The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
Negroes Williams and Stevens
 Are In Jail
DRUG THIEF C0NFESSES
Gen. Louis V. Clark Finds an Old Medal Belonging to Disbanded Bes- semer RfIes-Personal News
 of the Marvel City.
By J. B. HOUSTON.


 of negroes in a hall First avenue and Nineteenth street, Leonard Betts was seriously stabbed in a difficulty with two other negroes and this morn ing succumbed to death. It seems that the negroes had an entertainment of some kind on this night and Joe Stevens had charge of the door Betts tried to gain admittance but for some reason was repulsed by Stevens, causing words, then blows and finally knives were drawn and a bloody fight engaged in. Betts suffering from all the wounds received from the knives of the combatants and fell to the floor.
 For three days this was kept quiet but finally Detective Patton got wind of 1t and detailed Detectives Parsons and McCabe who immediately started on the case and in three days of skillful work all evidence was secured and Williams and Stevens safely landed in jail. Later Williams made bond but Stevens has been held awaiting the results of the fracas, as very little hope of Betts re- covering was entertained This morning as soon as the news was received at
  1 Detective Patton went out in search of Otis Williams and found him.
 AIIeqed Thief Confesses.
 Standford Phillips, the negro who was arrested last night for alleged stealing of medicines from the Edmundson Drug 1 Co.,, and storing them at c. w Smithson labortary on Third avenue, at an early hour this morning confessed that he had from time to time been getting these fluids and leaving them at Smithsons s. MT Lowe, the head prescriptionist of the Edmundson Drug Co.,, was the "Sher- lock- in this case, and for two weeks l has been working trying to find out who has been making away with the medi- cines. Standford, who at one time worked with this firm, made himself pretty much 1 at home whenever he would come around, and made 1t his business to pay frequent visits. Just little while before Stand ford came around yesterday afternoon MT Lowe had occasion to use a certain valuable drug in filling a prescription and | after taking what he wanted rom the bottle, instead of placing 1t back in the case left it on the prescription counter Later, after Standford had left he missed the bottle and went around to Smith ! s, working. He did not find his man there but told MT. Smithson that he was just knocking about getting some fresh air He told him that he had heard of his laboratory and would like to see it. Mr. Smithson carried him back. MT. Lowe was not there very long before he dis covered on shelves numbers of bottles coming from his place and told MT. Smith son that he had his goods and wanted to know how he came by them. Mr. Smithson then told him the story of how l this negro had been bringing these fluids from time to time and he had been talk ing care of them. MT. Lowe then tele- | phoned Dr. Edmundson and two of his porters were sent around and the goods sent back home A good many bottles from w. D. Taylors drug store were also in MT. Smithsons possession. Goods | to the amount of nearly $500 were re- covered MT. Smithson made bond this afternoon while Standford is still in Jail. The case comes up in the police court in the morning and it is expected to be quite an interesting one.
 Old Medal Found.
 Yesterday Dr. G. D. Waller received a | telephone message from Gen. Louis V Clark of Birmingham stating that he had in his possession a gold medal that was unearthed in the old Chalifoux building 
 best drilled man and "Bessemer Rifles" inscribed upon it, and he knew he would be glad to get it. It seems that Talbert | Craig, who is now in Montgoemry, was the last man at a competitive drill to get | this medal and years ago had lost it, but ! replaced same by getting one as near like the original as possible. The Besse- mer Rifles have long been disbanded and the loss O. the medal has long been for | gotten. MT. Craig, when he hears of this | find will no doubt have to think a long time before he will be able to explain how this medal ever got in such place. | The finding of this old relic will, how ever, recall pleasant "reminiscences to the minds of many of the old-timers who are l still in Bessemer
 Personal and General.
 MT. and Mrs w. J. Brannon of Mem phis, Tenn, will arrive Tuesday and be with Mrs. J. c. Burgin for the holidays.
 MT. and Mrs. E. H. Lopez and Mrs. George Houston and son left last night for Charleston, S. C., where they will spend the holidays with relatives. | Mrs. Lynn Taylor and children are the guests of Dr. and Mrs. w. D. Taylor for the holidays Mrs. Lynn Taylor is sis- ter of Dr. Taylor.
 Bernie Crook, the youngest son of Capt. H. w. Crook, is home for the holidays. Bernie is attending the university at 1 Culman.
 Miss Brett Reid of Birmingham spent today with Mrs. A. s. Fitzpatrick at her country home.
 w. D. Taylor, Jr., of the Columbia l Military academy, is home for the hol- 1 idays with his parents, Dr. and Mrs. w. | D. Taylor.
 | w. S. Mms of Vanderbilt Is home for | the holidays with his mother, Mrs. W. T. | Hart.
 Mss Kate Price, who has been teach | ing school at Cordova, was in Bessemer 1 today visiting relatives, Mrs H. c. Grigs- l by and Mrs. w. T. Warlick. Miss Price left tonight for Florence. where she n tends spending the holidays with her mother
 Special arrangements are being made for the Christmas morning music at the Trinity church. It will be the first ap- pearance of the vested choir. All inter- ested In the church decorations for I Christmas are requested to be at the 1 church Thursday morning.
 Monday morning is my busy morn | ing" That is what Mayor Rush says. 1 Already about 20-odd cases are docketed | for the mornings police court, which is about an average Monday mornings :, work.