The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-18
TWELVE SOLDIERS
PURSUE CONVICT
Life Prisoner Has Escaped
from the Penitentiary
BARRICABED IN HIS HOME
Convict Has Terrorized the County
and Defied the Officials For a
Long Time-oldest Man In
State In Marion County.

jackson, Miss, May lis pecial)-
Governor Noel has dispatched Lieu
tenant Featherstone and Il privates
to Winston county to arrest Tom At
kinson, a white convict who escaped
from the penitentiary 20 years ago and
who was recently located in the hills
of Winston county, where he had mar
ried and reared a family.
Atkinson was sent up for life for
murder but served only a short while
when he escaped and nothing had
been heard of him since. Agents of the
penitentiary were sent after him twice,
but>they returned empty handed. At
kinson having barricaded himself in
his home, Winchester in hand and de-
fed arrest, swearing he would never
be taken alive.
Later Detective McCay was en-
ployed to go and make terms with
Atkinson. He has been tn ere two weeks
and was promised by Atkins rela-
tives that he would surrender, but
the ex-conyict changed his mind and
again swears he will not be taken
alive. Conferences were held today be-
tween the governor and penitentiary
officials and it was secretly determ-
ined to send an armed force with or
ders to bring in Atkinson dead or
alive. Twelve members of the Capital
Light Guards were detailed for the
work and they left here at 1910 p. M.
for Newton where they will transfer
to the Mobile, Jackson and Kansas
City and reach Winston in the morn
ing. There they will place themselves
under command of Detective McCay
and move on the Atkinson stronghold
with a determinati ton to bring him out.
Atkinson has terrorized the officials of
his own county and defied the state
authorities.
Sterling Arnold of Marion county is
said to be the Oldest citizen of Mis-
sippi and on next October 16 will cele-
brate his 1O9d birthday, providing he
is living. In view of the fact that he
is still hale and hearty there is ev-
cry reason to believe he will live to
Mr.. Arnold was born in Brunswick
county, North Carolina, in 1906. He left
his native state in 1s49 and went to
Florida, where he lived IS years, and
moved to Alabama, where he remained
several years and until he came to Mis-
sissippi
When 10 years of age he joined the
Baptist church, is strictly temperate
1a VIC Of f11ra @f
the state, and has never had a case in
court. He has been married twice and
is the father of two sons and IA daugh-
ters, there being AZ years difference be-
tween the ages of his oldest and
youngest child-the former being so
and the later S3 years.
The Mississippi railroad commission
met today and tomorrow is scheduled
to take up Commissioner Seott's res
olution, which cites all the railroads
doing business in this state ito show
cause, If any they can, why passenger
rates sh ould not be made lower"
This is the same proposition. to all
intents and purp oses, that was talked
to death by the score or more of pas
senger men here two weeks ago. Mr.
Scott the commissioner from the north
ern district, is understood to have
made his canvass for the office on the
2-cent rate proposition, and he is try
ing to make good with his people. 1t
is not believed that either of the other
commissioners are with him. 1t is
known that Commissioner Webb is OPP
posed to any Juggling with the passen-
ger rate one way or the other, and it
is stated that Mr. Lee, chairman of
the commission, does not favor a fiat
2-cent rate, but would like to have a
500-mile ticket sold at cents, just as
the 1000-mile ticket is now.
In the meantime protests against
the 2cent rate are coming In from
every Mlssissippians taking
the position they would rather have
good and efficient service than cheap
er rates.
The Mississippi Press association
meets in annual convention at ViclSs-
burg on the 18th, C. e. Cunningham,
editor of the Newton Record, being
president and j. G. MCGUIRE of the
Yazoo Herald secretary. OF course p
K. Mayors of the Pascagoula Democrat
Star is treasurer-he always has been.
Mr.. Mayors is the only one of the char
ter members of the association now liv-
ing all his brave companions of 40
years ago havinb hung $50" on the hook
and gone to that place prepared by
Divine Providence for all good editors.
The press gang has been advised
hat Vicksburg is now dry town and
very different from what is was when
they last met here, but that DeSoto
island is not more than a mile across
the creek. and there the bibuously in
clined may find abundance of liquids
in which to drown their sorrows, or
themselves.