The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-08-05
Officials Understood to Have
 Important Clue
WORKING VERY QUIETLY
Reward of 5000 offered for Arrest of Those Guilty of Latest Wreck. The PostofIce Inspec-
 tors May Aid

rumor that was prevalent In raliroao circles yesterday. The report followed the announcement by the Louisville and Nashville that no new develop ments had taken place in the investlga- tion of the attempt to wreck No. 4. the fast mail train, in the Decatur yaros Wednesday morning.
 The government entrance into the 1n- vestigations will be based on the fact that the attempts interfere with the delivery of government malls and en- danger the lives of mail clerks, who are United States employees.
 Six attempts have been made 10 wreck limited trains on the Louis vile and Nashville during the past few months. Three of these attempts have been successful in that several lives have been lost and property has been damaged The latest attempt was on No. 4, which Is penalty traih operated under contract with the gov ernment to deliver mails at Cincin- nati and New Orleans at certain hours. Every hour of overtime Is paid for by the Louisville and Nashville manage ment and two United States mall cars are attached to this train.
 Inauiries yesterday at the offices Of T. E. Brooks, superintendent of the Louisville and Nashville, brought the statement that no new facts have de- veloped that can be given out. MT. Brooks and his staff of division off, cials held a short conference yesterday
 n nouncement in regard to this confer ence was made public except that Q reward of 5000 had been offered for the wreckers.
 Although the Louisville and Nash vile officers are working very quiet ly it was learned yesterday that sew eral clews had been secured and that trace them down. It was even given out yesterday afternoon that an arrest would probably be made after night fall last night but up to a late hour no announcement had been forth com ing.
 The clew mentioned Is said to be the real key to the situation and with this information the Louisville and Nash vile hopes to unlock the almost un- canny mystery of six railroad wrecks, all under identical circumstances.
 The postoffice department inspectors who were in Birmingham yesterday were silent when questioned about what the government would probably do in reference to the repeated at tempts to damage government prop erty It was admitted that the gov ernment could take action under a specified section which places penalty on such deeds, but when 1t came to a definite announcement the govern ment men would not commit them selves. It is said the local inspectors will probably await explicit 1nstruc- tion from the inspector in charge al Chattanooga before any definite plans are outlined for Investigating the wrecks.
 The reward of 5000 for the capture of the trainwrecker was offered last night by T. B. Brooks, superintendent of the Louisville and Nashville. The reward is the second one of 5000 that has been offered on this division for the arrest of train wreckers.
 This reward, the probable action of the government. and a conference of George w Jones, district attorney for the Louisville and Nashville, with MT. Brooks, are the only new developments in the case which has the Louisville and Nashville officers on edge
 Mr. Brooks and MT. Jones were in conference for several hours last night in regard to the wreck but as to their deliberations no announcement was made. However, 1t Is believed that legal plans are being outlined in expectation of an arrest that is confidently ex- pected to occur soon.
 Big posters regarding the offer of a reward were printed last night and read as follows:
 "One thousand dollars reward. Louis vile and Nashville Railroad company. South and North Alabama Railroad company. Office of superintendent.
 birmingham, Ala, August 3, 1910.
 "A reward of one thousand dollars (s1Oo0) will be paid for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who misplaced the switch at Oakworth (De- catur) Morgan county, Alabama. on Wednesday morning. August 3. 1910. re- sulting in the derailment of through freight train, 2d No. IS.
 General Manager.
 TT. B. BROOKS. Superintendent.
 "Extract from the laws of Alabama governing the offense of in1uring or 
 obStructing railroads:
 "Section 7877 Code of Alabama-'Any person who wantonly or maliciously in lures any railroad, or any bridge, trestle, or culvert, cattle guard, stock gap, or other superstructure of such railroad or places any impeachment or obstruction on such railroad. or re- moves or destroys any portion thereof, in such manner as to render liable any engine, car, or any other vehicle to diverge or to be thrown from the track thereof, or who salts the track of such railroad for the purpose of attracting cattle thereon, must, on conviction, be punished at the discretion of the jury by death or by Imprisonment in the penitentiary for not less than 10 years.
 "Section 767S Code of Alabama-'Any person who wantonly or maliciously in1ures any railroad, or places any .m- pediment or obstruction thereon, by means of which injury impeachment, or obstruction, any engine, car, or other vehicle diverges or Is thrown from tho track thereof, must. on conviction be punished at the discretion of the jury, by death or Imprisonment, in the pen itentiary for not less than 10 years. !"
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 Seeks s10,OOO for Burn
 Claiming personal injuries, Fraser Burney, suing by his next friend, Isom Burney, yesterday filed suit for $1000o damages in the city court against the