The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-24
CORONER IS AGAIN | STIRRED UP BY THE | OUTCOME OF TRIALS Thinks Laxity Is Directly Responsible For Killing of
 J. w. Alexander NO ARRESTS MADE
 IN CASE YESTERDAY Fifty Dollars Reward Offered by the Knights of Pythias For Men Who
 Killed Storekeeper Tues
 day Night

In bitter denunciatory terms Coroner Charles L. Spain stated last night that indifference in prosecuting persons held by various coroner's juries was respon- sible for the brutal murder of J. w. Alexander at his store, 906 Nineteenth street. north, about 9:s0 o'clock Tues day night. The coroner stated that negroes were encouraged to lawlessness by the fact that if arrested they could with few dollars escape prosecution.
 There were no arrests yesterday in the killing of Alexander. It was stated that Mrs. Alexander. wife of the de- ceased, and a witness of his murder, was still in a highly nervous condition from the shock and was under medical care.
 It became known yesterday that al though Officers Mullins and Rochelle were in the neighborhood when Alex ander was assaulted they were not cog nizant that anything out of the ordi- nary was taking place. It was only when Mrs. Alexander came out of the store with distracted cry of anguish that the officers were made aware of the crime.
 Reward Is Offered
 A reward of $50 was offered yester- day morning by Jefferson Valley lodge No. Il, Knights of Pythias, for the cap ture and conviction of the murderers. It was stated by Commissioner of Pub lie Justice A. O. Lane last night that the reward was not for the police, but for any person who turned up the lf1 r1 f, off iea would not touch the reward, stated the commissioner.
 Despite the reward of $50 and the unusual activities of the police and de- tectives yesterday morning, no arrests were made. Sergeant Darnell stated that the detectives had no description of the negroes and, therefore. were at loss. 1t was stated that even if the negroes were apprehended they could not be positively identified, and unless they confessed it would be impossible to con vict them. This is the attitude of the police regarding the Alexander affair.
 Funeral services over the emains of MT. Alexander will be announced this afternoon upon the arrival of sur viving son from his home in Texas.
 It was regarded yesterday as an odd coincidence, that on the day The Age Herald published the account of the Alexander murder a jury in the criml- nal court should bring in verdict of murder in the first degree against Wash Gray and Bonnie Ward, two ne- groes, who several months ago, as- saulted and robbed Aaron Pollacy, storekeeper in practically the same manner that Alexander was killed.
 Coroner's Statement
 'I am going to investigate and bring to justice if possible the murderers of T 11<~ u,f1 t4 Spain last night "Of course. it is rather dsheartening for me to gather up suf- fiieent evidence to arrest and hold anyone for trial when the trial itself will re- solve into a mere farce as far as active prosecution is concerned.
 To-day in the court of common pleas several persons were turned loose on the public whom ca pablo coroners juries had found upon careful investigation to be implicated criminally in killings They are in a few hours hearing With only few state witnesses present turned out or jail free to prey on the public at large. These persons cannot be blamed, nor their friends for fighting hard for their liberty, and let me tell you they fought well. They had their witnesses on hand. They knew what they wanted and they got it.
 "The criminal in Jefferson county all ways fights well. He knows that by con tinuous fighting and eternal vigilance he will eventually md loOphole which 1n- different prosecution always leaves and escapes the punishment of his crime. will cite case and call names.
 Today. before Judge Aosrnathy, Louis Coins. negro, 60 years of age, who sev- eral days ago killed his father, Jake Coins, aged 90 years, by blowing the top of his head off with a shotgun, was ac- quilted. Self defense was the plea of Louis Coins and he getaway with 1t.
 Now at this trial before Judge Aber- nathy there was no prosecutor present. Judge Abernathy was alone and had to conduct the prosecution as well as try the case. The negro, Louis Coins. had all his friends and relatives present, and they all appeared as witnesseSfor him.
 "But I am not satisfied with the result in the Coins case, nor in several other cases, and I will personally take it up with the grand jury. It will not do very much good, perhaps, but I am going to present all the evidence of recent mur- ders in my possession to the grand jury and let them do what they like about 1t. I am not going to be a party to encourage ing crime. This lack of active prosecution is responsible for the fact that negro des- perados are patrolling the streets It is responsible for brutal murders such as the Alexander killing. Think of it, killing a valuable citizens for SIT. It makes my blood run cold. Let the citizens think of