The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-05
TESTER Is NOT
 4 CARPETBAGGER Has Always Been Identified
 With the South A CLEVELAND APP0IN TEE As Supervising Architect of the United States He Located Federal Build
 inqs at Birmingham and
 Huntsville.
By W. p. HoFFERBERr.

By w. p. HoFFERBERT.
 Gadsden, February 4-(speeial)-Cap Thomas D. Fister. who is resident of Pennsylvania, and is spending the winter in north Alabama among old friends and relatives, and who has been referred to as an old "carpet bagger" by the press of the state is at present in Gadsden, the guest of relatives
 Just how he came to be styled a car pet bagger is difficult to understand when his life history removes him as far as can be from anything that would justify it. In an interview today Captain Ffster his life history
 He was born in Pennsylvania about 70 years ago and was educated in the United States Naval academy. He was there a class-mate of Dewey and Schley. He came to New Orleans as a commissioned officer in 1859. A year later he resigned and married a Miss Swan of Talladega and expected to retire to plantation.
 The Confederate war measures made it incumbent on him to offer his services and he entered the navy at New Orleans
  Faragut, being the third in command on the flagship McRea He was one of only two who were neither wounded. killed or captured in the big battle of the Missis- sippi. He served through the war and was surrendered with Johnson at Rich mond. After the war he was in business in this state until 1871, serving as an independent in the first legislature after reconstruction days. He then went to the old home at Kutztown, Pa, and en- gagged in banking. From the home dis trict of his native state he was thrice sent as a delegate to represent his peo- pie at the national democratic conven- tons. Under Cleveland he was appointed assistant supervising architect of the United States, and as such located the federal buildings at both Birmingham and Huntsville.
 Since retiring from the federal position he has lived a quiet life, wintering in Pennsylvania and summering in the south, and he naturally wonders why he should be called a carpet bagger."
 Bob Pogue. a negro, who has been held
  plicated in the Hawkins murder, will be given a hearing tomorrow in the court of Judge Penn. Through the sheriffs office and the aid of detectives chain of evidence has been secured against the negro that warrants the state in putting him on trial for the crime.
 Just what the evidence is has not been disclosed The crime with which the negro is charged is the murder of w H. Hawkins on the night of December 24 MT. Hawkins, who was a man of 70 years. was on his way home from the business section of the city when he was set upon and murdered on Forest avenue, one of the principal residence streets of the city. The crime was com mitted early in the evening when the street was frequented by returning shop pers and within a block of the electric street lamp. Hawkins had neither ene- mics nor money to account for the kill ing and the general supposition was that some one had murdered him by mistake. It Is known that he had less than s2 in his pocket, but this was taken, indicat- ing that the murder was committed in the hope of securing booty
 The trial Is for the purpose of develop ing enough evidence to hold the negro to the grand jury, which sits next month. It will doubtless excite great interest, as the murder was one of the most atro- cious ever committed in this community.
 The Southern Shovel Manufacturing company, the official title of the new chn al rla nt at for the buildings of the industry. The contract was awarded to R. w. Kirby and calls for a frame building and is to be finished in 40 days. By that time the company will have the machinery moved here from Pell City and be ready to install 1t.
 The Etowah County Medical society at a meeting held yesterday passed resolu- tions calling on the county commissioners for the building of suitable pest house where contagious diseases may be treat ed There is at present no proper provis- ion for the treatment of patients suffer ing with highly contagious diseases and If Is probable that some action looking to this end will be taken by the com missioners at their next session
 Joseph G. Camp of Atlanta delivered a lecture here last night as one number in tbe season Lyceum course. His subject was "Trl1th and Shams'' and he proved himself a highly entertaining speaker. A fair sized audience greeted him at the auditorium of the Carnegie library.
 rba oountv hoard of education began a two days session here today Tn connec- tion with the teachers institute The dav was spent in the work of apportion- to fha yox x.i0