The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-21
FOR RETIREMENT
 OF STATE SCHOOLS
People Are Behind The General
 Movement
MURDER YET A MYSTERY
Miss Maud Mcclure Kelly, Birmina- hams Woman Lawyer, Appears In Montgomery Courts In Suit
 Against Railroad.

Montgomery. January 20.-(Speeial.) The movement for general conferenNe of business men in the interest of sup- port and betterment of the school ad- vantages of the state has met with ap- proval on the part of the citizens as whole. All classes of citizens join in the belief that with all men interested to the point of looking into the admin istration of the schools about them there will be better condition Of ar fairs within a short time.
 There may be some who think that the meeting grew out of feeling that Alabama is tagging in the matter or school progress, which Is certainly not the case. The fact is that more mas been done in this state in the past two years than in any other south of the Mason and Dixon line. Gen. Hutus N Rhodes said in the Birmingham meet ing Monday that the name of Gov. 5. b. Conner would go down in the history or the state as the governor under whose administration great things had been done for education. Every man pres ent agreed with him.
 Since the legislature now in office assembled on January l, lsof' the common schools have received great ad- ditions in money, a system Of hlgh schools established, more money glVeh' and lavishly for every line or educa- tional development. Money is provided for building and repairing country schools and additional scope and appro- priations assured for the agricultural schools. The fact is that vastly more has been done in the two years than the most hopeful friend of educational ad- vancement could have hoped for even with the certainty that much was In sight as result of renewed interest.
 The movement to interest business men is not that they may be taxed TOT more support, though 1t Is hoped that one of the first things of the next legislature will be to allow local tax ation. but to secure their aid and ln- terest in the use of the funds now had and help them to a public sentiment that will make needed Legislation pos sible. In other words, 1t Is to teach the average man what the system needs to make 1t ideal and secure his
  intendent of Education H. c. Gunnels Is highly pleased over the outcome or the preliminary conference and feels now that he will have the support of an element of the citizenship that he has never had before.
 Murder Yet a Mystery.
 The police are as much at sea as ever in the matter of the murder of Leo Speige1 and A. Goldstein Monday night Every bit of evidence secured has tended to support the story of the wife of Speigel that two negroes Killed the two men for money, securing $200 from under her pillow, and that she jumped from the window to escape. Bull let holes in the wall of the room would seem to give credence to the story of Jim Afford, a negro who says that when he got to the house he saw Gold stein on the bed, tangled in the cover, with a pistol in his hand. However, diligent search has failed to reveal any pistol or any evidence, other than the killing. that there was one about the house.
 Unity of Two Towns.
 The consolidation of Wylam with Ensley has been reported to the secre- tary of state. They are such by req son of taking advantage of tl1e en- abling act of August 15, 1908. It is agreed that Wylam is to have represen- tation in the general council and also announced that such agreement was reached by election of the citizens of the two places. The agreement is signed by Mayor D. F. Sugg of Ems ley and Mayor J. F. Nolan of Wylam.
 Must Pay for Mule.
 The supreme court has held that the T i-b+ Eai nv must pay for a mule it killed for Alex ander Mackay the sum of $115 being assessed The court also handed down the following decisions:
 By Dowdell, J.--L. S. Chambers vs. c. " Morris, Henry circuit court; re- versed and remanded.
 By Anderson, J.-F. B. Merrill vs. c. D. Smith, Mobile city court; affirmed.
 By Mcclellan, J.--Joe w. Bryant vs. State, Lee law and equity court af- firmed.
 Woman Lawyer In Court.
 Miss Maud Mcclure Kelly, one of the two women who have made the prac- tice of law a life profession in Ala bama, Is in the city to prosecute a damage suit against the Atlantic Coast Line railroad for the killing of a negro child near Sprague Junction. She Is Just out of school, having graduated at the university a year ago and set up practice in the office of her father, former Chancellor Richard B. Kelly. one of the best known men in tie state Miss Kelly will be admitted to- practice in the supreme court next April.
 Minor Alabama News.
 Attorney General A. M. Garber will