The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-07
Press Association in Auoust.

It has been decided to have the Alabama Press association in this city on August 5, 6 and '.
 The date had to be changed from the 18th of August to the above dates from the fact that it was found that the asso- clatlon would be in another city at that time and this was not known when the general arrangements committee in this city decided on a date
 The case of Sunny" Jim Helm. charged With giving away a bottle of beer in the restaurant of Mart Moran, came up in the mayors court this morning and he was only fined $250
 The evidence as given by Chief Wal lace and Officer Childers, the men who made the arrest, was that he was giving a bottle of beer away. As soon as he was fined he was remanded to jail and he stayed there until this evening when he was let out on an appeal bond which his attorney had stated this morning would be made. a
 The scene in the mayors court this morning was certainly an interesting one from many standpoints and it was hard ly thought possible that so many people would do the mayor the honor of being on hand just when court opened How ever, there were great many there and the combination good government and law and order club was well represented
 When Helms case was called he pleaded guilty and aslSeI for the lowest fine. The lowest fine he got was as above stated and considering the fact that he could have been fined $500, and some few days on the rock pile, he will no doubt feel after the whole thing is over that he could /have had just a little more coming to him.
 When the fine was imposed by the mayor, one of the most ardent of all the good government club people was heard to say, Thank God" and he was also the man that wanted poor old Jim fined $10O0
 Tn this case the fine could have been made S5000, as far as Jim's ability to pay 1t was concerned. It is just possible that after the case is heard .y jury, if he is found guilty to any such amount as he was fined. that he will by selling him. self for the next i've or six years be able to pay the $250, but even this is doubtful
 In this connection case of man charged with giving away q drink of whisy also came up and this man was fined s25 and costs. The man who gave the whisky away admitted that he did it but-he stated that he gave it away only after he was worried almost to death by one of his friends for drink He stated that he did not purchase the whisky in Bessemer but had just gotten off the train from Tuscaloosa when he was ap- preached by a couple of his friends and they pleaded so hard he was unable to turn them down. He dshed out the drinks in the passenger station of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company. while Jim Helm is supposed to have dshed his out from behind a cur tain. He was given g light fine and 1t is not believed that he will ever again at tempt to violate the law.
 In speaking of the Helm case this eve nil g Mayor Rush stated that he was not influenced in his decision by any one man. any club of men or any set of men. He stated that it had come to his notice tE t there were several places in the city where beer and other drinks were kept in the ice box and given out and he further stated that every one knew or should know that such thing was strictly against the law.
 He said he was there to try and enforce the law as he believed it to be and he would continue to do it to the best of his ability regardless of what any one thought.