The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
{. |. Grimes Says Negro Teok
Young Lady from Him
At East Thomas
CITIZENS AND OFFICERS
SCOUR WOODS FOR HOURS
Grimes Arrest Was Ordered At Late
Hour Last Night-Considerab
Mystery Surrounds the
Whole Affair.

Is Loula Hathaway's murdered body
lying In the woods near Thomas sta
ton?
This is the question uppermost in the
minds of half a hundred men who were
still searching the woods there for her
at an early hour this morning.
II trace of her is not to be found,
what was the real cause of e. L.
Crimes strange actions in telling that
she had been forcibly taken away from
him by negro man at the point of a
revolver and carried into the woods?
1t was about $50 O'Clock last night
that G. C. Miller, who resides at Thomas
station on the North Ensiey car line,
was waiting for car when Grimes came
dashing up to him and In an excited
voice said that a negro had just held
him up at the point or a revolver and
after relieving him of his valuables had
made him get" and had taken his young
lady companion away into the woods
with him. The scene of the hold-up, he
stated, was at the Thomas spring, less
than 200 yards from the station, and the
time but three minutes before.
Miller rushed to his home, which is
but few yards away, and secured a
pistol, then rushing back searched the
immediate neighborhood without secur-
ing any further developments. The sher-
ifs office and the police departments of
Birmingham, Pratt City, North Birming-
ham and Ensley were notified and sent
men to the scene.
Grimes repeated the following story of
the affair: I'VE stopped at the spring
to get a drink of water when the negro
came up. l saw him for several mo-
ments before he reached us, but thought
nothing of 1t. When reaching us he
said, You're trespassing when coming to
this spring. l am an officer to keep
people away and will have to place you
under arrest By this time he had
reached the side of the young lady and
catching her by the arm suddenly pulled
large gum and throwing it ON me de-
manded my money. He got 80 cents.
1 had fine gold watch and managing
to slip it out of my watch pocket dropped
it inside my trousers. 1t dropped on down
to the ground and he picked it up.
After doing this he said, One of you
! is enough for me- and still pointing the
revolver, ordered me to move on. I start
ed down the road and cursing me he
ordered me to go in the other direc-
ton. After going a little distance
turned and looked back and as l did he
seized Miss Hathaway by the arm and
started pulling her along in the oppo-
site direction. She screamed and he
slapped his right hand over her mouth,
and cursing her. said he would blow her
~ =
the woods and l went rushing up to
Thomas station for help. | returned in
less than three minutes with help, but
could find no trace of her."
Grimes lives at East Highlands about
three quarters of mile beyond Thomas.
Miss Hathaway he stated, lived on
Twenty first street In North Birmingham.
Bloodhounds were rushed to the scene
from Ensley and No. 2 mines, while
deputies and officers from Pratt City and
Ensley were on the scene within a few
moments After remaining on the scene
for few minutes they returned to their
homes deciding that it was fake.
In the meantime, however, largo
crowd had collected and their sentiment
was that something was surely wrong.
Those who saw Grimes first state that
| his manner was very excited, and as
soon as he secured help he went running
down the road calling the girl by name
as loudly as he could. He irepeated his
story time and again. When the Pratt
City and Ensley officers left they took
him with them, but let him off at East
Highlands. The crowd, however, re-
manned and searched the woods.
The dogs from No. 2 mines picked up
trail at the spring and followed it to
the top of the high hill then back again
to the bottom and ended at spot on
the railroad tracks where all trains slow
down, and where one stopped for several
moments just at the time of the hold
up The men in charge of the dogs
stated that he trail followed was of un-
usual route.
A dozen officers from the, Birming
ham department went to Thomas, in
charge of Chief of Detectives Jack Nc
Donald, splitting into several parties and
securing the woods between Birmingham
and Thomas. Other officers worked from
East Birmingham to Thomas, while
large number Of officers and citizens from
North Birmingham went to the scene.
There was much criticism on the part or
local officers Of the Pratt City and