davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20

horse lashed to a gallop by the other
two. They fired their last cartridges
at the oncoming guards, who poured in
a deadly fire from horseback.
Even after the three escaped men
were lying dead in the bottom of the
careening buggy, the frightened horse
dashed onward until felled by a bullet
from the pursuers. How the men OBJ
tanned the weapons and planned the es-
cape has not been discovered, but a
rigid inquiry will be begun soon
Dead:
John r. Thomas. Muskogee, formerly
United States district Judge.
ii. H. Drover, superintendent Bertil-
Ion department.
Patrick Oates. assistant deputy war
den.
F. C. Godfrey, guard.
China Reed, under sentence of two
years for larceny.
Tom Lane, Pauls Valley, under five
year sentence for forgery.
Charles KoontZ, Comanche county.
serving 4Oyear sentence for man
slaughter.
Wounded:
John Martin. turnkey, shot through
cheek
C. l. Wood. guard. shot through arm
Mary Foster. telephone operator, shot
through leg.
The attempted mutiny occurred at
Continued on Page Nine)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20

Despite the commotion caused by
4he three men in trying to shoot down
.everyone who came in their way, no
general attempt was made by other
convicts to join in the delivery. The
three mutineers were encouraged by
their less desperate fellows who
cheered the onslaught of the armed
prisoners.
So rapidly did the three convicts
shoot down those in their path that
they reached the prison gate before
the guards could return their fire.
The desperadoes had taken the keys
from the turnkey, John Martin, whom
they had wounded, and had sheltered
themselves through the prison yard
by holding Mary Foster, telephone
operator, in front of them until the
only shot fired by guards in the yard
hit the girl in the leg.
Seize Buggy and Dash Away
Outside the gate the men seized the
horse and buggy of Warden Dick and
dashed away, only to be shot to death
by pursuing guards. One of the con-
victs fought to the last. the stolen
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
TODAY'S AGE-HERALD

1-Seven killed; one injured when
prisoners dash for liberty.
Chicago urged for regional bank site.
South celebrates Lee anniversary.
Williams formerly made comptroller.
Man confesses killing wife to marry
stepdaughter
Leaders arrange to cooperate on trust
legislation.
2-Mims Jemison dies in Tuscaloosa.
3-vanderlip confers with Stillman.
4-Editorial comment
5-Chief Bennett makes report.
Bodeker and Austin get in race for
sheriff.
A. G. s. to make extensive improve
ments. "a
Morning medley Of days doings.
6-Society.
7-Sports.
s-Franklin dinner of printers successful.
8-Hobson speaks at Bessemer
1s-Bill now before House provides for
federal aid.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
MAN WHO SUICIDED
IN SAN FRANCISCO
IDENTIFIED BY son

San Francisco, January 19.--James Ham
NETT of Wynne, Ark. today telegraphed
the coroner that the man who shot him
SELF in q hotel here Friday night with The
revolver which his woman companion had
A n. ilf mmett. The younger Hammett
wired instructions to hold the body of the
man
A. H. Iiammett formerly was an official
of Cross county. Ark. He held several Of
fees and 1t was when he was county
treasurer that he left under cloud. Mrs
sallie Blanch Wood Shoemaker OF
Wynne, who left her husband three weeks
after her marriage. ostensiby on trip
to California for her health. is supposed
to be the woman who killed herself
moment before Hammett ended his life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
DALLAS EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE TO MEET

Selma, January -(Special)-Ch Chairman
w. j. Rountree of the Dallas county
democratic executive committee today is
sued a call for meeting of that body to
be held in Selma at the courthouse n
roon on Friday. January 30. A notice to
each member of the committee was
mailed today and 1t is expected the ses-
sion will be attended by practically every
member of the committee The meeting
of the committee will be for the purpose
of fixing date for the holding of the
county primaries which will be set for
the same date as the state primaries.
Practically the same rules and regula'
tions which were adopted by the stale
committee to govern the state primarie IS
will be adopted by the county committee
and with the fixing of the assessments
against the different candidates the mee,-
ing will adjourn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
FRANCE STILLSUFFERS
FROM SNOW AND COLD

Paris, January 19.-Heavy SHOWS and
continued cold in France threaten a ma
tional calamity. Steps were taken today
to restore railway communication in
southern Trance. where 1t has been at
standstill The first train In three
days between France and Spain got
through TO Cerbere today, but more than
20 other provincial lines are completely
out of service.
The minister or war has authorized gar
rison commanders to utilize troops in
diggi.g out snow bound trains
temperature of 4 below zero Fahren-
heit has been registered in the depart
ment OF Haute-Loire and s below zero
in tie Auvergne region. Meteorologists
find that the rigors of this winter equal
those Of the historic seasons Of 1888 and
1S70.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
ADMITS KILLING
WIFE TO MARRY
HIS STEPrs: rs:suHTER
Robert Higgins Confesses
to HeiniOus Crime i'm
Galesburg, Ill.
GIRL TELLS JURY
OF INFATUATION
Verdict of Accidental Death Had
Been Returned by Coroner's
Jury-Breaks Down After
Questioning

Galesburg. Ill, January 19.-Robert
dered his wife at New Henderson, H.,
January 8, SO he would be free TO mar
ry his step daughter, Julia Flake, Is
years old. He was arrested after the
girl told States Attorney John NJ. Will
son of Mercer county of her infatuation
for Higgins and that she importuncd
him to dispose of her mother VINO. she
said, was the only obstacle between her
and happiness
The prosecutor hesitated to believe
the girls story of the pact she en-
tered into with her stepfather. but was
told how they had schemed to devise
plan which would make Mrs. Hig-
gins death appear accidental She said
she was in the next room when Higgins
1red the shot gun which brought in
stant death to her mother She told
how Higgins raved and struggled with
neighbors for possession of the gun,
saying he would end his own life. Then
when the excitement subsidized some
what, she said, they explained thar
Higgins had been cleaning the gun and
1t was discharged accidentally.
Story Convincing
Their story was so convincing the
coroners jury returned a verdict of ac-
cidental death. Later C. w. Ernest, a
maternal uncle of the girl, took two
letters written by Julia Flake, one to
himself and one to his daughter, to
States Attorney Wilson. In these let
ters the girl offered part of legacy of
$1,000 she is to receive when she be-
comes of age, provided they would help
her to kill her mother. Mr.. Wilson
thought the letters were written in a
fit of anger but he Investigated. He
called In States Attorney A. j. Boutelle
of Knox county and Sunday they went
to see Julia. who was at the home of
another uncle, A. j. Ernest, at Hermon.
They We're astounded by her story.
Higgins. who is % years of age and
several years the junior of the woman
he killed, was found today at New
Henderson. He broke down after sew
eral hours questioning.
IL can't stand Dit any longer" he
moaned. "Ill tell everything"
Higgins signed a typewrtten con
fession. He gave what he said were all
the details of the murder plot and as
serted his infactuation for his step
daughter was the cause of ii all.
He said Mrs. Higgins became aware
of his relations with her daughter, and
they planned to get rid of her.
The girl became hysterieal on learn
ing of Higgins confession.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
Six Witnesses Examined
FERTILIZER TAG
RECEIPTS HEAVY

Montgomery. January 1s.-tSpeciall
Fertilizer tag receipts for the present
month will be considerably heavier than
In January. 1918. according to Capt. John
c. Cheney. chief clerk in the state de-
partment Of agriculture and industries
Captain Cheney expects the receipts for
the present month to be between $4,000
and $4,000. Tags are being shipped out
IN large quantities every day, the balmy-
weather of the past two weeks being
largely responsible for the heavy sales.
The sales will probably continue In
large quantities until March l. by whi n
time dealers have usually purchased
their full supply.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
WILLIAMS FORMALLY
MADE COMPTROLLER
Senate Confirms Nomination in Executive Sesson-Burton
Smith Offer Only Opposition Join Colleagues
in Holding Bank Hearings Immediately

Washington, January 19.-The nomi-
nation of John Shelton Williams, now
assistant Secretary of the Treasury, to
be comptroller Of the currency and as
such, ex-officio member of the federal
reserve bank board. was confirmed by
the Senate in executive session late to
day.
The only opposition to the confirma-
ators Bristow of Kansas and William
Alden Smith of Michigan. Senator
Bristow reviewed the action of Mr.. Will
liams in depositing funds with the Nun.
sey Trust company when it took over
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
CHICAGO URGED FOR
REGIONAL BANK SITE
BY WESTERN BANKS
Consider It Settled in Ad-
vance That Windy City
Will Secure the Plum.
Opinions on Territory

Chicago. January 19-That bankers in
the middle west regard it as settled in
advance that one of the regional reserve
banks to be established by the govern
ment will be at Chicago was made evil
dent here today at the hearing before
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo and
Secretary of Agriculture Houston. 1t also
appeared certain the bankers felt that a
minneapolis or st. Paul
Chicago bankers today at the request of
the secretaries gave their opinions as to
tle territory to be served by the Chicago
reserve bank.
Iowa and Detroit, Michigan bankers re-
quested that their territory to be included
in the Chicago division and Minneapolis
bankers presented the claims of that city
to the northwest regional bank
st. Paul Not Represented
Secretary McAdoo asked if any one
were present to speak for st. Paul, but
there was no response. 1t is acknowl-
edged, however, tina. the claims of the
i. other twin cities subsequently may be
presented.
J. G. Rounds of Des Moines, Frank Ep-
person of Eddyville, Q. NJ. Davis of Iowa
City and John McHugh of Sioux City,
urged that not only all Iowa but Nebra ska
and that part of South Dakota served by
Sioux City banks should be included in
the Chicago territory. 1t was inconceiv-
able, they declared that Iowa should be
annexed to any financial center other
than Chicago. Similar arguments were
put forward by George II. Russell and
William j. Gray of Detroit.
I'VE do the bulk of our business with
Chicago said Mr.. Russell. 1T would
be a great error to attach us to some
eastern territory. Later when more
banks are established than the original
eight contemplated Detroit will wish to
have regional bank of her own"
The hearings will continue tomorrow.
Joseph Chapman, vice president of
the Northwestern National bank of
Minneapolis, explained that he thought
Minneapolis should be recognized be-
cause of the big grain business there.
He said he believed the New Yorkbank
should be as large as possible.
The New York bank should stand
. bulwark between Europe and the
United States he said Europe will
be more Impressed with the scheme
the larger you make the New York
bank. 1 believe personally there should
be bank at Few York, Chicago. Ros-
ton, San Francisco, Minneapolis and
Kansas City or st. Louis, Philadelphia
or Baltimore, New Orleans of Atlanta .
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20

the United States Trust company in
this city to avert a panic.
Senator's Reed of Missouri, Martin OF
| Virginia. Mr.. Williams home state, and
| Chiffon of West Virginia, praised the
liability of the Presidents nominee for
the important post and urged his con-
| flrmation.
| There was no roll call on the con-
! firmation and the only voice heard
against 1t was that of Senator Bristow
when the viva voca vote was taken.
Mr.. Williams becomes an immediate
member of the organization committees
now holding hearings and the west to
determine on locations for the federal
reserve banks. and the new comptroller
will prepare to join his colleagues Sec
retaries McAdoo and Houston as soon
! as possible
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
PUBLISHERS OF SOUTH
MEET IN KNOXVILLE

Knoxville, January ia committee of
southern newspaper publishers is in ses-
sion in this city today for the purpose
of devising ways and means for the in
auguration of a broad campaign CT pub
licity for the entire south. The plan
contemplates exploiting to the people of
all sections of this country and of other
nations the industrial and commercial
opportunities offered and the natural re-
sources that are latent in the SOUTH
The campaign is to be financed by
leading southern newspapers in proper
ton to their respective circulation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
BROKEN RAIL DIRECT CAUSE
OF CLAYTON c.. OF GA. WRECK
Inspector Belnap Submits Report Of AccdentBad Tracks
and Excessive Speed Material Contributing Causes-Rec-
ommends That the Speed Limit be Definitely Stated

Washington. January 19.--(Special) }
r. w. Belknap. chief inspector of
safety appliances. has submitted his
report on the accident which occurred
on the Central of Georgia railroad near
Clayton. Ala. November 13, which re-
suited in the death of nine passengers
and the injury of $50 other passengers
anc one employee.
Mr. Belknap declares that while the
direct cause of the wreck was due 10
a broken rail, bad track conditions and
speed Inconsistent with safety were ma
terial contributing causes. He states
that the track In the vicinity of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20

wreck was in 'deplorable condition.
he points out the section boss had In
Is days found IA broken rails. Is OF
which had been patched and left In the
track. He declares that the maximum
speed permitted as shown by the mini
mum time between stations on thts
road is not safe with the track condi-
tion that prevails
Mr. Belknap recommended that speed
limit on that branch be definitely stated
in miles per hour and placed low
enough to insure comparative safety for
trains over the patched rails and rot
ten ties composing this track"
Arkansas. ssSS.T50; Kansas. S77s.75O:
Missouri, sl.01s.750; New Mexico, $780,
0eo. Oklahoma, y572.500.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
Body of Man Found

Canton. Miss. January 19.-The body of
an unidentified man was found IN pit
near the ice factory here today. 1t had
been placed in sack and then wrapped
in a quilt Several bullet holes were in
the body and it had been mutilated with a
sharp instrument. A coat bore the label
Dixie Tailoring Co., Memphis Tenn"
A letter was fround signed Gagliardo Do
rotia dated Bagheria. Italy. The police
are investigating.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
BILL WOULD GIVE ALABAMA
S578,75O FOR GOOD ROADS
Supplemental Report or Measure Appropriate
Year for Federal Aid to Road CONSTRUCTION Filed
in House Of Shakelford

priation among the states in proportion
| to the rural delivery routes and post roads
in each state. Tables setting forth the
mileage of these roads I'M each state were
included in the report fled today.
Another table gave the amount of fed
erai aid which states might receive under
the provisions of the bill. The amounts
for the southern states were fixed as fol-
lows:
Alabama. $57S, $50; Florida, s1s3. $50; Geor-
eia. $771, 80; Kentucky, s5SS. $780, Louisiana,
$500. 500; Mississippi. s473.75O; North Caro-
lima. $66O00O; South Carolina. $4,000; Ten
nessee N06. 80: Texas. N.126.2 25o; virginia.
$5s1. go
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
MOTHERS PENSIONS
PROPOSED IN BILL

Washington, January l9.Mothers
pensions were proposed today In a bin
introduced by Representative German OF
Illinois. All widowed mothers having
one or more children under Is years and
made dependent by death or disa bility
would be placed upon the roll for $40 to
SIS a month.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20

Washington, January ia supplement
tal report on the bill to appropriate $25,-
900 a year for federal aid to road
in the various states was
hled in the House today by Represen-
tative Shackelford chairman of the House
roads commmittee. In special rule max
ing this bill in order as an amendment
to the postoffice appropriation bill, now
before the House, 1t probably will be acted
upon tomorrow by the rules commit
-
Ths bill proposes to divide the appro-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
OFFICIALS YIELD TO
LABORERS;D & H.
STRIKE IS SETTLED
5000 Railroad Employees
Walk Out and Business is
Paralyzed Until De-
mands Are Met

Albany, n. Y, January 19.-The strike
was settled tonight. Company officials
met the unions demands that they re-
store two discharged employees. Engineer
James Lynch and Conductor = A. Sla 70,
TO their former positions All strikers
will return to duty Immediately.
G.. w. w. Hanger, member of the fed
eral board of mediation and conciliatior /,
brought about the agreement
A settlement was reached only after
Mr.. Hanger had suggested to company
officials that they yield to the demands
of the men. Arbitration, he declared, was
impossible.
Normal conditions would be restored in
two hours union officials promised at $3.50
clock.
AS soon as Clifford S. Sims, vice pres
ident and general manager of the railway,
and union officials had signed the agr"r
ment orders were sent out for men to
report for work as quickly as possible.
Many crews that had been tied up at
terminal points were notified by tel -
graph to resume their runs without re-
porting here
Discharged Year Ago
Slade and Lynch were discharged mo y
than year ago when a car on their train
Jumped the track and bumped along the
ties for three and a half miles. Thcy
We're discharged on the ground that they
We're negligent and had violated COM
rany rule and caused much damage Ia
property. The union officials replied thai
the accident was unavoidable and that
no serious damage was done.
For several months the company and
union officials debated the proposition
Of restoring the men to work. A week
ago 9S per cent of the employees voted 10
strike If Slade and Lynch were not re-
stored.
Early today the first body of men
walked out. From then on until noon
engineers, conductors, trainmen, telc-
graph operators and towermen gradually
quit as soon as the safety of passenger;
would permit. AT noon it was estimated
that 5000 men were out, and the enti
system was paralyzed. Shop workers
and officers employees alone remained on
duty It was less than two hours after
the last striker had left his work thai
Mr. Hanger arrived here from New York
and began negotiations with the two
sides. Mr.. Sims agreed Immediately to
an arbitration. but union officials were
firm in their demands. Within an hour
Hanger decided arbitration was impos-
sible. So he drew up an agreement grant,
ing the demands, obtained Mr.. Sims sig
nature and the strike was declared off a
few minutes later
In a statement issued after the agree
ment had been signed Mr.. Sims said
that the company officials had yielded
to serve the best interests of the public.
tCOntinued ON Page Eight
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
7 KILLED; [ INJURED
WHEN PRISONERS
DASH FOR LIBERTY
Three Inmates Oklahoma State Penentiary Armed Will
Revovers Engage in Pistol Duel With Authorizes IN
Effort to Escape-John r. Thomas Killed

McAester Okla. January 19-Seven men were shot to
Heath and three persons wounded today when three
vcts attempted escape from the state penenary and
slain by guards Of the murdered by convcs in their
mad dash for liberty John r. Thomas of Muskogee former
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
Notre Dame Will Meet Yale

Notre Dame. Ind, January 19.-Notre
Dame university's football team will play
the Yale eleven at New Haven on October
II. The Notre Dame officials announced
late today that the agreement for the
game had been signed by both institu-
tiOns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
MENTAL FACULTIES
OF SPEER BAD, SAYS
MACON ATTORNEY
Testimony as to Mental Con-
dition of United States
Judge Is Heard-Six
Witnesses Examined

Macon. Ca, January 19.-Testimony
as to the mental condition of Judge
Emory Speer of the United States court,
southern district of Georgia, was given
this afternoon before the subcommittee
of the House committee on judiciary,
which is conducting an inquiry into
charges of official misconduct on the
part of the jurist
Judge r. L. Smith, leading member
of the Macon bar. declared that Judge
Speer's mental faculties were, in his
opinion, bad, impaired, variant"
Previous to this he had testified that
at one time he had believed Judge
| Speers perception to be the quickest,
strongest and clearest of any man l
have ever had to deal with
He declared that conditions In Judge
Speer's court were unsatisfactory, and
that the court does not possess the
con nfidence of the people. He declared
| this to be because Judge Speer's S
course is high banded, domineering, die
| tatorial and characterized in a measure
! by favoritism."
Two Negro Witnesses
| Another development Of the session
was the introduction of two negro wit
nesses to show that Judge Speer had
| imposed fines without jurisdiction OF
| law Kerney Wright, assistant janitor
at the Macon federal building. and
Emma Powers, assistant janitress, ad-
mitted that they had been ordered to
| pay 81 each for failure to properly
! perform their duties.
The two negroes denied having been
fired $40 each for dereliction of duty.
Judge Speer and counsel smiled
broadly at this testimony, apparently
treating the affair as joke. Mem
|bers of the committee also appeared
to be amused.
Cecil Morgan. deputy clerk of the
United States court for the, southern
district of Georgia, and a brother-in-
law of Judge speer, was introduced to
prove the time at which the mandate
of the supreme court of the United
States had been issued in the appealed
habeas corpus case of Henry Jemison,
and the time at which 1t had been made
a judgment of the lower court. He
testified that the mandate was issued
on November "a. 1905. and was filed
as record of the lower court on June
s, 1906.
Six Witnesses Examined
The committee examined six wit
nesses during the day. adjourning at
$50 in the afternoon until 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning. Chairman Webb at
times showed a disposition to expedite
tho proceedings and frequently advised
attorneys for Judge Speer to confine
their question to pertinent issues.
Judge Speer was present in court
throughout the day and advised con-
stantly with counsel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
Several Hurt in Collision

Geneva. Switzerland, January ia to-
boggan with five schooboys aboard col
lided today with an automobile contain
ing three Americans and several of the
boys were seriously injured. The Amer
icars were not held as the accident was
considered unavoidable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
Steamer Aground

Washington, January 19-Some uni
Identified steamer is aground in ST. Lucie
inlet. Florida, according to wireless dis
patches received today by Acting Com
mandant Emery of the revenue cutter
bureau
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
THREE HUNDRED
VOLCANO REFUGEES
BURIED UNDER CLIFF
Fresh EruptiOns of Volcano
Sakura-Jima Cause Re-
vival of Death and
Destruction

Kagoshima, Japan, January 19-Fresh
eruptions of the volcano of Sakura-Jima.
which recently caused such widespread
devastation, occurred today.
They were accompanied by earthquake
shocks and violent subterranean noises.
The governor, Hokkaido. today esti-
mates that about 100000 people on the
Island of Kiushiu will need relief and
that about $3.50O,0OO will be required.
Three hundred refugees from Sakura
We're buried under a falling cliff in a
neighboring village today A hundred
bodies were recovered.
This new danger rs a result of the
volcanic eruptions and earthquakes which
fo- week past have devastated the
Island of Sakura and made wreck of
this city.
The eruptions and earthquake shocks
continue with activity much subdued.