The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-27


investigate the killing of Nathan Lowen-
stein yesterday afternoon as he had to go
to Bessemer to investigate killing.
$50 much work and so little pay" said
Coroner Spain, disgustedly, "has about
worn out my patien. and I think it is
about time to quit before I go into bank
ruptcy.
In the time that I have held the cor
oner's position deaths that needed investi-
cation have occurred at an average of
three or four a day in all parts of the
county, and for this | am paid $l00 a
month, but must pay my own office and
travelling expenses, which so far have
never amounted to less than $3.50 a month.
Paying $50 Per Month
There is so much work that I must
have clerk to tabulate the records and
this expense also comes out of my pocket.
find in reviewing my work that l am
paying the state of Alabama about $3.50 a
month for the privilege of acting as cor
oner of Jefferson county. And this very
great honor of being coroner means that
must awake at all hours of the night
and be gone for daye al time in woods,
swamps and in the slums of Birmingham
digging out the facts of sordid murders
which occur daily with montonous reg
ularity In truth, / feel that 1t is time
for me to go home and rest and get ao-
quainted with my family again.
1T seems to me that the people of JEFF
ferson county do not desire a coroner, for
one who does his work well is very un-
pleasant to some people. After making
strenuous attempt to serve the public az
coroner since last January in way that
left no stone unturned to discover all tine
facts concerning any killing, | find that
have no moral or financial support to my
work and the net result of my efforts
has been to make plenty of enemies. who
are mostly in Jail, and a depleted purse.
Around the courthouse sympathy was
expressed for Coroner Spain because of
the law that was passed at the last
Legislature that forbids the board of
revenue to pay the coroner more than
s10O per month and no expenses.
Law Handicap Here
This law, according 10 members of
the sheriff's office and other courthouse
officials, works well in the smaller
counties where the office of the coro-
ner is unimportant, but in Jefferson
county the office of the coroner is of
the greatest Importance, as great in
fact as the coroner's office in any couu-
ty in the United States. 1t is urged on
behalf of Coroner Spain that more afro
cious murders occur within the limits
of jefferson county and in greater num-
ber than any section of the country
and it is felt that the coroner should
be allowed a good salary several deputy
ooroners and office assistants to con-
duct his work that justice might have
something like an equal chance with
persons who kill others wantonly in
jefferson county.
Many called on Coroner Spain yes
terday and urged him to reconsider
and not resign, stating that some eff
fort would be made TO arouse the peo-
pie of the county to the injustice that
was being done to him. Coroner Spain
would give no definite answer, stating
that If he resigned he would do SO
directly to the board of revenue.
There was much conjecture as to
who would be the successor OF Coroner
Spain as there has been so much pub
licity about the inadequate pay and the
vast amount of work attached to the
office that it was felt that the board
of revenue would have a lot of trouble
finding a competent man to succeed
Coroner Spain.
In the time that Coroner Spain has
held his office his Investigations have
been the result of clearing many kill
ings and placing behind the bars the
guilty persons. If he resigns it will
cause much regret with great many
of the substantial citizens of Birming-
ham who have felt that in Coroner
Spain there was at least one public
servant who was always on the foh