The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-30
HIGDON MAY RECOMMEND
 MARTIAL LAW AT ONCE
Believes Many Men Would Return To Work Were 1t Not for Fear of ssination-Negroes
 Chief Offenders.

a number of other incidents, together with a large number of arrests in connection with the Jefferson ambuscade, the Ar cadia shooting of Tuesday night and sev- eral other affairs tell yesterdays story of the coal miners strike.
 It was apparent early yesterday morn- ing that the uginess which had been dis played throughout the district on Tues day was still bubbling out Sheriff Hig don stated last night that unless 1t ceased immediately he would recommend to Gov ernor Conner that martial law be declared in the district affected at once.
 Martial Law Probable.
 Said Sheriff Higdon last night In this connection: There have been a large number of ambuscades since the strike was inaugurated. During the latter part of last week matters assumed a quiet tone, but on Sunday the lawless element began to assert itself and has continued to do so. Several non-union men have been wounded and one killed, while there have been any number of ugly demonstra- tions.
 Such a state of affairs as this cannot be tolerated, and I will recommend to Governor Conner that martial law be de- clared unless it ceases at once. In this connection I wish to state that it Is my opinion that the better class of white union miners have not been implicated in any of the trouble at all. I believe there are great many of these men who would return to work at once but are afraid of assassination. This Is especially true in regard to the men who own their homes'
 Negro Killed at Pratt City.
 The non-union miner killed was ne- gro named Lige Nelm, who worked in No. 2 mines at Pratt City the scene of the crime being but short distance from the mine on the macadamized road lead ing to it. It occurred late in the after- noon, and the killing is claimed to have been done by a group of negroes one be- ing arrested in connection with it.
 Nelm worked on the night shift at the mine, and was on his way to work A crowd of negroes were playing baseball on a hill just above the road while a group were by the side of the road As Nelm passed these men they attacked him, and from what can be learned Nelm was get ting the best of the argument when the men were reinforced by others from the ball game, The fight finished by Nelm receiving three bullet wounds in the chest, death resulting almost immediately.
 Officers were on the scene in a few mo- ments, the shooting having attracted Uli. peared, but trail of blood led from the place where Nelm's body was lying in the road. This was followed and led to a negro house. where a negro named D. Miller was found with wound in his jaw. Another bullet had also grazed his back.
 He was placed under arrest by Chief of Police Hartzfeld of Pratt City and brought to Birmingham, where he was placed in the county jail. He states that he was not mixed up in the fight, but that he had been at the game and started down to the road where the trouble was going on. His wounds he claimed were received while he was walking down the hill
 uC uCdo nC6lO d AdhioCi oi tdit- ridges in his pockets but no gun. It Is not known whether he had gun dur ing the mix-up or not.
 Air Shaft Dynamited.
 The dynamiting at No. mines at Wy lam Tuesday night was followed early yesterday morning by the dynamiting of the air shaft of No. mines at that place. This explosion caused great excitement but did no damage to the shaft A number of guards were placed around 1t after this incident. Several arrests are expected to follow in this connection.
 Shortly after the negro Nelm was killed another negro non-union miner was shot in the back and near the same place, the shots coming from the side of the road. The person shooting, how ever, was some distance away and the shots did not injure the negro much. A shotgun was used, large number of small shot perforating the negros skin.
 At the Mary Lee mines large crowd of union men assembled yesterday morn ing and closed in on the non-union men as they started into the mine. They were not armed but by force of moral suasion attempted to get the men to quit, The crowd grew somewhat boisterous and was finally driven back by the guards. No other trouble was reported from there during the day,
 Preparations have been made at the Mary Lee mines to prevent any attack For some distance around the mine open ing and buildings a space has been cleared and at night it is brilliantly lighted with electric lights, making it almost impossible for anyone to get close to the place without the guards seeing them,
 Construction work on the stockade at this place is going forward at rapid pace and it will probably be completed during the next week or ten days. This will accommodate over 100 additional men.
 Non-Unio Mans House Burned.
 The house of a non-union miner was burned to the ground at Pinckney City shortly before daybreak yesterday morn ing. This house was dynamited about ten days ago and the fire yesterday was undoubtedly of incendiary origin.
 Wylam also figured again in rowdyism.