The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-29

We have inaugurated a campaign and a system calling for the expenditure Of thousands of dollars for education in Ala bama. We are caring for the veterans. We have one of the most miserable sys- tems of public roads in the union.
 "Is it true that anyone can be so pre- sumptious as to wish the people of Ala bama to be narrow-minded enough to sit back and be satisfied with good schools? Are our children to be raised into edu- cated prodigies to expend their dearly bought energies, both physical and men
 
 a revolver in his possession, and as the negro ran away fired four shots at him. All evidently missed their mark and the murderer never turned one way or the other or faltered in the least after the shots were fired at him.
 There were quite number of passen- gers on the car at the time of the mur- der and an accurate description of the negro was obtained from those who saw him. He is described as having been about 30 to 35 years Of age; feet 6 inches in height weight 140 to 155 pounds; color, light gingercalle; small black mustaehe; scattering beard of four O: five days growth; large eyes; blac., hair, inclined to be straight; voice a little coarse. He wore a light colored shirt with collar at tached, appearing to be made neghgee dark pants and a dark coat.
 It is indeed fortunate that two mur- ders instead of one were not committed. Possibly all that saved Conductor Cour- ingtons life was the fact that the negro dropped his murderous weapon when he was first attacked by the conductor. In the scuffle that ensued he lost his hat and when he jerked loose from the grasp of the conductor his coat sleeve, the one on the left arm was torn in two. When the negro ran off his coat was hanging loose and when he, turned the corner at Avenue and Twenty-slXtI street, making for Twenty-fifth, he had discarded the coat It is naturally sup posed that he dropped the coat or threw it away at some point between Avenue r and Avenue G, but when it was searched for it was not found What became of the coat is still a mystery.
 Pierced To Heart.
 The wound inflicted on Motorman Wat kins could have resulted in nothing but death had immediate help been at hand The knife was driven into his body at a point just below the left nipple and it is believed passed between the ribs and pierced the heart to some depth. The knife was then evidently drawn out. Extending from the point where the blade had passed between the ribs there was a long gash some six inche; long, which breast.
 The knife used by the negro was treach- erous looking. It was very large, the handle being some 51k inches long. and was plainly but exceptionally strongly built. The handle is of bone and on the brass tips are the words Father Bar low" The initial 'A'' is also crudely carved in the brass. The blade is a fraction less than inches long and the steel is branded Bright Sheffield" The knife is in the possession of Chief Bod eker.
 Plunged Its Entire Length.
 The appearance of the knife would in- dicate that the blade was plunged its entire length into Mortorman Watkins body. for there is blood on the steel all the way up to where it is joined to the handle.
 The fact that the knife had appar- ently only just been sharpened leads to one theory of the killing. The blade was newly and keenly ground and from it's brightness it is bought that it was ground some time during yester- day, The end of the weapon was ground down to a very fine point Some of the officers who went out on the case believe that the negro carried the knife up his sleeve, and this connected with the appearance of the newly ground blade leads to the theory of premeditated murder. prompted by some previous difficulty.
 On the other hand it is thought that the difficulty between the negro and the motorman arose after the negro boarded the street car at Twenty third street. It is stated that when the negro got on the car he did not go in side, as the rules of the company re- quire, but stood on the platform with the motorman. It is believed that the motorman might have asked the negro to get inside of the car and that the negro refused to do so. It is further surmised that the motorman ran his car on up to the regular stoppoing point and probably there had words with the negro about standing on the platform of the car. From this dis cussion it is thought that the difficulty might have arisen.
 Neither of these theories. however, is borne out by actual facts, and as far as circumstances go one is as admissible as the other.
 Dogs Hurried To Scene.
 Shortly after the murder occurred the sheriff's office and police headquarters were notified. Imemdiately Sheriff Hig don Chief Deputy Sheriff Lucfen c. Brown, Deputies Cowam Courson and Barker, and several detectives from the police department were dispatched to the scene. The blood hounds were