The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-26
THE GRAND JURY
 CLOSES ITS WORK
One Hundred and Fifty-four
 irue Bills Returned
FAVORITlSM IS CHARGED
Report in Reference to Working of Public Roads Is Somewhat Sensa- tional-Niel Is Appointed
 Field Agent.

Selma, September 25.-(Special.) 1.-The grand jury of the fall term of the circuit court of Dallas county adjourned yester- day afternoon at o'clock and made it's final report to Judge Miller. Two hundred and four cases were considered, AIS wit nesses examined at a cost of $542.74 to the county and 154 true bills were re- turned.
 rae report was sensational only in re- spect to the roads of the county on the condition of which the judge had dwet at length in his charge. The grand jury declared that they had found partiality and faVoritism displayed by the author- ties in the working of roads, and had also found that the road overseers were utterly ignorant of the road law passed by the legislature. The recommendation was made that the county court of reve- nue furnish copies of the law to the over seers.
 An incident that created some suppress ed merriment around the court house this afternoon was the disappearance of Will liam Moore, negro on trial for assault with intent 10 murder another negro near Tyler. The case went to the jury shortly before the dinner hour and the defendant who was out on bond, was left at the court house when adjournment came. When court reassembled the jury filed into the room to make it's report, but the defendant could not be found. The judge sent runners to look for the negro but at this writing he had not been found and it is thought he has skipped,
 Old Man In Jail.
 Last night the jury in the case of pr. R. s. Smith, charged with selling whisky f,, fIo ,f Col ma brought in d verdict of guilty and assessed the fine at $75. The grand jury of the last court found an indictment against Dr. Smith, who conducts a drug store on East Alabama street. The case was continued. owing to the absence of the defendant from the state. It was call ed yesterday afternoon and the verdict brought in last night.
 When the verdict was announced Judge Miller ordered the sheriff to take charge of the prisoner as he had not made up his mind whether to add a hard labor sentence to the fine imposed by the jury. Dr. Smith is old in years and badly crip- pied, and as he stood before the bar of judgment for violating the laws of the country. on so serious a charge, he pre- sented a spectacle of pity.
 Judge Miller did not make his decision today and may not for few days, when
 
 man off without a hard labor sentence, deemng the jail sentence for several days punishment sufficient, with the fine, to de- ter others from attempting further viola tons of the law along this line.
 Case From Demopolis.
 Will Grisham, a negro, was brought to Selma yesterday from Demopolis, on a writ of habeas corpus, granted by Judge Miller. made returnable before Judge Mabry. The negro was convicted in the police court of Demopolis on the charge of carrying concealed weapons Chief of Police Monier, Deputy Sheriff C. M Phares and City Attorney B. r. Fillmore of Demopols came over with the negro in addition to the latter's attorneys Will son X Wilson. They reached here at 10.30 and Judge Mabry shortly before F de- cl-red that he did not have Jurisdiction. If Judge Miller does not decide that he has jurisdiction the negro will be return ed to Demopolis. Mayor Pro Tem w M Tucker also came to Selma this morn ing and while here inspected the Union slaughter house at the request of the De- mopolis city council, that body desiring to take steps looking to establishing a similar institution in Demopolis
 Appointed Field Agents.
 R. T. l.. Mel of this city has been com missioned field agent of the Alabama bu- reau of cotton statistics for the county Of Dallas, -his appointment having been received from the state director this morn ing. MT. Mel has been the special agent of the United States census department in Dallas county for the past five years, collecting cotton statistics and will in flu ture, serve both the state and the na- uonal government. All gnners will make their reports on the amount of cotton ginned to MT. Mel. The second report begins tomorrow and all cotton gnned from the crop of 1907, prior to September 25 must be returned Mir. Mel has a few of the government gin record books, pre- pared according to the most approved manner which he will be glad to fur nish free to any ginner upon application for the same