The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-12

Charles Wood and his brother. R. r. city jail last night charged with the murder of Ruth Nell Hinds, the 15- yesr-oId daughter of n. F. Hinds, machinist, who lives at 2121 Avenue C.
 Miss Hinds, who was very pretty girl, was a student at the Wheeler Busi- ness college. and was supposed to have been accidentally drowned on the morn ing of the Fourth of July at Herb Shoals, 32 miles west of Birmingham, of Charles Wood. MT. and Mrs. R. P. Wood and a young woman.
 At the time of the supposed drowning both the Wood brothers gave out inter- views of the alleged accident in which it was stated that Miss Hinds had waded in the shoals near the dark pool where young James Vaughn had been drowned a few days before, as if drawn by a strange fascination to the spot despite the warnings of her companions that she had slipped in the pool and despite the efforts of one of the Woods to save her had drowned It was stated then by R. P Wood that he had nearly been drowned himself in attempting to save his con- panion.
 Startling Chapter
 The arrest of the Wood brothers a startling sequel to the tragedy, followed one week later.
 n, In his opinion his daughter was deliber- ately murdered. He states that there were eyewitnesses to the crime-eyewit- nesses who heard his daughter scream for aid and who saw her assailants choke and hold her head under the water until she was dead.
 R. P (Pete) Woods was arrested at 9 o'clock last night at his place of em- ployment, the market of A. A. Hughes at Fourth alley and Nineteenth street. by Detectives Pittman and "Posey'' Tay- Tor, and was brought to the city jail where he was placed in solitary confine- ment. On the docket was placed the charge of murder.
 Inquiries by newspaper men to Detec- tives Pittman and Taylor availed little and stated that they would reyeal the cause of the arrest of R. P. Wood as soon as another man was caught. The other man was captured at 11:45 o'clock
 Walked Into Jail
 Charles Wood, a paperhanger. walked into the city jail about 45 o'clock last night and inquired if he could make bond for his brother Detectives Pittman and Taylor, who were just starting out for the residence of Charles Wood, recog- nized him talking to Warden Williamson, and promptly informed him that he was Under arrest and would be held without bond
 Charles Wood took his arrest calmly. He would not talk for publication other than to state that he was innocent of end his brother had done all in their power to save the life of Ruth Nell Hlnds. He was then placed in a solitary cell and none are allowed to see him or his brother.
 Both Charles and R. r. Wood live at 901 South Twenty second street They are both young men between the ages of 20 and 25 years of age.
 It was positively stated last night by Chief of Police Martin Eagan that the local police department had been Investigating the drowning of Ruth Nell Kinds ever since last Monday drowning came to Birmingham and told Coroner Charles l.. Spain their story. It was not until yesterday morning that 1t was decided to effect the arrest of the Wood brothers.
 According to the story of the eye witnesses, 1t Is alleged that in some manner Miss Hlnds was insulted and threatened to tell her father of the incident The Wood brothers. accord ing to local detectives. feared the con- sequences of their alleged act and held the girls head under water in an attempt to make her promise not to tell her father. The young girls life, they affirm, was the penalty.
 Mrs. Hinds' Statement
 ''Yes. my little girl was killed" said R. r. Hinds at an early hour this morning In grief stricken tones They that she would tell me what they had said to her. As far as I can find out, the insult took place while the Wood brothers were in bathing with my lit- tie girl because people on the bank heard her say something about tell ing her father and then she screamed. They were eyewitnesses and 1t seems that there Is no doubt in my opnion but that my daughter was purposely drowned"
 At Herb Shoals, according to Coroner Charles L.. Spain. the people there are considerably excited over the drowning of Miss Hfnds It Is there alleged that the Wood brothers ran out of the water and did not assist fin attempts to And the body The body was found when some men from Herb Shoals dove in the river for 1t.
 Coroner Spain. who has been quietly Investigating all the past week, will begin his inquest in the ease within day or two. i FILA
 At police headquarters 1t was stated that Detective Harry Goldstein. who had eo-opsratsA Wath Detectives PtttmAn and