The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-07
CAREER OF CRIME
 BROUGHT ID END Man Paints on Top of High
 Chimney
  DOMESTIC PROBLEM
German Industrial Prosperity Causes Shortage in Servant Supply. Antagonism Between the
 Poles and Germans

lets, a reW or several hundred Dreu dt him. has put an end to one of the worst criminals in police annals. He has killed four men in less than month.
 On the night of March IS a watchman was shot at the. Bismarck mine by thief A workman named Howell fell fortnight later at the Laura colliery policeman attempted to arrest him. But by using his revolver and at the cost of a second victim he escaped. Meanwhile a reward had been offered for his capture, and when he appeared at Josefsdorf a locksmth made brave attempt to wing his prize. But he, too, was shot dead.
 Howell then went to siemianowitch to bid good-by to a woman friend. but he was observed and followed and ultimate ly a body of police and gendarmes brought him to bay. As soon as he real ized the situation he whipped out his weapon and blazed away. A sergeant, father of eight children, fell dead before his unerring aim, and in the confusion he managed to escape. Kowell had by now picked up an old comrade named Vale rus, and later the same evening the pair knocked at the door of miner in Ross
 berg and asked for shelter. The collier appears to have welcomed his unwonted society. for he not only admitted the strangers, but sent out for liquor, and the three had a carouse. As he advanced in intoxication Kowell became communi-
 oative, and informed his host that he
 was a fugitive from justice and the. ,as-
 sassin of four men. Then he brandished
 his revolver and declared that he would defnd his freedom to the death.
 The miner encouraged his two visitors
 in their potations and at last had the satisfaction of seeing them both col
 lapse on the floor in a drunken slumber.
 He then went and reused the chief off cial. A force of eight gendarmes was despatched to the house in the hope of catching the two ruffans In state of in capability, but as the first of them was ascending the stairs Walrus flung himself upon him and fastened his teeth In his flesh. The official was, however. able to fire his revolver and wound his antagon- ist who then relaxed his hold. Kowell had meanwhile opened a brisk fire from a window. and Warus speedily joined him, in spite of his wound.
 It was then found that Kowell was ly ing dead with half dozen bullets in his body, while Walerus, though still alive had received several further wounds, to which he succumbed next morning.
 There was thrilling. almost tragic, ep- isode here Thursday night
 Cries for help from the top of a factory chimney 160 feet high drew the attention of a crowd. A man was to be seen eyi- dently in distress and the only way Of rescuing him was to call the fire brigade. When the f1remen reached the top of the they found that the man. who had with a fellow workman been ordered to remove the weathercock, had been overcome by the heat that remained in the chimney. AS the man emerged from the steps that led to the top he collapsed on the narrow coping. His mate had feared to descend for help, thinking that in the uneasy movements of coming to himself the prostrate man might roll from his narrow couch and fall below. It was no easy task, even for the fire brig ade. to rescue the helpless man from his perilous situation. An immense rope WAS painfully hauled up the huge shaft and run round a. pulley attached to the scaf folding that supported the weathercocx. To this rope he was fastened and by its means carefully lowered down the middle of the chimney.
 Great distress is being caused to house. wives by the remarkable dearth of do- mestic servants, due primarily to Ger industrial prosperity which cre- ates a great demand for female labor in all branches of commerce and manu- factures. The young girls many of whom
 IL. Socialist doctrines. shun the re- strictions of domestic service, preferrng work in factories and workshops, with the result that the number of vacant situa- tions in private houses exceeds the num- Der of cooks and maids seeking such posi- tions in the proportion of ten to one. Each domestic looking for a place is sought by competitors for her services. The girls demand big wages and get them.
 Some girls demand that they be ad- mitted to eat at their employers table as a social equal. and to such privations have housewives been reduced that they consent to this stipulation. Many maids will only accept positions in households headed by men of high social standing. and some even limit their engagements to public officials
 It is quite usual for a maid to inquire into the religious belief of the ladies seek ing her services, for many girls refuse to join the household of Jew. Others again will only work for Jews, because there Is as rule more good food in Jewish than in others Besides more liberal payment. Many girls conduct most searching inqustion into the cir csI'nstances of ladies seeking their ser vices before they will consent to accept an engagement essxs
 Servants refuse to enter a household where there are children. and others draw the line at dogs. Girls insist on their mistresses giving them written promises to fulfill their demands, down to the num- Der of bottles of beer due to them every day. One recently insisted as a condi- ton that she be provided with a theatre ticket weekly and be allowed to ride to the theatre in the family automobile. She won out.
 There is antagonism between Poles and Germans In the eastern provinces ana this led to extraordinary scenes at the church in Kleinkreutsch. The Germans were formerly in a majority in the dis trict. and in consequence the bishop all lowed them to have two German services to the one Polish one The Poles are now In majority. and have demanded two Polish services to the one German one. The bishop. German, refused. and the Poles resolved to take matters, into their own hands. This led to the scenes In the church in question.
 At the close of the service 1t Is the custom to sing a hymn. The Poles made up their mind that this hymn was to be