The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-08
Great Legal Battle Expected In Fixing Blame For L.
 & N. Wrecks
PRELIMINARY TRIAL TO
 BE HEARD NEXT WEEK
Threatening Letters Written to Super intendent Brooks of l.. X \. Have Been Photographed and Will
 Be Used In the Trial
By CLYDE w. ENNIS

70 the derailment of four limited trains on the Louisville and Nashville railroad, which has been charged to William Ma bors, a young fireman, will be called for preliminary trial September IA, before Judge I. H. Benners. The case was set yesterday upon an agreement between the counsel for the young man and the Louisville and Nashville railroad. He will be tried here for the wreck of lim- tied train No. 4 at Cunningham, few months ago.
 Majors was arrested upon the arrival of his train In Birmingham from Mont gomery a few days ago. He was im- mediately placed In jail and has been there ever since. Majors stoutly pro- tests that he is innocent and that he never participated in any wrong act against the Louisville and Nashville. He gave out a statement the night of his arrest, but since that time has envel- oped himself in veil of reticence.
 The father of Express Messenger Young, who was killed in the Cunningham wreck, arrived in Birmingham yesterday and tllplOJtu til6 ld W III oL DONiiir'h iisii 'ii & Beddow to prosecute the prisoner. MT. Young says the prosecution of Majors is a duty he owes his dead son and that he would not feel right if he did not attempt to convict him. MT. Young has been shown the evidence of the company and is convinced that Majors is respon- sible.
 T arI ttyf11 actn nr- day employed B. M. Allen and Robert N. Bell to prosecute young Majors, and the law firm of Tillman, Bradley & Nor row, the regular counsel for the com- pany, will engage in the trial. In addi- tion to this array of counsel George ". Jones, district attorney for the Louis vile and Nashville, will take a hand in the case. These lawyers will be sec ond to Harrington P Hefin, solicitor for Jefferson county, who will assume personal charge of the case for the state.
 The prisoner will be defended by coun- sel from Bessemer, and it is expected that he will also engage a firm of attor- neys in Birmingham to defend him.
 Will Be Brilliant Battle
 The case is expected to be one of the most brilliant legal battles that has ever occurred in this county. The Louisville and Nashville officers state that 1t is not their desire to be placed in the atti tude of prosecuting Majors by the em ployment of other counsel. It is stated that they wish to inf1ct upon him the most severe penalty under the law for wrecking trains that cost the lives of five persons and the injury of 25 or more other persons.
 The Threatening Letters The evidence said to have been gathered by Col. J. B. Harlan, chief of detectives for the company and his corps of spe- cial agents, is the most complete ever gathered In Louisville and Nashville cir cles. It was claimed yesterday that not one link was missing and that the com pany would wage an unanswerable fight
 The company has several letters said to have been written Superintendent T E. Brooks here to the effect that the trains would be wrecked The last one was pinned to switch lamp in the De- catur yards. It Is claimed that the let ters are in the handwriting of Majors and an effort will be made to fasten the authorship of the threatening letters upon the accused.
 One of the letters detailed what would occur to the fast trains and the most vital points in the prosecution will hinge upon the contents of the letters. The company has had every one of them photographed and they will be offered In evidence One of the letters has been compared to a letter written to a local law firm and testimony of experts will be offered to show 1t Is in the same hand writing.
 The total number of discriminating let ters written Is said to be about 12 or IA although the officials will not talk about them from any viewpoint.
 Mir. Brooks was requested for a state ment in regard to the written testimony to be offered and he said there was noth- ing for publication. However, it may safely be stated that what is regarded as the most damaging evidence against Majors Is what he Is said to have writ ten. The evidence in the case. which includes statements from detectives. en- gineers, flremen, conductors and others, is locked up in a vault at the Louis vile and Nashville office and every pre- caution Is being taken to guard the val uable data from possible removal.
 Government Has Evidence
 In addition to the photographed evi- dence on hand with the Louisville and Nashville, it is said that the postoffice inspectors in Birmingham have also been at work on the case and have some photographed letters which will be used In the case against Majors
 The tendency of the postoffice evidence could not be ascertained, but 1t Is stated that the inspectors have traced through the mails some letters written and have fastened some almost undeniable proof by way of the letters sent through gov ernment mails. Although the photographic evidence of the government Is said to ex- ist, the inspectors would not talk yes terday Inspectors Dilts, Keys and Rob- bett have been here for several days without leaving the city. When asked in regard to the Louisville and Nashville cases the inspectors said they were not in the habit of talking about the busi- ness of the government.
 Conferences With MT. Brooks
 Superintendent Brooks was so busy con ferring about the wreck case yesterday that he did not visit Hanceville where a head-on collision occurred which caused the injury of 19 persons. He was engaged with District Attorney George w. Jones, Chief of Detectives Harlan and other officials in shaping the case to be presented next week.
 The officers expect other evidence to be gathered by the time the case against Nabors is calld. The detectives are still working on other clues.
 
 Colored Methodists in Session
 The Birmingham district conference of the A. M E. church opened its seven taaptb anpual session In the Stark s