The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-06-02
'HIGHWAYMEN
KILL CAR MAN
]. z. Grimes Is Shot
Dead.
ROB HIS BODY AT THOMAS
Heartless Crime Is Committed by
Two Men.
Motorman Has Thrilling Encounter In
Suburbs of Birmingham and
Finally Escapes to the
Woods.

Birmingham, June I.--(Special. -
j. y. Grimes. conductor of the North
Ensley electric car line, was shot and
killed by highwaymen this morning at
/ o'clock while he was tagging his
car over the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad crossing at Thomas. an iron
manufacturing suburb of Birmingham,
about four miles from the city.
The motorman of the car, J. K. Dur
rough, jumped off the car to the rescue
of his fellow workman, when two
men approached from little ditch near
by and pointed shot gun at him.
The motorman rushed into his car
and crouched between the seats, when
the highwayman with the gun followed
him into the car and put the barrel of
the gun In his face.
While the struggle was on in the car
the second highwayman dragged the
body Of the dead conductor to the front
platform and began divesting II of the
coat and vest. The struggle between
the motorman and highwayman with
the gun was short but fierce. At one
time the motorman came near getting
hold of the gun. Then concluding that
safety lay in flight the motorman broke
away and ran to the woods, hearing
the gun snapped as he ran off.
The highwayman carried the coat and
vest Of the dead man TO the woods.
A freight train on the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad came along nearly
three hours later and seeing the dark
electric car on the crossing the crew
began an investigation. A telephone
message was sent to the city and at
100 o'clock the sheriff's ONCE was no.
titled. Three sets of bloodhounds were
gotten out and deputy sheriffs from
all parts of the county were directed
to watch every road leading from the
scene. II being believed then that the
crime had been committed on the first
car out this morning.
A search located the motorman In
Che woods. A little further off in an
bther direction the coat and vest of the
conductor were found minus the money
and transfer envelopes. The transfer
envelopes were found scattered along
path still further off and efforts were
made to get a clue but in vain. The
tracks led towards the city.
Grimes had been In the employ OF
the street car company seven months
He was a good worker. He was IS
years old and supported his widowed
mother. He had been in this district
fifteen years, coming from South Car
DINA.
According to the story told by the
motorman. Grimes and himself were
on the last "trip into the city from
Louisville and Nashville crossing at
Thomas was reached. Grimes got of
the car to flag over the crossing when
ne heard q gun snap and he lodged.
A second or two later the gun was
discharged and a big load OF buckshot
struck the victim in the back of the
neck tearing hole, and killing the
conductor almost instantly. The mo-
torman jumped on the car and at
tempted to pick up the conductor.
when the two white men came on him,
one of them with shot gun.
The deputies, from the description.
detained three white men this morning,
but all were released.
That the killing was for the purpose
of robbery is not doubted. The con-
ductor had between $25 and $40 with
him, q gold watch and chain.
Threats had been made against the
conductor and motorman some weeks
ago because their car had run by q
station at East Highlands near Pratt
City, leaving a man who was out from
the city making a call and he had to
walk to the city, several miles. How
ever, 1t IL not believed that these
threats had anything to do with the
killing
A reward will be offered for the ar
rest OF the men who killed Grimes.