The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-24
Expresses Encouragement for
 Law Enforcement
PROHIBITION IS AN ISSUE
Negro Found Not Guilty, Although a White Man Swears to His Guilt. Asks Jurymen Very Pointed
 Queston-other News.

Miller of the circuit court showed con
 siderable feeling in the court room l this morning upon the return of a yer
 dict of not guilty in a case against 1 Sandy Smith, negro, charged with l violating the prohibition laws. The only 1 witness against the negro was L. R.
 MeMillan of Orrvi1le, who testified l that he had purchased liquor from the
 negro within 12 months of the find ing of the indictment.
 When the clerk read the verdict
 of not guilty Judge Miller asked him
 10 read it again. Then he turned to
 the jury and asked every member who
 believed in the enforcement of the pro-
 hibition laws to hold up his hand All
 of the 12 jurors held up their hands
 Take your seats. gentlemen" said 1 the judge. T don't know where you l will find a better opportunity to have provel your belief than in this case"
 An order or two was then taken in some trivial case and Judge Miller. who evidently could not get his mind off the verdict returned, said: q want to say few more words in regard to the verdict just rendered. I consider that serious black eye has been given the enforcement of the prohibition laws in Dallas county. The witness against the defendant was white man and he seemed to be swearing as little as pos sible against the negro. In other coun- ties the best white men have been con- victed upon the testimony of the most trihing negro. They know the white
 
 sort and a conviction has usually fol- lowed. I know you gentlemen didn't mean anything by 1t and that you were trying to do your duty but I have had considerable experience and the failure to enter a conviction will surely hinder the enforcement of the prohibition law In Dallas county"
 The incident created nothing less than a mild sensation. Judge Miller was in serious earnestness and the jury which avera ged way above the ordinary jury in intelligence and stand ing in the community seemed non plussed. Upon the adjournment of court for dinner, the incident was gen erally discussed and some surprise ex- pressed at the action of the judge in reprimanding the jury so severely.
 In the next case, also for violating the prohibition law, verdict of guilty was returned against a negro, Henry King by name, and a fine of s100 as- sessed. The jury trying King, however, was a different one and was going out of the court room just as the one who tried Sandy Smith came in with their verdict.
 Fight Over Bird Dogs. Information reached Selma today of what came near being a serious diffi- l eulty at Mckinley Monday. J. B. Per kins, who is well-known in Selma, and l MT. Loveless were the combatants. The trouble arose over MT. Perkins kill | ing two bird dogs belonging to MT. | Loveless. The latter went up to MT. Perkins house and is said to have cursed him in the presence of Mrs Per ! kins and that Mir. Perkins seemed to be trying to avoid a difficulty until Mr Loveless caught him by his whiskers. when MT. Perkins drew his knife and | commenced stabbing MT. Loveless. Mir. Loveless went to his home and l sent for medical attention. He was | bleeding profusely and made a dying declaration as to the particulars of the difficulty It developed later that while | the wounds were painful that they were not serious and the injured man 1 is able to be out.
 Miss Wolf Married.
 1 This afternoon at her home on Broad 1 street occurred the wedding of Miss l Irma Wolf to Dr. Nasitus of New Or leans, the ceremony being performed 1 by Rabbi Kaplan. Dr. and Mrs. Nasi- l tus left immediately after the wedding l for New Orleans.
 Government Officials. l Tonight at the Commercial and In- 1 dustrial association meeting William | Youngblood of the animal industry de- department of the government, with l headquarters in Nashville; pr. H. Rob- bins government inspector of cattle for | this district, and Prof. c. A. Carey 1 state veterinarian, addressed a good
 crowd on the eradication of the cattle | tick.