The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-09
M 'MAHAN IS HELD ON MURDER CHARGE Is Accused of Killing His Neigh
 Dor, Sam Ashley "A BoLD STORE ROBBERY Negro Takes $50 from Cash Register in Broad Daylight and Escapes.
 Negroes Are Arrested for
 Stealing Cows.
A B0LD STORE ROBBERY

Gadsden, February S.-(Special.)-Th coroner's Jury in the investigation of the murder of Sam Ashley at Turkeytown two weeks ago has returned verdict charg- ing K K McMahan with the crime, and the accused has been arrested and is now in the county jail. It will be recalled that Ashley was killed on his way home from country dance and that McMahan was in his company when he left the dance. He was at once suspected but mysteriously disappeared, and it was thought possible that he had met the same fate as Ashley.
 Yesterday it was learned that he was ice of d physician was necessary. Dr. Lawrence of Turkeytown was called to wait on him and he at once notified the officers in this city and the fugitive was arrested The prisoner appears to be in- sane, but people who have come in con- tact with him do not believe that his mind is affected.
 The gossips have it that McMahan was enamored of Ashley's wife and committed the murder to get possession of her. The two men left the dance together early in the evening for the home of Ashley, and at midnight when the other members Of Ashley's family were also returning from the dance, they found his dead body near his home by the roadside with a bullet hole in his. head. Ashley disappeared and was not seen or heard from until he called for a physician on Sunday
 Following is the coroner's verdict: We, the jury, find the deceased, Sam Ashley, came to his death by a gun or pistol fired from a gun in the hands of Kede Me Mahan. F. M Culpepper, S. W. Cowan, J. F. owens Mark NJ. Smith, J. w. Berry, J. M. Chappell, jury
 An unknown negro today entered the Gadsden bakery and during the absence of the clerk in a rear room robbed the drawer of the cash register of $50 and made his escape. The clerk came in just in time to see him snatch the money and run. The police were at once notified and dogs put on the trial, but being right in the city with traffic going on did hot succeed in following the thief. As yet ne IldS not Deeu dppreHSuuSu
 Five negroes were arrested this morning, charged with stealing cows. For some time there have been reports of cows missing of which no trace could be found and the arrest of these negroes was made as a result of a solution of the mystery. Adjoining the city on the southwest Is a stretch of low country known as the fiat woods, through which the Big Wills creek flows and where many cows graze on the commons. From here they regu- larly disappeared. J. w. Green lost a valuable animal this way recently and started out to investigate. He found the carcass on the banks of the stream with the skin removed. He also found others in the same condition. He went on still hunt and found where one negro lived who was implicated and caused his ar rest. The negro admitted to skinning the cow but claimed he found her dead. From the story got from him the other men interested in this literal skin game" were located and also lodged in jail. From what can be learned the negroes made a regular business of driving cows away to this lonely spot, killing them for the hide and leaving the carcasses.