The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-28
MERIDIAN BOY IS
FATALLY BURNED
Explosion of Oil Can Is Attend
ed By Terrible Result
NEGRO BURNS MANS HOME
Lynching Will Occur if Negro Is
Caught After Threatening Farm
er's Daughter and Burn
ing Up House.

| MERIDIAN, MISS. Angus zf.-NSpeCidi.l-
Goebel. aged 10, and Louis. aged 4, sons
of Mr. and Mrs. L. l.. FAIR, southsids
| were the victims this afternoon of severe
| burns. Goebel is not much hurt, but
Louis is not expected to live. The acct
dents occurred at about the same time,
Sut at least two blocks apart. The elder
10y had been to Tie practice shoot of the
local gun club and upon leaving had
gathered up a number of empty shells
discarded by the shooters. Amons the lot
was a shell that had been snapped. The
little fellow dug the powder out Of the
shell and stuck match to it. The ex-
plosion of the powder singed his hair and
injured his eyes.
AT the same mo ,nent, as near as can
be ascertained, the younger brother,
Louis exploded an oil can in the rear
yard of his parents home. The family
was sitting on the front gallery when
the explosion occurred and when they
reached the little fellow his clothing had
almost been burned from his body. The
flesh was burned from his chest, abdomen
and legs ard his right ear was almost
burned off. He is in a critical condition
and his chances of recovery are small.
The child had sol hold of a can which
was supposed to be empty. How lie ig-
nited tn. Gil is mystery.
The home of ]. B. Williams. farmer
residing in the Suquelena neighborhood,
was burned to the ground this afternoon
by a negro who is now being chased
Of
citizens, and if he is caught a lynching
is not improbable. Mr.. Williams went
to the field to work after dinner, leaving
his 16-year-old daughter alone at home.
Shortly after he had gone the young lady
observed a strange negro In the rear yard.
She asked him what he wanted and he
started toward her, saying that he would
kill her if she made an outcry.
The girl, almost frightened to death,
ran, screa ming, toward the field where her
father was at work. The negro pursued
her a few yards and then turned back
to the house. The girl continued her
flight to her father for protection. She
reached Mr. Williams and told him of
the negro and as they got In sight of
the house they discovered 1t to be on fire.
When they reached the scene the flames
had gotten beyond control and the build
ing and contents were destroyed with no
insurance to cover the loss.
The whole neighborhood was aroused
and bloodhounds from the county conviet
camp were secured. The dogs took the
track and at this hour they are reported
seven miles from Meridian coming his
way The police here are on the lookout
and every effort will be made to capture
the negro.
Thomas Swanzey today filed suit
against his wife for divorce, making sew
era sensat ional allegations. The COM
plainant alleges that they were married
| in Dallas, Tex, in October, 1908 and
came to Meridian to live, where COM
! plainant is engaged in the mercantile
business. Complainant further alleges
that his wife left him, returning to Dali
las, where she is now living. He prays
| for absolute divorce. Owing to the prom
inence of the parties the suit will create
sensation.
Deputy United States Marshal H. ]. L.
| Barnes has returned from Laurel and
Wisdom, where he went to summon wit
nesses in the case of ]. A. Tibbs VS..
the Deemer Manufacturing company, To-
Gated near Philadelphia, Miss and which
will be tried In the federal court in this
| city beginning the second Monday in
September The suit is for s25, 600 for al
legged personal injuries and the way 1t
! happened to get in the federal court was
by transfer from the Neshoba county cir
cult court, the defendant being non-resi-
dent Officer Barnes left again today for
Deemer near Philadelphia, to summon
other witnesses and 1t Is probable that
this will be one of the most interesting
cases to be tried at the approaching
term of the court.
Tonight Dixie tent, K o. T. NJ, held a
meeting and initiated IS new members
This is the largest class ever initiated
into an order In this city at one time
A banquet followed the meeting of the
lodge Many interesting speeches were
delivered around the banquet board.
Plans for the rebuilding of the Fiji
teenth Avenue Baptist church have
been adopted by the special committee
in charge of the rebuilding work. The
plans call for the building of one of
the handsomest church houses in the
city. Work is expected to be begun by
September 1.
Head of Franciscans.
Cincinnati. August 27.-The Rev Eu-
gene Butterman, editor of the Sebote
has been chosen provincial or head, of
the Franciscan province of st. John