The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-28
HINSON CASE WILL
 NOW BE DROPPED Coroner Is PoWerleSs to Take
 Up body DEPENDS ON RELATIVES Stronger Evidence Must Be Presented or Nothing Can Be Done Look ing To Further Investigation
 Into Cause of Death.
DEPENDS ON RELATIVES

Apparently an Investigation of the death or Joe Hinson, the Italian who was re- gently killed in Pratt mines. is to be dropped Coroner Brasher stated last night that he is now utterly helpless, as Tar as the matter of probing the death Is. concerned, and it is evident that ln iess attorneys who have been retained by relatives of the deceased push the case the matter will be dropped for once and for all
 IL Will be recalled that Hinson was sent to Pratt mines to serve sentence of 10 years for the murder of Charles Bass lord, his room rpate, at East Lake, whom he IS said to have virtually decaptated with double-edged broadaxe as the re- suit of quarrel about Bassford's dog sleeping in the room where his master and Hinson slept.
 Hlnson began his sentence in the mines not long ago and only short time after he went to work In the mines he was found dead in a somewhat out-of-the-way part of the mine. It was stated that Hinson came in contact with a live wire and was electrocuted. But rather start ling and unusual procedure occurred when Hinson's body was removed from the mine and buried In the prison cemetery on the following day without the coroner ever being notified. The first information Cor oner Brasher had on the death was given him by an Age-Herald reporter
 About three days after Hinsons death the coroner went to Pratt City to inves- tigate the case. Evidence produced in the preliminary hearing all tended to show that Hinson had met death by ac- cdental electrocution. The final report of the coroner on the case was rendered accordingly. Here the matter swung in the balance for few days
 The coroner states that 1t was viola tion of the law for the officials of the mining company to remove the body of Hinson before notifying the coroner, and that the violation carries with it the pen alty of fine of not less than $50 nor more than $500 Coroner Brasher upon going into office in January stated that he would insist that the law be observed relative to the removing of bodies where death resulted from uncertain causes.
 
 toward the prosecution of the mine au- thorities, and, according to his statement, does not intend to do so.
 Following Hnson's death certain incl dents concerning the demise of the con vict and the manner in which the corpse was rushed to it's grave without the coro- ner being notified even of the death. aroused considerable interest It Is un- derstood that Coroner Brasher consulted his legal advisor and that he was told by the attorney that the coroner could not properly investigate the case of Hin- sons death without taking up the body and identifying it. inasmuch as the state ments of the mine officials are no proof that Hinson Is dead
 In the meantime. it seems. some of Hinson's people employed attorneys to look into the death of the Italian with a view of securing grounds for a dam age suit. It seems that the lawyers who have been retained by the plaintiff have been pushing the case and as it pro- gressed step by step 1t grew more inter- estng. The last development appeared when 1t was stated that attorneys for Hinson's people had secured two affi- davits in which the sgners are said to state that they have every reason to believe that Hinson was beaten to death in the mines while at work.
 It @ understood that in the meantime the coroner being interested began to look more deeply into the case, and he found that he had tied his own hands securely when he permitted the body of Hinson to remain In it's grave without an inquest having been held. Coroner Brash- CT stated last night that it is evident that Probate Judge $. E. Greene's opin- ion is correct thar the investigation was ended when the coroner madeshis report on the death.
 In other words 1t means that unless new evidence of a strong nature Is pre- sented to Judge Greene the investiga- ton of the case has ended for once and for all. On the other hand, it is be- lieved that if affidavits signed by relia- be persons, who testify to their belief that Hinson came co his death by being severely beaten are presented, Judge Greene will not refuse to grant the per- init to take up the body.