davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
DAMAGE SUITS IN
 THE CIRCUIT COURT

N. M. Gamble filed suit against the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company in the circuit court yesterday, claiming the sum of $2o,O00 as damages. The plaintiff claims that during the time defendant was engaged in overhaulng and doing construction work in its power plant, the plaintiff was employed by Ford, Bacon & Davis as a constructing engineer, and that while crossing a cer- tain cement fioored room or pit, and along a plankway over the said room or pit the plank gave way and as a con- sequence the plaintiff fell, heavy piece of iron falling upon him, his left foot being badly broken and crushed and sev- eral bones broken. He states, too, that one of his toes was cut off and his body otherwise injured.
 MT. Gamble also filed suit for $200 against the firm of Ford Bacon & Davis, claiming damages for injuries sustained in the manner described in the suit against the Birmingham Railway Light and Power company.
 In the city court, William E. Walker filed suit against the Birmingham Rail- way. Light and Power company, claiming of the defendant $l00 as damages for the death of a shepherd or collie dog which was killed on the South Ensley car line between Williamson and Owenton sta tions on September 8, 1907.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
BIRMINGHAM SLOW
 TO TAKE INTEREST
JERE KING SAYS THIS FACT IS THE ONLY DANGER TO GREATER BIRMINGHAM AT THE POLLS. EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS.

With the exception of the closing of the
 saloons In Jefferson county next Wednes-
 day morning the most important thing facing the citizens of Birmingham and the immediate towns surrounding it is Great CT Birmingham" which proposition will be put to popular vote on Monday, January $. From all appearance this subject is very live one in the out side towns, but one of which Birming- hams citizens are slow to take cogni- zanee.
 |. aJere King is still confident that the people located in the territory covered by Greater Birmingham will ratify the bill which he passed through the legisa- ture but Is also keeping on the alert so that nothing may arise to prevent the people from voting for Greater Birming- ham. In speaking Of 1t last night, he said:
 If the people desire that Birmingham shall jump from 38,OO0 to 125,0O0 they must
 wake up and see that Birmingham casts
 a solid vote for Greater Birmingham on
 Monday next. The Birmingham voters
 are lethargic in regard to this matter, and
 this Is the only thing there is to fear
 for the realization of the greater city. For the outside towns the establish
 ment of a first class fro department, the
 improvement of the school system and
 better sanitary conditions alone are prov ing great factors In the working Up of favorable sentiment towards the greater
 city.
 But this is only an instance Illustrating
 the need of Greater Birmingham. and if the people of Birmingham will only wake
 up, 1910 will find Birmingham running neck and neck race with very strong chance for getting in the lead. for the leading city of the south
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
PRESIDENT GOES
 AFTER TURKEYS
Surprises Driver of Vehicle With the Astonishing Fact of His Walk
 ing Accomplishment.

Charlottesville, Va, December H.-For the first time since he spent a fortnight in the canebrakes of northern Louisiana. in October. President Roosevelt shouldered a gun this afternoon and went in quest of-not bear-the elusive wild turkeys With Uncle Dick" McDaniel, the faith full colored servant at "Plain Dealing as a guide, a start from the Pine Knot was made at o'clock directly after luncheon was served.
 The President was mounted on one of the best stalions owned by Wilmer. The scene of the hunt was nearly five miles southeast of Pine Knot on a mountain spur across Hardware river. Just what success the President met with could not be learned, as he had not been seen to pass Glendover up to 6 o'clock. McGrew of the Presidents office force, and Secret Service Guard Sloan, who were qUartered at an uptown hotel, received a message early this afternoon. presumably from the White House. Within less than an hour they had hired team and were off for Pine Knot. distance of l6 miles. Noth- ing had been seen of them up to dark at Glendover, which Is less than mile from Pine Knot
 Sloan and McGrew are apt to spend the night at Plain Dealing.
 In his ride over to Pine Knot yester- day afternoon, the President astonished the driver by alighting when only half of the journey had been completed and footing it. the remaining distance, five miles. Accompanying the President was Kermit. That the pedestrians made good time was shown by the fact that the trar containing Mrs. Roosevelt and sister on the Journey passed the President less than mile from the hunting camp.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
DISPOSITIONS ARE READ.
Trial of George A. Pettibone Pro
 gresses Slowly.

Boise, Idaho, December N.-With the exception of the examination of one wit ness the entire time in both morning and afternoon sessions of the trial of George A PettiBone, charged with the murder of ex-Governor Steunenberg, were con- stunned in reading dispositions taken by the defense in support of It's theory that the explosion in the home of Fred Brad ley at San Francisco was caused by a leak in the gas and not by dynamite bomb placed under the mat on the door step as testified to by Harry Orchard.
 The state objected to the introduction of the testimony of Miss Alice Fitzeyew, concerning the relations between Orchard and Detective Sterling, of the Mine Owners association, but 1t was admit ted. Judge Wood said, however, that he would require the proper connection to be made before anyNfurther testimony on the alleged conspiracy could be given. Miss Fitzeyew testified that she kept a rooming house in Cripple Creek in March, 1904, and that K. c. Sterling, detective for the Mine Owners association. oc- cupied a room there. Orchard, she testi- fled, was q frequent visitor at Sterling s room. The visits continued until the Independence depot explosion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
As Negro Said Farewell the Governors Respite Is
 Received MOST DRAMATIC SCENE ENACTED ABOUT GALLONS Execution Stayed IS Days To Allow of Further Investigation of the
 Negro's Plea of Mot
 Guilty"

Henry Thaxton stood on the gallows
 yesterday morning at minutes to 10
 o'clock concluding his supposed last
 statement when Governor B. B. Conner
 stepped hurriedly into the telegraph of
 flee at Conner, Ala, where he is spend
 ing the week. and dispatched the fol- lowing telegram:
 "Comer, Ala, December 27, 1901 "Sheriff Jefferson County, Birmingham. Ala.
 Suspend execution Henry Thaxton Is days.
 "B B. CONFER, Governor" In minutes Thaxton's neck would
 be brokenl But fin all haste the West
 ern Union wire was thrown open, and
 the message shot into the Birmingham office. While the telegram was being
 received the last song was being sung by the crowd around the gallows. At ? minutes to 10 o'clock the message was placed In the hands of John Jollis- ton, one of the messengers, with in- structions to fly.
 The boy jumped on bicycle and rode like the wind t0 the county jail. In
 the meantime the last verse of Blessed Assurance" was being sung and when the boy reached the outer gate of the jail, completely out of breath, he thrust the telegram into the hands of
 Deputy Sheriff Sid Cowan. Chief Dep
 uty Lucien c. Brown, who was also standing there. realizing that it must be something of great importance, took the little yellow envelope. tore 1t open,
 read the message hurriedly returned 1t to Deputy Cowan, who rushed with all possible speed to the gallows. Deputy George w. Courson was ad- justing the rope around the condemne ed
 mans neck. Deputy Gene Tomlin held the black cap, Sheriff Higdon stood at the foot of the steps leading up to the gallows with his hand on the trigger ready to jerk 1t in less than minute.
 and finish the legal execution of Henry Thaxton, when there came the loud cry, Hold on there a minute, Colonele'
 The life of the negro about to be sent
 into eternity was saved, at least tenn porarily, and the reprieve of 15 days | was read. Then a shout went up from | the small crowd standing around the scaffold.
 Thank the Lord!" said Thaxton, and he walked down from the gallows to !, receive the congratulations of the sey- eral preachers standing below, who were the means by which the respite was obtained.
 The scene was one of the most
 dramatic ina ginable-the negro stand ing with his eyes lifted to heaven,
 ready for death .kand little messenger
 boy riding for dear life to get the re- prieve In the hands of the sheriff be- fore 10 o'clock. The small crowd Of
 spectators almost went wild when the
 reprieve was read and the shout that
 went up caused great excitement on the
 outside The news of the unusual
 event was in few minutes all over the
 city.
 So. Henry Thaxton was snatched from
 the very jaws of death, and on the
 order of the governor 15 days will be
 given so that an Investigation may be
 made. and an effort exercised to locate
 the two negroes who were with Thax-
 ton on the night he Is alleged to have
 murdered S. T. Huntsucker, one Of whom Thaxton says shot the deceased
 man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
FEDERAL EMPLOYES
 HAVE FINE BANQUET
c. M. HOYLE MADE FINE TOAST MASTER OF BRILLIANT AFFAIR. THoMPsoN's TOAST TO "RooSE- WELT" MOST POPULAR.

Merriment tinged with the sober thought of future hard work for the per- fection of Uncle Sams service, reigned supreme at the banquet given by the local federal employees at the New Jefferson hotel last night About 100 of the grand old mans" servants gathered around the festive board and enthusiasm wound itself around the hearts of every feaster as the hours wore on.
 This enthusiasm generated itself into vocal outbursts praising the work of the postoffice attaches and other federal of ficals located In Birmingham. c. M. Howle In the role of toastmaster kept things humming, and the many short talks which resulted from the calls he made upon the happy diners were brim full of that inspiration which only unity of purpose and good fellowship can pro- duce.
 Many toasts were proposed during the evening, all of which were drunk hearti- ly and amid the cheers of the banqueters. Probably the heartiest one of all was the one proposed by District Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, ''To the health Of our chief executive, the President, The odore Roosevelt may he have third term if he desires It." This was respond ed to with a cheer by the diners as they jumped to their feet.
 The eating and speaking began at the same time, G. M. Howle acting as toast master of the occasion. MT. Howle con- graduated himself upon being present. and after a few words of praise commem- oratng the work of the postal and other federal employees in Birmingham. called on Assistant Postmaster Prof. J. IT. Blakemore. Professor Blakemore spoke very enthusia stlcally upon the subject of how every one who came to Birmingham became an enthusiastic citizen of this town within 24 hours after arriving here. He also praised the efficient work of the postoffce employees Assistant District Attorney Joseph H. Montgomery followed with an enthusiastic talk.
 The chef of the New Jefferson prepared a most delicious repast, and the hour was late when Uncle Sam's gay epicures con- cluded to depart one from another The national convention to be held here next September came in for good deal of comment, and the announcement of c. P. Jones of the Ledger that the newspapers would do their part in making 1t the greatest convention ever held anywhere only caused the enthusiasm of the oc- caslon to wax greater.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
IN THE BIRMINGHAM
 REAL ESTATE MARKET

Deeds of conveyance were filed in the office of the probate court yesterday in the following transactions in real estate in which amounts of s1OOO or more were involved:
 Sl100-J. D. Martin and wife to T. J.. Reid, lot or parcel of land situated In the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section IS, township 1s, range { west.
 slOOO-J F. Bennett and II. E. Bennett to the Bennett Land company proI situated in the northeast quarter of southeast quarter of section 27, town 17, range west.
 Sl0Oo-W. s. Brown and wife to Bennett, the same property last scribed.
 yl25O-Will Lewis to w. 1T. Lone wife, property situated In section 27, to ship IT, range 8 west.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
LITTLE GIRL FINDS
 HER LOST PEGGY

Little Miss Elcia paid a visit to The Age-Herald office yesterday afternoon to thank the paper for restoring Peggy" a little fox terrier. On Christmas Eve Peggy was lost near the corner of First avenue and Twentieth street and could be found neither high nor low. The little girl much grieved by the loss of the dog, wrote to the editor of The Age Herald, asking him to assist her in find ing Peggy. The child's letter was print ed in a prominent place in the paper, and the next morning it came to the notice of D. M. Baggett of 93S South Nineteenth street. Peggy had followed him home, and upon seeing the little girls letter he notified her, and the dog was restored to the loving arms of its owner. Peggy came to the office with Miss Elcia and showed her appreciation of what had been done by performing several tricks, and finally by saying a prayer, possibly for the of- flee cat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
WALKER RESISTS
 VERY BOLD ROBBERY
IGNORES COMMAND TO HANDS UP" AND FIRING RAPIDLY HE WINGS HIS MAN-WHITE AND NEGRO HIGHWAYMEN.

Dr. J. c. Walker reported to police headquarters last night that he had suc- eessfully resisted an unusually bold at- tempt at highway robery.
 Dr. Walker was driving out Highland avenue in his buggy and had reached Twenty seventh street at about D. m, when two men stepped out of clump of bushes and hailed him. One, he said, was big negro and the other a white man.
 Luckily the physician was prepared. Ig- norlng their orders to hands up he pulled his pistol and began firing as fast as he could. He was certain of having shot one of the highwaymen, for he heard a groan, as he disappeared in the woods. The police department was unable to do anything last night.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
BESSEMER POLICEMAN
 SHOOTS ESCAPING MAN.

Bessemr, December N.-(Special Police Officer Bishop had serious ficulty with a negro named Floyd Ov this afternoon. Officer Bishop found negro in a drunken condition on Nine teenth street and he was about to place him under arrest, when in a drunken frenzy he flew at the officer and struck him several times.
 The policeman was knocked down by the negro. who attempted to run off down the street. Policeman Bishop drew his pistol and fired twice at the fleeing negro. One of the bullets inflicted a scalp wound in the top of the negro's head andfhe turned around and received the second bullet in the abdomen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
DARROW RETiRES,
Leaves Defense of George A. Petit
 bone.

Boise, Idaho, December T.-Clarence Darrow, chief counsel for George A. Pettibone, on trial charged with eom- plicity in the killing of former Governor Steunenberg. has retired from the case for the present at least on account of his health. He/ left this afternoon for Los Angeles, where he will submit to an oper- ation for an abscess in the middle Of the ear. There is little probability that he will be able to return to Boise in time to make the closing address Tor the defense
 Former Congressman Edgar Wilson will be in charge of the defense for the present at least MT Wilson was unable to be in court today on account of Illness ana John P. Nugent conducted the case, stat ing that the defense would begin it's eyi- dence by the introduction of dispositions taken in the Bradley affair. The reading of dispositions occupied ihe entire fore noon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
MUCH INTEREST IN P|G IRON MARKET Concerted Effort te Maintain
 S14 Basis WHO SOLD AT $132 Operator Does Not Believe That Large Sale at SIS occurred-Who Sold
 the Detroit Stove
 Company?
WHO SOLD AT SIS?

On the eve of a new year much inter- est Is manifested very naturally in the pig iron market Will there be free buy ing here at sl4, or will lower, figure rule? These are questions that furnace operators and brokers are asking. There will be something of concerted effort to maintain a $14 market.
 The sale of 13000 or 14,000 tons of pig, some of it northern and some southern, to the Detroit Stove company, the southern at SIS Birmingham, on a No. 2 basis, re- ported by the Iron Age is the chief topic in local iron circles. It was not stated what proportion of the tonnage was southern. While every one recognizes the Iron Age as high authority, a certain furnace company official was inclined to think that no large quantity of iron was sold at SIS. As to which company made the sale, 1t seems to have been round robin" transaction. Each iron master heard from said 1t was not his com pany.
 Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati report for the current week says:
 The last week of the year sees an up- ward tendency in the feeling of the iron trade in most directions. There has been some fair buying in the middle west, which would indicate that those copsum- CTS at least judge prices have re led a point where it does not seem sa1e for them to wait longer before covering for a good portion of their requirements dur ing the earlier part of next year. How soon such buying action will become a concerted movement is, of course, prob- lematical, but iron prices now have reached stage where cost and present quotations are about the same, and as the furnaces are in such stronger posi- tion to maintain their end of any contest than they were when similar conditions existed previously. 1t is almost generally conceded that the turn has been reached.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
STRONG NEGRO DIES
 FROM MANY WOUNDS

Miles Williams, the negro whom Deputy Sheriff Louis R. Dean shot Thursday afternoon, died yesterday about noon at the Hillman hospital. Williams is the negro who fought Dep uty Dean so furiously in a house on Seventh avenue, between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, north, when the of ficer went tn ere to arrest Mary Harri- son, a negro woman, for defacing a house. The negro was shot five times and stabbed once by MT. Dean in the conflict. and there has been no hope for his recovery.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
OctogenaY1an Walks
 Four WiZeS Win Eas

But I feel young--as if death will nt claim me. This old Gettysburg wo in my hip gets, the best of me at tin but when the weather is fine I can mile as rapidly as a man much .ny junior in point of serviee.'
 Captain Hightower, when, in a general conversation, the bill to be introduced by Congressman Hobson requesting the Uni- ted States government to pension the veterans of tine Confederacy, was men, tioned, drew himself as erect as his four score years would permit, and entered a stern protest. The fire of the sixties flashed from his face.
 D itl'' cried he, 1T would, not touch a penny of the abolitionists' money if my life depended upon it.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28

Laboring under the burden of four score years and four, Capt. Ezekiel Hightower, living four miles from Birmingham on the Powderly road, walked to Birming- ham yesterday morning.
 Captain Hlghtower Is a gallant Confed- crate veteran, and is still at heart a rebel. In spite of his great age he has strength, endurance, and above all an unconquerable spirit.
 q feel a trle tired" said the captain on arriving In Birmingham, and seating himself in the easy chair of a friend office. "I covered the four miles in an hour and little more. and that IS quite good walk for man of my years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
John Walsh Is III.

Johnstown, Pa., December 2I.-Although John Walsh has been a patient since Monday at the Johnstown City hospital, it was not known until today that he is the John Walsh who started from San Francisco to walk to New York. He Is suffering from pneumonia. Walsh left Pittsburg dp December 20 on the last lap of his walk across the continent. He had made good time up to that date, and fully expected to win a wager e s5000. Physi- clans believe he will reco is 51 years old. N
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
At the Majestic.

Performances at the Majestic this afternoon and tonight will close one of the most successful weeks in the his- tory of the popular playhouse. fine bill has drawn the Christmas crowds, and rarely has there been vacant seat at matinee or night performances. This afternoon every child will be presented with box of candy A feature that interests the boys and girls is Her bert's dog circus, probably the best exhibition of canine intelligence ever seen in Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
PARKER APPOINTS
 NEW COMMITTEE

President John L. Parker of the City Council yesterday announced the new standing committees on the minutes. By resolution passed at the last meeting the president was instructed to appoint a committee to carefully examine the minutes as prepared by the clerk before they are read for adoption at the coun- cl meeting This committee is composed of Alderman Jones, chairman; Aldermen Gregg, Heidt, Klotz and City Attorney E. D. Smith. It will meet this afternoon at o'clock in the clerks office.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
DEATHS AND FUNERALS
Leonard Daniel Chambliss.

Leonard Daniel Chambliss. age years the son of MT and Mrs. J. D. Chambliss, died Thursday at the family residence, 1923 North Sixteenth street. The funeral services over the remains will be conducted from the residence this afternoon at o'clock. The in- terment will be made in the Elmwood cemetery.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
YOLANDE COMPANY
 EXPRESSES THANKS
The following has been received:


 Yolande, December 27, 1907 Editor of The Age-Herald, Birmingham: Dear Sir-The officials of the company and the people of Yolande desire to ex- press their thanks, appreciation / and gratitude for the kind, phllanthropic and generous efforts and contributions of you and your associate workers and friends in aiding the bereaved and grief-strieken sufferers since the awful disaster that has befallen them. We will do, and are doing, all possible to relieve the wants of the dependents and sufferers, but we feel helpless to do all that should be done, and the aid that the good people of places other than here will do a great and lasting good. We will give your committee all information obtainable as to the needs of the worst sufferers and their places of residence. etc., at any time your committee may request. Thankfully yours, the officials and employees of the Yolande Coal and Coke company,
 c. c. HUCKABEE, Superintendent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
NEW RULE CONCERNING
 ISSUANCE OF TRANSFERS.

The Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company announces that on and after January l, 1908, transfers win only be issued when the passenger re- quests them while paying his fare.
 With this announcement is another to the effect that each transfer obtained will bear punch mark denoting the line on which 1t is to be used.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
THIEVES GET BUSY
 AT SWEET RESIDENCE

There were snumber of robberies re- ported to police headquarters yesterday, among them being a wholesale lifting at the home of J. M. Sweet.
 A burgalr entered his home Thursday night, and yesterday morning the miss ing articles included typewriter, a shotgun, number of razors, pistol, grip, several rings, some valuable opals. a gold chain and other jewelry.
 Tanners pharmacy, sol South Twenty seventh street. was broken open Thurs- day night, and every showcase shows something missing. The burglar must have been dissatisfied with Santa Claus.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
ADJUSTMENTS.
nMadam RutterfIxu

Seats for Puccini's grand opera, Madam Butterfly" will be on sale Monday All indications point to a great rush. Madam Butterfly will be presented at the Jefferson next Wednesday afternoon and night by Savage's complete New York company It will be the one grand opera event of the Birmingham season.