The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-24
SPAIN IS READY To
COOPERATE WITH
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
But He Asks What Would
Be Good of Special Cor
Oner's Jury and No
Evidence

Coroner Charles L. Spain stated last
night that he would cooperate with
the suggestion of the governor of
Alabama for a special coroner's jury to
Investigate .he recent mysterious
sassinations If the chief executive of the
state or the board of revenue of Jeffer
son county provided sufficient funds to
conduct an exhaustive inquiry. Ac-
cording to the coroner. funds must be
provided for the adequate investiga-
ton of crime in jefferson county or
citizens will soon have to go armed
in order to protect themselves
Monday morning. said Coroner
Spain, there We're nine inquests into
murders awaiting my attention. l was
under the impression that | would be
able to settle several of these cases by
the end of the week, but as yet
have been unable to even visit my Of
flee owing to the fact that there have
been several other killings since then
which necessitated my attention.
ION Monday j. e. sullivan was shot
by unknown persons at Jett, in the
western part of the county. He died
from his wounds. That night Sam
Agee, a negro, was shot and killed by
his WIFE, Maggie Agee She is in Jail
Again, on Monday night. Cleo Jones.
a negro, died in local infirmary from
injuries received In a fight Saturday
night His assailant, Charlie Johnson.
is in jail And today a negro, Sam
Bains, who, | understand. is an out
law, was killed by deputies; also a
white man was killed In Bessemer in
an accident and there have been a few
sudden deaths on which l was called
to make out a death certificate. The
question Is: When win l catch up with
my docket?
Now the governors suggestion is all
right. l have no kick against 1t al
though 1t has a political Significance
Still, If a special coroner's jury Is i'm
paneled, what good can 1t do If there is
no evidence to submit before 1t? In
the Lewisburg cases. ! understand ev-
erything was in readiness when the
special coroner's jury was impaneled
The sherffs office had case made out
against the Jones boys; they had tn cir
witnesses all subpoenaed and ready for
the inquisition. But now 1t is differ
emit
There have been several assassina-
tions, it is true, and the police and
sheriffs office have done their best
with with the limited means at their
command. And yet. after placing all
the men and funds at their command,
the authorities have so far sgnally
failed to bring forth one shred of tam
gible evidence in either the Thomas.
Davidson, Brookins or Houlihan kill
ings. These killings are just as much
| of a mystery now as they were the
night they happened. My books show at
least a half dozen others within the
past year just as mysterious and which
as yet remain unsolved.
80 ] ask the question of the gov
ernor: What good would a special cor
oners jury do at the present time? Does
the governor want me to place good,
capable men on jury service at 81 a
day and send them out about the
streets of the city seeking evidence
does he want these jurymen to act as
| detectives and seek their own evidence
on these mysterious assassinations?
This is for the governor to answer.
my answer to the governor Is that
he should provide or should see that the
hoard of revenue of Jefferson county
provides funds for the employment of
| capable detectives to work on these
cases and when sufficient evidence Is
gathered then we shall have special
coroner's Jury That is the proper meth :
| cd What is needed Is funds-ample
funds. an active public interest in the
prosecution of alleged murders and ef-
ficient detectives to cooperate with the
l soIicitor and coroner's office. AT pres
emf the handicaps of my office are an
Il announcement to any person with
y,,urder on his mind.