The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-30
ID AVOID ISSUE OF
 FRAUDULENT BILLS Montgomery Mans Idea Seems
 Good One COLLINS IS INDICTED
Charged With Killing Negro Hackman. Southern Railway Earnings Show Increase Over Last Year.
 Taking Examinations
 BY HERvEY w. LAIRD

Montgomery, July 29.-(Special.) 1.-The Idea of Montgomery man is to be the means of overcoming the conditions brought about in the issue of fradulent bills of lading on cotton and of the res- toration of confidence to the point where sales and shipments of the great staple of the south will not be delayed, as many feared would be the case. That man is T. E. Lovejoy, president of the Alabama Fidelity and Casualty company and the means will be policy which will guaran- tee the integrity of every bill of lading that is sent out.
 Following the failure of Knight, Yancey & Co.,, the European bankers shut up on cotton business to the extent of saying that no bill of lading would be accepted without having with it the receipt of the port of shipment, showing that the cotton Is actually in the hold of the vessel. A bill of lading is at the same time a re- ceipt and a contract, but neither is bind ing until the goods are in the hands of the transportation company issuing such bill Hence in cases of forgery and fraud 1t Is impossible to hold the rail- roads Bills of lading have been in the past given and on them drafts have been paid by the bankers in purchasing terri tory.
 With the Alabama failures 1t was seen how easy 1t was to forge bills and thus commit vast frauds. The first position Of the European bankers would have made It impossible to handle the cotton crop, for in this way 1t would have taken four weeks to complete sale that Is now handled in a day. American bankers then got together and brought about a restora- ton of confidence to the extent of rul- ing on the part of foreign banks that bills of fading would be accepted if guaranteed by the banks on this side. This the banks cannot do directly, such being in violation of charter As a result plans had to Do made to secure such guarantee on this side, and this is the reason back of the policy to be written.
 The Alabama company has had men in the European field for several weeks lay ing the plans for the policy. It will be issued in two forms. one for the banks here and one for those on the other side, and will make every paper safe. To each bill of lading will be attached slip show ing guarantee by the company, and the fees, though light in each case, will, on the great volume of business handled, mean a large increase in the income ac- count of Montgomery. This bill of lading feature of the cotton trade was the only one not absolutely safeguarded. and the nlans now made will fill up the bad gap
 Indictment Against Collins
 l. w. Collins, who few weeks ago shot and killed Mitchell Johnson. ne- gro hackman, and later released on pre- liminary hearing by the grand jury. was indicted by the recent. grand jury for murder and is now held by the sheriff As a result of a charge on the part of inc negro that Collins refused to pay hack fare Collins was forced to spend the night at the police station. Next day he met the negro and shooting followed, the negro being killed.
 T. R.. Smith, a constable. was indicted also charged with aiding and abetting in the sale of liquors in violation of the prohibition laws. He is said to have helped Frank Starr and H. T. Alexander in the sale of the intoxicants.
 M. l.. Stroud, constable. Is indicted for the killing of a negro woman while a collector for a loan house: also for all legged aiding and abetting in the violation of the prohibition laws.
 Ben Hooks, who shot and killed two loan agents one Sunday some time ago, was also indicted as were several others of less importance.