The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-04
NOSOLUT|ONFOR MURDER MYSTERIES FOUND BY GOVERNOR Coroner Advised to Proceed Along Lines He Had AL
 ready Mapped Out S-"NOGRAPHER TO
 TAKE TESTIMONY Heflin Says Coroner Will Be Given Legal Assistance-Rewards Are
 Offered by the Governor for
 Apprehension of Criminals
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

Despite the continuous conference yes- terday between the governor of Alabama, Commissioner A. O. Lane, Coroner Spain and Solicitor Heflin, no murder mystery was unraveed, no criminal brought to justice.
 The governor, in the afternoon, an- nounced that the state would pay a re- ward of s2O0 for the capture and convic- tion of each of five murderers who in the ro9.nt iast killed in Jefferson county. He aGdoulIe1 furthermore that the state would pay the stenographer who report ed the investigations of Corner Spain S25 per week. He announced also that if So- licitor Heflin was unable to furnish an at- torney to assist the coroner the attorney general would do so.
 Inasmuch as Solicitor Heflin assured Coroner Spain that he would be rein forced by legal counsel, the state attor- ney will not be necessary. The schedule which the coroner had already adopted for the purpose of arriving at solutions of mysteries was approved He will there fore continue to do as he is now doing taking testimony in each of five sensa- tional cases in which the citizens have been more or less interested. The coroner is now Investigating the mysterious as- sassination of Joseph w. Brookins. Early next week he will endeavor to solve the mystery connected with the murder of Moses Houlihan.
 The governor displayed keen interest in the local situation and made it plain that he stood ready to render any assistance ccih :. however, when the governor departed for Horseshoe Bend without announcing a new plan or process which might be foI- lowed with success in the attempt to cap ture and punish murderers.
 Thursday night he had a mysterious conference with Solicitor Heflin. and requested that that fact be not made public. Yesterday he conferred a sec ond time with the solicitor, and later with Coroner Spain and City Commits soner A. O. Lane. With each of these officials he discussed the crime record of Jefferson county. At the conclusion of the strenuous work, he announced that no mystery had been solved, and no criminal brought to justice
 I have offered reward of $200," the governor said, for the capture and conviction of each of five murderers. The coroner is proceeding wisely believe. There is reason to hope that solutions will be arrived at, and Jeff ferson county made happier"
 The governor discussed the need of . state constabulary, but did not com init himself when asked if he would recommend the appointment of such a body to the legislatu He was also noncommittal when asked in regard to special sesion of the legislature. He scored the fee system, which he de- clared to be iniquitous, and then ex- pressed an opinion to the effect that for the eradication of that system in Jefferson county, the expense of spe- cial sesion of the legislature would be too great.
 In the various conferences in and around the Tutwiler hotel yesterday there was considerable interest. When the governor, accompanied by Mrs O'Neal, Miss O'Neal, Gen. Joseph B. Scully. Dr. Chapman, Major Locke and -nl. Hestor D. Lane, the officers being members of his personnel staff. de- parted there was apparent disappofht- ment in that neither of the murde CT mysteries had been solved The gov ernor and party left in the afternoon for Horseshoe Bend where today will occur the celebration of the centennial of the battle fought there between General Jackson's riflemen and the h. dianS