The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-31
GANG OF ROBBERS
 WORKING DISTRICT.
Facts Brought Out by Cor 0ner's Investigation of
 Bessemer Killing

Bessemer, August Especially )- Coroner Brasher was in Bessemer to- day holding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shoot ing of Reed Davis. negro, on Wednes- day night by Detective Ceph Ross. During the course of the investiga- ton enough facts were brought out to prove that an organized group of negro thieves from around Meridian have been making Bessemer and Bir- mingham their headquarters and work ing them for several weeks. It is thought that the same group of men may be responsible for a number of robberies which occurred In Birming- ham and Ensley. Some of the men have served terms for felonies and mis- demeanors and while under oath each told different story and the men are being held until the stories can be in- vestigated It was brought out that Davis was a member of a gang and had told them that he was going to work Bessemer and when one of the men told him he would be arrested, he replied that some one would be killed first.
 Coroner Brasher, after hearing all the evidence, decided that the testi- mony was so overwhelming in favor of Detective Ross that there could be no question as to his right to kill Da- wis, who had made an attempt to draw a. gun for the purpose of shooting the officer and who had openly boasted Irt one should attempt to arrest him. Warren Garden Alberta Love, both col ored, and Detective Childers, who were witnesses to the killing, told substan- tially the same story. Each said that the officers entered the Davis home by the rear door and officer Ross ordered the negroes to throw up their hands, and Love did so. But Davis swung around fumbled in his pockets. and continued to do so. even against fur- ther orders to hold up his hands, and it was then that the fatal shot was fired. After the examination was over Detective Ross was warmly congratu- lated by his many friends
 An alias warrant has been issued for Frank Roose, a white man, who is charged with having an affray on the streets of Bessemer. Roose failed to appear In court at the time his case was set for trial on July "A and Justice of the Peace w. D. lanier declared hls bond forfeited, and the other warrant was issued as the case is set for trial again Saturday. The other parties in the fight were arrested and tried but Roose neglected to appear.
 On Sunday, Dr. A E. Patton, who has been with the Lewis Drug com pany for several years, will go with the Pegram- Palmer Drug company In which he has purchased an interest and in future 1t will be known as the Peg ram-Patton Drug company. Dr. T. G. Webb, who has been with Pegram- Pal mer for some time, has accepted po- sition as druggist for the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company He will have headquarters at Feeders, where he will compound all the drugs at the various hospitals and he will accept his new position on Septem- Der 15.
 This morning about S30 o'clock Ru- fms Clemens, 62 years of age, died at the Robinson hospital after an illness of six or eight weeks with cancer of the stomach. MT. Clemens was at one time a Bessemer police officer and about two months ago he was thrown from a wagon near McCalla, ana It IS believed that he received internal in iuries at that time which brought the ailments that resulted in his death. The remains were taken to Jacobs x Sons, where they were prepared for buriab and will be taken to his old home at McCalla Services will be held Sunday at Pleasant Hill cemetery, The de- ceased Is survived by his widow ana two sons, Newton and Early Clemens.
 Fifteen houses of the. two-room style are being built by the G. B. Edwards Lumber company for the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company at Vance's quarry and the work Is be- ing pushed. Six, four and hve-room dwellings are also being erected on Twenty-sixth and Twenty streets for M. Finnicchio, while the same company is doing the construc- tion work for a dwelling to be erected on Clarendon avenue. which will cost about 5000 completed.