The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-01
Bic INCREASE IN
PRISON INMATES
Mississippi Has Largest Num-
Der of COnvicts In History
NEW MEN ON LEVEE BOARD
Governor Noel Has Appointed Three
Commissioners, All From Vcks-
purg-R. r. Commissioner
Lee Returns.
NEW MEN ON LEVEE BOARD

Jackson, Miss, December S1.-(special.)
Secretary Lawrence Yerger of the pen
itentiary board of trustees, reports that
the state prison population continues to
increase and is now 1927, decidedly the
largest number the state has ever known.
The December report for 1907 shows the
total population to be 1881, while that
for 1906 was 1876. Thus thes increase in
prison population from December %, 1906,
to December Is, 1907, was only five, while
the increase between 1907 and 1908 was
146
The population on November 20 last
was 1903 and during the month there
was one recapture and "a new arrivals,
making the total 1863 But there were
Is discharged as having finished their
terms, two escaped, died and three were
pardoned, making 81 in all to be deducted
from the 1858, leaving the present prison
population at 1927.
OF those received during the month Is
were for murder and manslaughter, nine
for assault and battery, one for rape, two
for attempt to rape, II for burglary and
grand larceny.
Under an amendment to an act of the
legislature approved February 9, 1894, Gre
ating the Warren County Levee D Dis
trict," Governor Noel has appointed three
of the commissioners on that board all
citizens of Vicksburg, viz: w. Thomas
Rose, Samuel Brown, Jr.. and c. R. AL
len. Those are authorized under the act
to select two other members. The act
also authorized the governor to appoint
one member as the representative of the
Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad
company, but the governor did not exer-
else that prerogative following the prece-
dent he had set in other levee districts
Of leaving the railroad company without
representation.
This line of levee will run from Vicks-
burg north to the Issaquena county line,
and 1t is stated that it will reclaim as
fine a body of land as is to be found
in the delta country. While authority
to organize this levee district was grant
ed years ago, no action has ever been
taken till quite recently when the Missis-
sippi River commission happened along
and promised every assistance in their
power. 1t is understood that Mr.. Rose
will be the president of the board.
The penitentiary authorities have been
advised of the recapture of Will Davis,
negro convict, at Greensboro, Ala,
and will pay the usual reward Of $50 for
his return. Davis was sent up from
Lefore county and escaped from the state
farm at Belmont in May, 1906.
Dr. ]. c. Rush, a prominent physi-
clan of Waynesboro, was married yes
terday afternoon to Mrs. Mary F. Pitts.
the ceremony being performed by the
Rev. w. P. Price Of the First Baptist
church, at the home of Mrs. Jesse r. r.
JONES' sister of the bride. Mrs. Rush
was formerly Miss Futch of Raymond,
and one of the most popular girls of the
county. DIR. and Mrs. Rush left on the
afternoon train for Waynesboro, followed
by the best wishes of a host of friends
here and at Raymond
Chairman Lee of the railroad COM
mission, returned today from his tour of
inspection over the Little J. branch of
the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley, and
reports that he found 1t in excellent con-
dition in comparison to what it was a
few months ago when he made his first
inspection of the line.
IT found" said Mr.. Lee, that new
cross-ties have been placed all along the
road, and that part of the work is about
completed / found that new rails have
been laid on more than half the line, or
about SO miles, and that portion of the
road is now good and safe for the peo-
pie of the state to travel over"
Mr.. Lee abandoned his idea of inspect
ing the Gulf and Ship Island and branches
Just now, and went south over the Illi-
nois Central on the afternoon train.