The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04
PARDONS ISSUED
BY THE GOVERNOR
Mitigating Circumstances Are
Found In Two Cases
FEES IN WILCOX COUNTY
Examiner Declines To Allow Certain
charges-Finds Much To Puzzle
Him In Way the county's
Books Are Kept.
FEES IN WILCOX COUNTY

Montgomery, July 3.-(Special.)-A
man who killed his half-brother and a
youth who stole some dogs. and sold
them for profit were today relieved of
penal servftude by Gov. B. B. Conner.
Tom Pitts shot Wesley Cooley, his half
brother, to death in 1908, and was the
next year convicted and given IL years
in the penitentiary. Henry Haysson. a
resident of Mobile county, son of an
afflicted parent, and himself physical
wreck with curvature of the spine took
up some stray dogs and sold them, get
ting year from last March.
1t Is shown that Cooley and Pitts had
been at outs, which feeling was inten-
sified by fight among their children.
They had been to town and were re-
turning home with a load of fertilizer
when Pitts turned upon Cooley, telling
him that was a good time to settle
their troubles. and fired, he being on
the ground and using a shot gun
Cooley was on the wagon and fired at
Pitts with a pistol, hitting him in the
leg. There Is some doubt as to which
hred the first shot, though Pitts seems
to have done the talking about it..
Cooley died in short timeA
On the papers the governor MAKE
mention of the fact that both men were
In drunken row, as the evidence
shows, and that the prisoner has been
we'll behaved and has given no trou-
BILE. He also says that he has a wife
and children in want and he is al
lowed to go free on condition of good
behaviour to make living for them.
The death sentence of Jim Powell,
in Jefferson county, has been carried
over to August 8, and will likely run
on until the fall, because Joseph
Rogers. his associate in the offense.
has his case appealed to the supreme
| court, which cannot be passed upon
before next fall.
Having served almost his full time,
and having made a fine record, Robert
Carson Of Lowndes county is set free.
He was sent up February &C. 1908. for
! assault to murder
Fees Are Not Allowed.
State Examiner of Public Accounts
H. f. Lee is going over the books of
Wilcox county-that is of the county
| part-for the first checking in 1O
years, and Is finding a lot of things to
puzzle him. He finds that the probate
judge has been charging fees for his
services as hard labor agent of the
| county, and that the county treasurer
has been getting pay, as much as
| $1,000, for making up his semi annual
reports. Attorney General CARRIER rules
that neither officer Is entitled under the
law to pay for these services. The
| probate Judge could not hold two Of
| fees of profit, it is pointed out, and the
| treasurer Is instructed under the law
to do what he is claiming extra pay
for, in addition to the fact that the
law says his salary, from fees, shall
not exceed $1,000 a year.
Compromise DEGREES.
The state board of compromise has
agreed to settlement as noted in til G
following cases:
Wells-Fargo Express company, $1,000
license from May l. 1909, to the end OF
the year. The annual license is $4,000
but this company only operates on one
line, the Frisco, for lot miles, and
ought not to have to pay as much as
If it operated on a greater part of the
state mileage.
Cawthorn Cotton mills, Selma. as
sessed on capital of $4,000 by tn
tax officer, cut down to $6O, 900, and
the fee reduced thereby from $125 to
$50. This does not give relief from the
tax as a foreign corporation.
Britton Lumber company, Geneva
and Covington counties, two mortgages
of 100000 each. 1t Is shown that only
property value to the ratio of $187,5OO
is in Alabama, which would make the
tax in each case $1,000, instead of
$591.75 the charge, with interest, made
by the probate judge for recording.
Virginia Carolina Chemical company.
additional payment of 1880 required
Some time ago settlement was. made
for $1626.75 on mortgage records, with
the understanding that If any addi-
tional amounts were found to be due,
they would be paid.
The attorney general has also ap-
proved contract with the Henderson
Boyd Lumber company of Richburg for
$50 men at $1.35 a day for first ella SIS
and 81 day second. The bond is $780,
000