The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-21

Hon. J. Craig Smith. President of the Board of Convict Inspectors. was seen in a new role early last night by pedestrians on Commerce Street. that of esc0rting ten white prisoners to the county jail. where the prisoners remained all night, presumably as the guests of the dignified and taciturn President of theN Board.
 The role. which the President grace fully played. was one of doubtful choice, but also of extenuating circum- stances and the expenditure of consid- erable loose change. From the story at the county jail the prisoners started from Speigner's in charge of State Agent Jackson. with sanford's saw mill as the objective point.
 The State Agent carefully. too care fully. it afterward appeared, handcuffed his prisoners in double file and placed them on the train. He then hurried back to the ticket window to secure tickets for himself and his gang. While counting his money out to the ticket seller. the train pulled out of the sta tion, and the State Agent was left standing on the platform staring after the train flying rapidly down the road.
 The conductor in charge of the train found none who had tickets for the gang. and realizing what was mp. started through the train looking for some one who would take the convicts under charge.
 As he passed through one of the coaches he found the Hon. J.k craig smith contentedly reading the latest evening edition. This is who," said the conductor to himself. and accord ingly he touched the official on the shoulder. That gentleman looked up with annoyance. but soon broke Into a smile. and asked the trouble. The con. ductor hastened to explain.
 Mir. Smith immediately looked severe, but said not a word about the negit- gence of other people in general. nor the act of the State Agent ip particu- lar. no. not even under his breath. But he got up. and walking forward into the car which contained the pris- oners. counted them and asked the com ductor how much.
 The conductor figured up. ana the official forlged over the loose change without the quiver of an eyelash, He then retired. and Mir. Smith sat down by the foremost of the gang, with . very pleasant smile, indeed.
 Just what transpired on the train destinedsfor Montgomery IS purely spec ulative. However, because Mir. Smith may sometimes be taeiturn. it is also known that he has very entertaining moods. and fellow passengers on the southbound Louisville and Nashville coach last night tell of an apparent spirit of congeniality which was man. ifested by Mir. smith towards the States wards.
 'As for me-" said one of the passen- gers who sat close to the group of the convict chief and his meh. T could not help admire the docile. sweet spirit of the convicts as they glanced occasion- ally at the man who had come to their rescue. I overheard conversation be- tween the conductor and one of the squad. The conductor seemed; to have sort of sympathy for the bunch. and while there was something said of mo- body having transportation in the crowd. I could not see any signs of the men being affected.
 "Just as I reached in my pocket to pull out the cash for at least one of the poor creatures, saw the stern face of Q quiet looking man approach the conductor. He wore an official air, and extracted a fat wad from his pocket and surprised me by paying the fares of the whole group."f
 Last night at the jail the officials tried their best to take the cuffs off of the men. They succeeded with all but one pair of cuffs, which bound two of the men together There was not a key in the building. or among the dep- uties which would ft that particular