The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-30
EVIDENCE AGAINST MAJORS BELIEVED VERY DAMAGING Anonymous Letters Are Identified as NabOrs'
 Handwriting ARTHUR HOWARD"
 FITS INITIALS "A. H." Witness Swears Majors Introduced Himself as Arthur Howard"
 Letters Signed "A. H."
 Admission Contested

Admission Contested
 Yesterdays session of the trial ot William Majors. the young white mar who is accused of train wreckine, closed with the most dana ging evi- deace in the possession of the prosecu- ton before the jury. The anonymous letters received by Superintendent T. F. Brooks of the Louisville and Nash vile railroad, saying that the writer was the man who wrecked the train at Cunningham, were read 10 the jury and one expert was put on the stand to testify that these letters were in the handwriting of Majors.
 The introduction of the letters and other documents which were admitted in evidence was stubbornly fought by the attorneys for the defendant and much time was consumed yesterday in argument over the admissibility of them
 Court closed at about o'clock yes terday with Col John Caldwell, who had qualified as an expert witness, on the stand. 1t was shortly before he was called that the letters, some anonymous and some signed by Ma bors, were introduced. The two anony- nous letters, which form the gist of tine states case, were addressed to T. F. Brooks at Birmingham, one of them under date of February %, 1910, and the other under date of August 15, 1910, although it was postmarked Montgomery, Ala, August II, 1910.
 The First Letter
 The letter of February 15 is as fol- lows:
 Montgomery, Ala, February %, 1910. 'Mr T. F. Brooks, Superintendent, Bir-
 mingham, Ala
 Dear Sir: After all the excitement has blown over think it my urgent duty 10 inform you about the wrecks at Calera and Cunningham, Ala. understand that they have party in jail accused of com- hitting these wrecks and this letter is to inform you that they are as innocent as an unborn babe of this charge because the author of this letter wrecked both trains and in the name of justice I am telling you the law is prosecuting an innocen: man. The reason I wrecked the train was for revenge against the company on ac- count of being fired two years ago cn the worthless testimony of an ignorant negro To prove these charges of wreck ing these trains you will find the switch lock of the Cunningham switch lying or the top of the high embanlSment to tho right going north provided it has not been found, and the Calera lock I broke open with a stone. Now these wrecks are only a beginning and the only way to stop them is to pull off all negro train crews and I will give you 90 days to do this and provided you do not pull them off by March 22 freight trains and passenger trains will be wrecked. I did not intend to run number into that freight train at Cunningham but the freight pulled in after I had thrown the switch and I went to the left of the siding to see what would occur and I could plainly hear the engineer and fireman talking. What wanted to do was to turn number over but the freight pulling in prevented ias did not inform you about the Calera wreck when it occurred because to my knowledge nobody was arrested and le- lieve me, you all are prosecuting an in nocent person. Please take warning ol this letter and abide by it or the conse- quence will be terrible in train wrecss Yours truly, A. H."
 Second Letter
 The letter received in August reads as foilcws:
 Montgomery, August 15. 1910. TT. E. Brooks, Superintendent, Birming-
 ham:
 Dear Sir-You are informed that if all prosecutions will cease in regards to wTecking passenger trains on the Louis Vile and Nashville, and if you will not bring the government authorities in to in vestigate. wrecks will immediately cease and be discontinued. If you fail to quit prosecuting, wrecks will continue wi;h more vigor than ever. Decide al once and take your choice. O. R. T."
 On the last letter a note had been put by MT Brooks to the effect that the Handwriting was the same as in the letter of February p.
 Court opened at the usual time yester- day morning. Tke first witness to be ppt on the stand by the state was G. l. Bowies, cashier of the New Decatur bank.
 The witness testified that while lhe did a1t know that he ever saw Majors write he was familiar with his handwriting He was given the two anonymous letters received by MT. Brooks and stated that in his opinion the writing was that of Majors. He knew defendants handwrt- ing from his having had an account with witness bank.
 On cross examination MT. Bowles said flat he came to the trial on a pass is- sued by the Louisville and Nashville, but that he paid his own way to the first trial: that he did not know who paid his expenses.
 J. J. Sullivan of Decatur was next called to the stand. He was asked whether he had seen the defendant write and whether he knew the defendant Handwriting. He stated that he knew Nabors' handwriting, and was shown the two anonymous letters. which, he testi. fled, were, to the best of his judgment in the handwriting of Majors.
 Sullivan Cross Examined
 On cross examination MT. Sullivan sait that he had been in employment 10 years at New Decatur: that he said Majors made out the applications for position oi locomotive fireman: that he probably die swear at the former trial that he had never seen Majors write: that he was mistaken at one trial or the other in his testimony as to whether he had seen tho defendant write.
 E. P. Evans was called next by the state. On direct examination he testl fed that he had been in the employ oi the Louisville and Nashville for a mum her of years in various capacities. He is now assistant trainmaster at Brming ham.
 Do you know the defendant?'
 Yes
 How long have you known him?"