed. The negroes will all tell you that if Trixie barlts Judge Feagin is 'sho" to fine them. and each time the yelp occurs the amount of the fine goes one notch higher.
 TriXie is the barometer of the city jail. It is according to her decision that the new jail birds are handled by the old ones. But if the guilty negro trembles when she thus condemns him, woe unto him upon his entrance.
 In order to reach the cells where the colored people are kept it is necessary to climb flight of steps, and no sooner is the prisoner on the interior than Trixie has him by the seat of the trousers and hangs fast until he has reached the top landing Having ushered him thus far she turns him over to Fannie" the dog who is mistress of the upper stories, and returns to her watch at the main door.
 Has Remarkable History.
 Trixie is q wonderful little dog with a peculiar history. Three years ago she entered the jail and since that time never has her foot touched the ground. One morning just after midnight a drunk man was hauled unconscious from the patrol wagon and backed up against the wall plaster. Warden Williamson, in search ing him, found a little puppy. no bigger than his fist, snugly asleep in the drunk ards pocket.
 Without disturbing the dog the warden turned the man in, and the next morn ing he paid his fine leaving the dog be- hind Trixie soon grew into a beautiful little terrier and became the pride of the stevedore and all the old prisoners They taught her many tricks, making a very mascot of her.
 10 the pat of the prisoners hands she can dance a waltz or a german to per 
 sins and asks forgiveness she can be coaXed up into the cage, where she very solemnly prays his pardon of Judge Fea- gin, standing on her hind legs. But on other occasions she stands with paws on the cage, while with impressive barl1s, she sees that the prisoner gets the full extent of the law.
 About year ago the warden took her out in the alley for an airing, but she became frightened at the sun, and made a dash for the jail. Even then, how ever, she got in the way of the patrol wagon and was almost run down. Since that time no amount of coaXing has sue ceded in enticlng her to the outside.
 Now Head of Family. Trixie is now the proud mother of five fine little pups. who arrived last week. Their tails have already been cut and Mayor Ward, Alderman Cooper and about twenty other city officials have put in their bids for one of the pups when they become of age.
 Fannie. the other little Scotch terrier, is the woman's favorite, and makes her home entirely on the third floor. She has only been jailbird for one year, and has not become so thoroughly broken in as Miss "TriXie."
 1he county jail also has it's mascot in the person of little Jack" a pup that belongs to Dick Wray, and is learning all the intrcaces of 'big rock" Dick | sleeps with the animal, and makes it his | boon companion.