davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
SAM bYRAM MAKES
CHARGE OF PERJURY
Convicted of Murder i'm the
Second Degree
13 YEAR SENTENCE
After Long Deliberation Jury Finds
Him Guilty of Murder i'm Second
Degree for the Killing of
George Watkins in 1910

Gentlemen of the jury I want to
thank you for your kindness in let
ting me off so light You couldn't do
anything else but convict me under
the evidence before you. but want
to say | have been convicted by per-
Jured testimony" This statement was
made yesterday in the first division of
the criminal court by Sam Byram
when the jury in his case returned a
verdict OF guilty of murder in the sec
ond degree and fixed his punishment at
l3 years In the penitentiary. Byram was
Indicted for the killing of George Wat
kins at Sumpter about three years ago,
the result OF a quarrel about some
tools. He was tried in the fall of 1911
for the offense, but the jury failed to
agree and mistrial was entered
The case went on trial for the Sec
ond time on Wednesday in the first
division of the criminal court. Judge
S. Il. Greene presiding. There were
about 20 witnesses summoned. but few
of them proved eyewitnesses to the
killing. The case went TO the jury
Thursday afternoon and after more
lnan a nOuTS uel.beldllOn luey lOunu
Byram guilty OF murder in the second
degree and fixed his punishment at ls
years in the penitentiary.
Byram did not deny the shooting,
but claimed he shot in self defense.
While on the witness stand he proved
an admirable witness for himself, self
possessed at all times he answered all
questions put to him by his attorneys
and by the state solicitor promptly and
to the point.
Assistant Solicitor Ed Winston, Cir
cult Solicitor J. II. Tate and Pinkney
Scott represented the state. Judge n.
b. Feagin, ID. j. FIummer and T. J.
Roach were the attorneys for the de-
fense.
The killing of watkins by Byram
occerred April 2s, 1910, at Sumpter.
where both men were employed at the
mines in the mechanical department..
They became involved in a quarrel
about some tools which resulted in
watkins being shot to death by By
ram, who claimed he shot In defense
Of his own life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Wanted-One Hundred Goats
the Editor of The Age-Herald:

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
Burning the home rule bill and making
noisy demonstrations in the streets of
Belfast are about as innocent and harm
less means OF expressing disapproval as
need be asked or expected, but when it
comes to finding 100 men ready and willing
to be shot down by British soldiers It
would be well for Mr.. Bonar Law to know
that Ulster is the wrong place to look
for them.
Little does Mr.. Bonar Law know o. IL
ster or it's citizens when he says: "Ihe
men of Ulster are ready to give up their
lives at the hands of British soldiers lf
the,' shoot down 100 in Belfast, 2000 more
will be ready to share their fate" That's
some talk, all right but it Is only talk;
all rot.
Whatever else the Ulstermman may be
he's no fool, and all this talk of men be-
ing willing to be shot down by the hum
creds and thousands is the talk of
fool. Mr.. Bonar Law says ne would 'en-
courage" the people of Ulster to resist.
even to the point of being shot down, but
where would Mr.. Law be when the shoot
ing was going on? From the security and
safety of his seat on the front opposition
benches in the house of commons he
would justify civil war in Ulster and "en-
courage" the goats" to come forward
and get shot down. Words of encourage
ment spoken over long distance fan
rather fiat upon the ears of him who
looks into the barrel of a rifle and sees
the glitter of a cold steel bayonet pointed
at his breast. No doubt 1t would suit
If fanatics
were to verify his prophecies by rushing
to their destruction, and 1t is quite pos
sble that such few may be found, but
among them 1t would be vain to search
for the leaders whose frothy oratory in
vited the frenzy.
Twenty centuries ago the angelic choir
proclaimed Peace on earth to men of
good WILL" and 80 years later the multi
tudc assembled on the mount heard the
words, BLESSED is the peacemaker." What
is the corollary of these peace pronounce
ments? Accused be the strife maker.
Accused be he who sets man against
man. brother against brother. Every
man born In Ireland Is an Irishman, re-
sardless of creed or condition. The mere
fact that in Ulster there are many who
hope to reach heaven through the Pres
byterian church and who cherish mem-
ories of ancestors who fought with Will
liam of Orange does not make them any
the less Irishmen who ought to be proud
of their native country. To barter the
name "Irishman" for ''Unionist' is to
barter the name freeman for slave"
To tell these men to fear" their coun-
trymen is to tell them to be towards.
and yet this is what Mr.. Bonar Law en-
courages them to do. Ulster mas moth
Ing to fear from oppression or injustice
under home rule. and IL either were at
tempted the Ulstermen would not need
any encouragement from Mr.. Bonar Law
or his clique. +. |. MONKS.
Birmingham, January II, 1913.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
PRESIDENT SIBLEY
NAMES DELEGATES

John W. Sibley, president of the Cham
Der of Commerce, and councillor to the
United States Chamber of Commerce, ap-
pointed the following deiegates to attend
the annual meering of the United States
chamber In Washington on January 81, %
and %: E. X. Campbell. j. w. Nc
Queen. Truman Fl. Aldrich, p. Toulmin,
J. f. Rushton, John II. Frye, r. S. Mum
ger, Otto Marx, and w. ID. Nesbitt.
The majority of the delegates have al
ready asserted that they will be in at
tendance. Postmaster Aldrich is at the
present time in Washington and will re
main over for the annual meeting. The
Birmingham chamber will be well repre-
sented at this years gathering.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
DAIRY CAR TO
BEGIN TOUR NEXT MONDA

January 90 the dairy instruction car
of the Southern railway begins its re-
Gently announced tour of instruction
through the larger part of the counties
of northern. Alabama. This car was re-
Gently shown at the Alabama State
Fair in Birmingham and was pro-
nounced remarkable exhibition for
those interested in dairying and dairy
products.
The car is equipped with trained and
expert attendants and with the latest
and most efficient machinery used in
making butter and other dairy pro-
ducts. 1t presents demonstrations of
different foods for dairy cows and what
success they have met with. The tour
beginning Monday at Alfalfa will COM
prise over 40 different stops and many
more demonstrations to the farmers
who will meet the car according to its
schedule The schedule for the first
week is:
Monday, January 20, Alfalfa; Tues
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
CITY STREETS ON
ROADS PROPERTY
Birmingham Southern Also Said to Be
on Some Property of City, But
Railroad Refuses to Admit It

An ordinance was discussed at the
city commission meeting yesterday by
which 1t was claimed that the Bir-
mfngf1am Southern Railway company
wanted the city to admit certain streets
OF the city were located on the rail-
way company but the use of these
streets by the city could be continued
with the privilege that the Birming
ham Southern could declare them va
Gated at any time they wished.
Mr.. Weatherly said that the state
nent of the railway company to the
effect that certain streets were on the
property of the company was correct
but that the same condition existed
in certain places where the Birming-
ham Southern occupied some of the
city's property and that the company
would not admit this. The matter was
referred to the city attorney, Romaine
Boyd, for recommendation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
AT THE HOTELS

r. H. Croswell of Montgomery, r. W.
Stuckey of Eclectric and w. r. Brown of
Montgomery are registered at the Metro
po1itan.
w. C. Davis of Jasper, R. d. Allen Of
Anniston and N. Wilson of Admission are
stopping at the Morris.
e. E. Williams of Atlanta, C. A. Grote
of Greensboro and e. M. Newman of
Berry are at the Florence.
r. A. Hinson of Fayette, w. T. McEl-
roy of Carbon Hill and c. l. Robins of
Jasper are registered at the Birming-
ham.
r. M. Greene of Opelika. S. W. welch of
Talladega and c.. NJ. Love of Atlanta
are among those stopping at the Hill
man.
j. D. Rhodes of Admission, C. A. Heath
of Gadsden and s. I. Walker of Selma are
among the arrivals at the Empire.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18

day. Gadsden; Wednesday, Leesburg
Thursday, Cedar Bluff; Friday. Tecum-
sch, and Saturday, Piedmont
That the southeastern states annual
ly pay more than 1880 OO0 for butter
imported from other sections although
this section possesses more attractive
advantages for dairying than any other
part of the country. is shown from Of
fetal figures compiled by the United
States department of agriculture. With
population of 2l.e1S,7i2 the south
eastern states produced in 1909 262,-
10000 pounds of butter and consumed
36S,461,s17 pounds, calling on outside
sections for the deficit of 1o6 245,S17
pounds, for which an average price of
50 cents per pound was paid.
In Alabama the production of 80. 0.103,-
600 pounds of butter was not sufficient
to meet the demands of the 2.13S, 900
people within the state and 1885,
pounds was imported, making the total
consumption for Alabama 37,49S,944
pounds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
MRS. TAYLOR FREED
OF MURDER CHARGE
Jury Returns Verdict With
out Leaving Box-Accused
of Poisoning Father

Mrs. Bertha NJ. Taylor. indicted for
murder in the first degree, was acquitted
In the first division of the criminal court
yesterday. the jury arriving at a verdict
without leaving the box. The state put
several witnesses on the stand, but failed
to make out case.
Mrs. Taylor was indicted for the muir
der of her father John A. Baker, who
died at East Lake about five years ago.
After his death the contents of his stom-
ach was analyze1 at the instance of the
coroner and traces of poison were found
Mrs. Taylor was indicted by the grand
jury, but was admitted to bond. At the
trial yesterday the state proved the pres
ence of poison in the stomach of Mr..
Baker. but failed in any way to connect
Mrs. Taylor with his death.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
News OF Ensley

Sulle Lee is dead.
Sullee is the first Chinaman who ever
came to Ensley and the first who ever
died here.
About 70 years ago Lee established
laundry here and operated 1t for number
of years. Some time ago he turned the
business over to his cousin, Sam Loo, and
moved to Birmingham. He had been III
for several months and a short time since
he came hack to Ensley, where he died
Yesterday afternoon at the old laundry
which he owned for so many years. He
was 50 years Of age and has wite ana
several children living in China.
1t is said that he was a member OF the
Atlanta Masonic lodge. The BODY VIII DC
sent to Atlanta this morning by Echois
& Angwin.
basketball game has been arranged
ref ween the teams of the University
Training school and the Ensley High
school. The game will be played In Ems
ley at the school building Saturday, jan
uary Is.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
BLOCTON SCHOOL
CHILDREN HONOR LEE

Blocton, January 17.-(Special)-A very
interesting and instructive celebration OF
General Robert e. Lees birthday was
held at the Blocton school No. 1 on Fri
day afternoon The programme began
with singing, "renting on the Old Camp
ground Tonight and consisted of
sketches and anecdotes of Lee, songs and
recitations of the Confederacy by. the
pupils an d ashort talk on Lees charac-
ter as man by the principal. The local
members of the United Daughters of Con-
federacy were present and the members
of Camp Clayton, United Confederate
Veterans attended in a body their color
bearer with the Confederate flag
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
A NARROW ESCAPE

Even city commissioners make mis-
takes.
A referendum and a big one was
narrowly averted yesterday. Even ru-
mors of a recall We're heard and would
not down.
And it all came about because some
body forgot, just naturally neglected
to store it up in one of the cells of
his gray matter, that there existed a
whole city block at Twenty sixth street
between Seventh and Eighth avenues,
north Two paving ordinances for this
section have been passed. They were
passed separately. Then one dark and
gloomy day came the denouement when
City Commissioners Weatherly discov-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
NEW INDUSTRIES
COME TO THIS CITY
Represent Capital of SIS, 5,00O-Efforts
of Chamber of Commerce
Responsible

Announcement was made by Secretary
Radcliffe yesterday morning that two
new industries representing a capital
stock of $4,000 were now in the Magic
City" and were brought here through the
cooperation of the Chamber of Com
1nerce. The new industries are the Ash
dock steel Folding Window and Guard
company and the c. Z. Northrup Manu-
featuring and Supply company.
The officers of the new concerns have
expressed their appreciation of the CO.
operation of the civic chamber in aiding
them to find a satisfactory location in
this city. The new industries, which ex-
pect to employ about 20 men each. viii be
in operation within 90 days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
Real Estate Transfers

Deeds were placed on record yesterday
IN the office of the probate clerk showing
the following transfers of real estate. the
consideration being 5000 or more
s625o-Leo T. Randolph to Ike Adler, part
|of block 100. according to the plans and
surveys of the city of Birmingham.
s2o47-w. E. Keldrick to H. c. e. Chap
man, lots / and 2. in block 257, according
|to the Ensley Land company.
s1450-Walter A. Wood to Mary V.
| Copeland, lot 4. in block 2, according TO
the plans and surveys Of Hood, Wood G.
Fulton.
sIsoo-John Huffman and wife to Rennie
Blankenship, lot s. in block so. according
10 the plans and surveys or the Birming-
ham F,nsley Land and improvement COM
uany
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Lecture to Be Delivered at the Bijou
Theatre Tomorrow Afternoon

The lecture on Christian Science at
the Bi1ou theatre tomorrow afternoon
at $3.50 o'clock by Frank H. Leonard,
|C S. B., of Chicago, is given under the
auspices of First Church of Christ,
Scientist, of this city
Mr. Leonard received personal in
struction from Mrs Eddy, the founder
of Christian Science. and is a member
of the board of leeturership of the
mother church of Boston.
The lecture is given complimentary
and cordial invitation Is extended the
public to be preesnt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
Pipe Company Directors Meet

The directors of the National Cast
Iron Pipe company. recently formed
here with A. II. Ford as president, held
a meeting yesterday. 1t was the regu-
lar meeting of the board and Mr.. Ford
stated there was nothing to be given
out for publication. This company was
formed here some months ago with
some of the most prominent industrial
men of the district as officers. 1t con-
templates the erection of a large cast
iron pipe plant on the northern out
public to be present
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
Educational Figures

Chicago, January 17-F'igures COM
piled by the compulsory education bu-
rcau and issued today show that of the
25O,0f5 children under 5 years old in
the city, only 93,21S had American
born mothers. Among foreign born
mothers those of Polish nativity lead.
German, Russian jewish Italian, Boz
hemian, Irish and Swedish ranked in
the order named. There were 12S,351
boys and 121 ,665 girls.
The death rate among children of
foreign born mothers was higher than
that in American families.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
Marriage Licenses

The following marriage licenses were
issued yesterday In the office of the pro-
bate clerk:
w. A. Romine of Palos and Miss Susie
Winchester.
J. f. Mitchell Of Warrior and Miss
Pearley German.
Tom shamblin of Reno and Miss Anna
Deason.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18

cred that these two said paving ordi-
nances did not fit,
That is they didn't come together.
Or, in other words, there was a block
on Twenty sixth street between Seventh
and Eighth avenues which was as bare
as the garden of Eden and the rest of
the street was clothed in the fun garb
of a modern city street pavement.
Therefore, at the city commission yes
terday afternoon the commission in
strueted City Attorney Romano Boyd
to draw up an ordinance (and draw 1T
quick) to cover the aforementioned
nudity of the Twenty sixth street block.
Now all parties are satisfied and an
other calamity, counting on success be-
cause 1t was 1913. has been squelehed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
DEFER ACTION ON THE
B. r., L. & p. PETITION

The petition of the Birmingham Rail-
way. Light and Power company for a
double track on South Twenty-first street.
was passed yesterday when called up be-
fore the city commission. The commits
sioners stated that they desired to hold
a conference on the matter before any
action was taken.
1t was stated that the Kelley franchise
and the Tidewafer petition for a franchise
might have some bearing on the matter
and this was v hat was to be made tie
subject of further Investigation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
Building Permits

The following building permits were IS
sued yesterday in the office OF the build
ing inspector:
sa50O-C. w. Mills, Sixteenth avenue and
Beach street; .wo story frame house.
s2ooo-Mrs Elizabeth Fields, Thirty-sec-
ord street and Fourteenth avenue, one
story frame house.
s2000-Hugh Martin, 1886 South Nine
teenth street. one story frame house.
sso00-Mrs Mary Schillinger, Whitickcr
street and Highland avenue, two story
brick veneer house.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
TRAINING SCHOOL BUILDING
OF BIRMINGHAM COLLEGE GOES
UP IN SMOKE; DAMAGE is $4,000

The training school building of Birming
ham college was completely destroyed by
fire yesterday afternoon. The damage
Is estimated at about $1,000. with insur-
anee of $780, The fire caught from woods
burning near the college
The Fountain Heights and Graymont
fire stations answered the alarm and
prevented the spread of the flames. The
other buildings of the college were not
damaged.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
DALLAS NEGRO is
HELD FOR MURDER

Selma, January 17.-(Special.) Rob
ert Sheppard. a negro, was arrested by
Deputy Sheriff Keys in the western
part of Dallas county Thursday after
noon on the charge of murder. The
case against the negro will be investi-
gated by the grand jury Of the city
court of Selma, which will convene
here on Monday, and 1t is expected the
case against the negro will be heard
during the present term OF the court
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18

DR.. J. d. Simpson. president of the
college. last night said that there would
be no interruption of classes at the col
lege on account of the fire, but that
provision would be made to care for
the students in other parts of the col
lege.
"Plans will be gotten under way i'm
mediately for a fine new building" said
DR.. Simpson last night, (which will be
rushed to completion"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
Think That the Thirty Day
Suspension Was Suffi-
cient Punishment
DIR. r. M. CUNNINGHAM
ACTS AS SPOKESMAN
Think Bodeker an Excellent Officer.
There Will Be No Haste in Final
Disposition of the Matter,
Says Judge Lane

That the 30 day suspension of Chief of
Police George H. Bodeker was sufficient
punishment, that he had always given
satisfaction to the citizens of Ensley as
chief of police. and that he was an able
and efficient officer was the burden of
presentations made to City Commissioner
of Public Justice A. o. Lane yesterday
afternoon by a delegation of prominent
Ensley citizens.
The delegation was closeted with Com
missioner Lane for some time. DIR. r..
NJ Cunningham acted a spokesman, and
among those present besides Dr. Cunning
ham were Judge C. f. Camp, James NJ.
Donelson, F. L. Ellis, the jeweler, and
others.
I'VE merely had a friendly chat with
Judge Lane in regard to the Bodeker
case stated DR.. Cunningham after the
conference. I'VE stated that as far as We
knew Chief Bodeker had always given
complete satisfaction to the citizens of
Ehsley. We stated that no doubt Mr.
Bcdeker had made a mistake, and that
his suspension was deserved and was
necessary for proper discipline of the po-
lice department, and we commended Judge
Lane not only for his judicial but his ex-
ecutive ability.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18

TICKETS TO THE
PREsIDENTItL
INAUGURATION VIA
sOUTHERN RAILWAY
WILL ALLOW STOP
OVERS AT ALL POINTS,
GOING on RETURNING
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
Sufficiently Punished

2 However, we told Mr.. Lane that as we
believed he desired to hear from as many
people on the subject as were willing
to express themselves canddly and fair
ly. we had called on him to say that in our
estimation the suspension of the police
chief for 80 days was sufficient punish
ment, and at the end of the suspension
he should be reinstated."
"The Ensley delegation told me- said
Mr.. Lane. that they believed Chief
Bodeker was a good officer and able and
competent to fill the office of chief of
police, and | assured them that / was
very glad to hear their views and would
give them ample consideration. told
them that my only idea in the entire
case was to do justice. eand they could
rest assured that as far as | was able
such would be done.
There is no hurry about the Bodeker
matter" stated the commissioner .'ex-
cept the crafty idle curiosity. Chief Bod
eker is suspended without pay for 80 lays,
and as j have repeatedly said there will
be no haste permitted in reaching the final
disposition of his case. It's a matter 10
think over carefully and deliberately.
That's what I'm doing and when | have
made up my mind the result will be pub
licly announced"
The Washington times., 1913-06-30
WILSON'S PREJUDICE
ON COURT IS LOST
President, in Semi-WeekIy In
terview, Indicates Pleasure
Over Lobby investigation.

Although when he went into office,
President Wilson was prejudiced
against a continuation Of the Commerce
Court, he has made up his mind to
maintain an open mind in the present
fight to abolish the court. This much
was Indicated by the President this
morning in his talk with the Washing
ton correspondents. -: go
He declined to discuss in detail his
present opinions regarding the court.
On the other hand, while not express
ing himself openly in the matter. the
President appeared to be much satisfied
over the results being obtained by
the Senate committee which is investi-
eating the lobby. Much that has come
out during the course OF the investiga-
ton. particularly the Mulhall charges.
made public yesterday, was not known
by the President at the time he made
his famous charge that there was q
pernicious lobby at work to defeat the
lobby. ~ ~
Since all these charges have come
out. however. the President is said
to feel not only that the tariff bill
Is certain Of passage without serious
changes, and that the way has been
cleared Of obstacles that might have
seriously handicapped currency and
other reform legislation proposed by
the Administration.