The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-17
LIFE IS THREATENED w. E. Berry Receives Black Hand Letter. APPEALS FOR PROTECTION Wires Governor Conner of His
 Trouble. MT. Berry's Editorials in the Phesix- Girsrd Journal Against BIiad
 Tigers Are Beiievea te Have E Inspired Letter.

Loiumpus, Ga., Aprfl lS.-tSpectaI. Editor w.. E.. Berry, of The Phenix- Ala. today received black hand let ter. threatening his life. the result. 1t Is believed. of his crusade against blind tigers.
 The letter. which was postmarked 'Phenix. Ala" was written on. the stationery of a Columbus Hotel and was as follows;
 "eirard. Ala. w. E. Berry-You are meddling where you have no business suppose you have lived long enuf any way, as you are no account to yourself and injurious to others. so my advice is to prepatr to meet Thy God as your days are done numbered and your doom are sealed and sure to be carried out. your head will be blown off without warning just what you de- serve you will get 1t to-"
 Editor Berry wired Governor Conner as follows this afternoon:
 "A letter threatening my life was re- ceived by me today stating that my head would be blown off. and ask your honor to protect my life. as have exposed through the columns of my pa- per the blind tigers in our town. and call on you as the only means l have of protecting myself"
 The impression prevails locally that the Governor will leave the situation to the local authorities to handle.
 In a red hot article in this weeks issue of the paper. which gees to its subscribers tomorrow morning. Editor Berry says:
 After the editor of The Journal re- ceived the above dirty threatening letter, we will say that the low. dirty. unprincipled highwayman. iiiegftimate scoundrei, who has not courage to meet face to face on the street in daylight and express his sentiments. but must resort to a blackmaii letter in order to prevent the editor from putting out this issue of the paper. The editor will call out the washington. D. O.. au- thorities to come at once and trace this letter to the origination. The writing of this letter Is such that It can readily be traced" {. Editor Berry's expose of the blind tigers of, Girard Is q two-coiumn sen- satIonal article in which the authort- ties of the city are scored. After charging that whisleey IS sold in the city seven days Of the week. the editor asks: 7-----s-- S
 .Ts it, not perfectly natural to sup pose that the Girard ofifciais know of these tiKersf'
 The paper says that in later issue 1t will write up the gambling dens of Csirard. The article which created so much SUIT was neA0eu IW0Hty-tHtro Blind Tigers in Girard and Another One to be Born Soon."
 Berry regards the letter as no Idle threat in view of the fact that bombs have been exploded In various .parts of ,Girard A number of times.
 Appeal Reaches Montgomery.
 R. D. McNeel. private secretary to Governor Conner. received the appeal for aid from W. E. Berry, editor of The Phenix -Girard Journal, which came in the form of a telegram yesterday after noon.
 The entire matter being vague and intangible, inasmuch as the threat is sent by an unknown person, and may. after all, be of no significance, there is nothing as yet known that can be done for the protection of the threat ened editor.
 MT. McNeei endeavored. until late last night. to gain telephonie commu- nication with Kerry. to find from him. if possible. something regarding the threat. and his suspicious as to the sender.
 Governor Promises Protection.
 Girard, April 12.--Late tonight Mr. Berry received a message from the pri- vate secertary of Governor Conner say ing
 'State of Alabama win give you ev- cry protection possible"
 Safe in Columbus.