Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-10

Decree Comes as Climax to Siren
uOus Experience Of the Former
Lieutenant Governor.

BIRMINGHAM, July s.---Announce-
ment in the City Court here to-day
that Mrs, Henry B. Gray had been
granted divorce from her husband,
Henry B. Gray, former Lieutenant
Governor Of Alabama under the Co
mer administration and prominent
clubman Of Birmingham, caused a
whir Of excitement in society circles.
where the Grays have figured promi-
| nently for many years. The an
nouncement Of the divorce which was
granted on June 20 came as a com
plete surprise to every one but the
closest friends of the Grays.
Society was not the only party
manifesting the keenest interest In
the announcement of the granting Of
the divorce, however, for the story is
the talk Of the town to-day among
all classes Of people who have quiet
ly watched developments ever since
Henry b. Gray was tried in Recorders
Court and given jail sentence %
six hours for contempt of court sew
eral months ago.
Predictions have been made from
time to time since this trial, which
was one Of the sensations of Birming-
ham, that divorce proceedings would
follow, and to-day's announcement,
While creating the keenest sort of in
terest, was really no surprise to the
! majority OF people.
Sentenced for contsm~t.
The contempt case for which Mr..
Gray received a jail sentence at the
hands of Recorder Clement Wood,
present candidate for the presidency
Of the City Commission, was the cul-
mination Of series Of startling in
cidents which stirred Birmingham 10
the core.
Gray was caught. IT was alleged.
In a disOrderly house, but managed
to keep his identity concealed, It was
alleged further, by getting another
young man to make bond for him
The case was on the verge of be-
ing passed over as one of the "ordl-
nary" type when Recorder Wood sud
denly appeared on the scene with
Information" which, he claimed, was
an effort on the part of Gray to put
one over him"
Accordingly he had Gray arraign-
ed in court where he not only pro-
ceeded to fine him 500 on the charge
of disorderly conduct, but gave him
severe lecture and sentenced him
to Jail for six hours for contempt.
Later 1t was charged that the po-
lice department, including Chief Bod
eker, who was a personal friend OF
Gray, had shielded Gray in his I'M
successful attempt to conceal his
identity and the matter was brought
to the attention OF the City Com
mission, which called a trial.
Police Chief indicated.
At the trial Recorder Wood made
charges against Chief Bodeker. which
were not sustained, however, as the
commission gave to the Chief and his
men a clean bill
The incident was closed here for
the time being, although it has Great
ed no little friction between city off
cials.
Recorder Wood, who was ousted
from the bench by the commission re-
Gently, claims his action in the Gray
case was one of the primary reasons
for his dismissal, as President Exum.
of the City Commission, who was a
personal friend of Gray. tried first to
get Wood to omit the Jail sentence.
and, failing in this, to keep it out OF
the papers.
Although Chief Bodeker disclaImed
any knowledge of an attempt to
shield Gray he, too, made efforts to
have the sentence omitted and then
to keep the matter out Of the papers.
His prediction, stated to a newspaper
man at the time, that 1t would only
result in divorce proceedings has
come true.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Gray widely
known throughout Alabama and,
especially in Birmingham, where they
are recognized members of the So
called 900" Mr.. Gray was Lieu
tentant Governor under the Conner
administration and was at one time
president Of the Peoples Savings
Bank and Trust Company of this city.
FIRE DAMAGES LUMBER MILL.
CHATTANOOGA, July Prompt
action by the fire department pre-
vented a serious Conhagration here
to-day when flames were discovered
in the woodworking plant OF the
Loomis & Hart Manufacturing Com