The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-20
.PATHET|C CASE
 AT COUNTY JAIL Sentenced to Mines for VioIai- ing Prohibition Law WAS SUMMONED HOME Prisoner Does Not Yet Know 1t, But He Will Leave on Morning
 Train to Attend WIfe's
 Funeral.
WAS SUMMONED HOME

fToDdDly one or the most patnetlc cases that has ever come to the notice of the authorities at the county jail is that of an intelligent looking white man. who spent last night in the prison here en tour from the convict camp at Banner mines to his home in Clanton, Chiffon county. Suapecting what has happened, although really ignorant of the bereave- nient that stares in his face, Boyd is be- ing taken to Clanton to attend the funeral of his wife, who has died since he was sent to the mines.
 A little more than week ago Boyd was sent to Banner mines to serve out a sentence Of six months imposed for violation of the prohibition law. Yes terday morning Q message was delivered to the authorities at Banner telling them that Boyds wife had passed away, and accompanying the message was request from the probate judge of Chiffon county asking that Boyd be brought bach to Chiffon in order that he might be present to attend the funeral.
 The request of the judge was granted and yesterday afternoon Boyd was sent for and instructed to get ready to go back to Clanton. It didn't take long for Boyd to get ready. He had very little to do. The sympathy of the guards was extended to him in silence. He was not handcufred, but was taken to the train and brought in to Birmingham in order that he might get off for Clanton on an early train this morning.
 The officers are considerate and they decided that 1t would be as well that Boyd were not informed that the Grim l Reaper has laid his hand upon one of his loved ones and called her beyond the reach of those whom she loved and who 1 loved her.
 Naturally Boyd is mysufed. He is anxious. and perhaps the suspense is worse than the knowledge, but the un- fortunate man is being kept in ignorance of what has happened. When he left his wife she was i'll and he suspects that she has passed away, but questions put to the guards in this respect brought him no information.
 Deputy Sheriff Dave Kennybrook, who ! accompanied Boyd to Birmingham from Banner, states that the prisoners situa.- ton is heartrending. Intuition has really revealed to Boyd the object of his trip which the man 1abors Is trying to his soul
 Boyd speaks only in the most endear- ing terms of his family. He told the deputy of little twin babies he left at home when he was taken off to the mines branded as a criminal. The babes are only three months old and without the care of a mother or the attention of their father. Boyd says it has been three weeks since he last saw his wife and he is greatly worried about her.
 Naturally, the first thing Deputy Kennybrook was asked by his prisoiter | was whether or not aew charge had been preferred against him at home. The deputy replied that he did not be- lieve such was the case, telling Boyd that the authorities would very probably wait until he served out his present sentence before summoning him on another charge.
 "I believe my wife is dead" Boyd final ly asserted to Deputy Kennybrook at the county jail last night
 Half dozen men standing around in the wardens office who had been in- formed of the facts in the case answered the man with silence and the situation was a truly dramatic ,ne. No doubt. deep down in every mans heart there was 6 feeling that Boyd was being wronged when he was kept in ignorance of the news the prison authorities had re- ceived. but no one spoke
 This seemed to assure Boyd that his wife was dead and he was silent and pensive for few moments. When he resumed his conversation he began to talk of the illness of his wife. who sur- fered from dread malady, and he spoke repeatedly of the two babies at home No one ever spoke to him of the death of his wife, however.
 Boyd will not be informed of what has occurred until he reaches Clanton. He will leave Birmingham this morning over the Louisville and Nashville railroad at $40 o'clock, arriving in Clanton an hour or so later.
 It is understood that an effort will be made to secure pardon for the un- fortunate man. Sympathy for him is ex- pressed on all sides and 1t was learNed last night that the prison authorities at Banner will favor his release from the sentence which has been imposed upon him.
 The feeling seems to exist that Boyd will have suffered too greatly to be sent back to the mines. If he is returned to the convict camp two innocent babies will be made to suffer the consequences of their fathers alleged inf-action of the law.
 It is believed that if the pardon au- thorities ask for Boyds release it will not be refused. Though convicted fsi- on Boyd's violation of the law is not an over-serious one and if the man is returned to his little ones Christmas it is not likely that anybody will cry out against the clemenoy exercised. l -s-- -
 Fire In Savannah.
 Savannah, Ga. December 1a-Fire and water caused loss of $4o,0oo to the build inrs and stock of J. T. Cohen's Sons