davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
DRESNER TELLS WHY
 HE MADE EFFORT
 TO CLEAR GUNMEN

New York, May 4.-Kar1 Dresner, who was an eleventh hour witness for the four slayers of the gambler, Her. man Rosenthal, in their effort to se- cure new trial, gave out what he de- scribed as a confession today in the Tonibs, where he is awaiting trial on a charge of purjury as result of his testimony on behalf of the gunmen. An affidavit telling how he came to swear to false statements was made to Dis trict Attorney Whitman two days after the gunmen were executed in Sing Sing prison, but the prosecutor never has made the next of 1t public.
 In his confession today, made 4s hours before Charles Becker, the for mer police lieutenant, is placed on trial for the second time as the instigator of RosenthaIs murder. Dresner in volved Becker's brother, John Becker who is a police lieutenant. and two at torneys Charles Becker's trial will be begun Wednesday.
 Dresner told how. eight days before The gunmen were executed, he was ap- preached to become a witness for them
 He made an affidavit which he sup ported with testimony before Supreme Court Justice Golf in effect exonerat- ing the doomed men and duplicating several other underworld characters witnesses for the state in Becker's S first trial. who probably will testify again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05

men. lahorers, millworkers. miners, shoe makers. teamsters. coke drawers and peo- nle engaged in other vacations. It Is ut terly impraeticabie for the railroads to police their rights of way. and in this age of intelligence 1t ought not to be necessary to point out the dangers of track-walking and train jumping. So the slaughter goes on. the fault not being with the railroads. but with foolhardy folk. who, to save a little time or suit their own notions of convenience, put themselves in jeopardy.
 One factor initiating against efforts to discourage and punish trespassing is found among local authorities and par tieularly among those in charge CT county finance in some sections. They object to the expense incurred in maintaining pris- oners committed for invading railroad property. and thus there is encouraged in feeling that is perfectly permissible to use the right of way or anything else that is accessible for the accommodation Of the public without let or hindrance.
 Possibly when attention is called to ths continued and increasing sacrifice of life resulting from these abuses and the con- sequent economic loss. some advance n reducing casualties can be accomplished. The railroads are doing all they can to rid themselves of a nuisance which is both expense and distressing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
THREE DROWNEDA AND. OTHERS MISSING IN
 FLOOD IN OKLAHOMA
Railroad Bridges Washed Away-Crops Destroyed. Swollen Rivers Take
 Heavy Toll

Oklahoma City. May 4.-Three persons others missing; F railroad bridges and several wagon bridges. valued at approxi- mately half a million dollars, wrecked; ; bottom land crops for 400 miles along the Canadian and POO miles along the Cim- arron rivers in western <oklahoma de- stroyed; train service paralyzed and tele- phone communication to large section of western Oklahoma cut off, was the toll of the floods which yesterday and today swept down the Canadian and Cimarron rivers.
 The dead:
 w. F. Werner. bridge superintendent, Rock Island railroad, headquarters Fl Reno.
 w. F. Noland, GeAry, Rock Island bridge carpenter.
 Leo Lininger, Geary, bridge worker
 Two young women, daughters of Perry Bright. a farmer. are reported to have been drowned at the village of Two Points, but the report could not be veri- fed
 Werner, Noland and Lininger lost their lives when the Rock Island railroad bridge over the South Canadian river at Bridgeport was swept away. The men were placing string of box cars on the bridge to weight it down when the struc- ture collapsed. Three other workmen swan to trees along the bank of the river and were rescued.
 Along the South Canadian river eight of Is bridges were either washed away or badly damaged and along the Cinar- ron west of Guthrie only two of the six remained intact when the waters began to recede tonight.
 Four of the bridpes wrecked were Rock Island properties and three were
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
WATERWORKS CASE
 IN CIRCUIT COURT
Proceedings Seeking to An null Franchise Being
 Heard by Crow

Quo warranto proceedings seeking to annul the charter and franchise of the Birmingham waterworks company are being heard before Judge E. C. Crow or the circuit court. The petition was filed by the city in the name of the state of Alabama ex rel James Weath erly ct al and alleged that the water works company had violated it's con tract with the city by enforcing charges for sprinkling and other serv ice.
 City Attorney Romaine Boyd is rep resenting the city and is assisted by c. R. Harsh and M M. Ullman. Wal kcr Percy and Augustus Benners Of Birmingham and Frank Spurlock of Chattanooga are counsel for the de- fendant company. A large number of witnesses have been summoned and 1t is expected that the hearing will last all week
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
Walking on the Tracks

From the Pittsburg Gazette-Times.
 In 1918 there were la7 persons killed and 556 injured while trespassing on the prop erty of the Pennsylvania Railroad com pany, Of the number killed 250 were un- identified and most of them were tramps. Against the practice of these gentry in taking to trains or the ties there is little use in protesting. and eevn with severe application of laws when they are appre- hended and arrested not much progress is made in getting rid of them. But when il is pointed out that the other 247 whc met death were useful citizens, P of them women. and that the injured necessarily included a large proportion of the same kind. the serious loss to the community growing out of railroad trespass Is ap parent.
 In the long roll of trespassers killed thus last year were farmers, bakers, glass workers. carpenters. coachmen. fisher.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
BIRMINGIAM'S NEW "CITY
 BEAUTIFUL" DEPARTMENT

From United States government bulletin
 No. 4A.
 ..As has already been suggested, trees and shrubs upon small places should oe- cupy subordinate positions. They should not be scattered promiscuously over the surface of the lawn. but should be used in groups about the border of the grounds. in the bays of walks and drives and about the foundation of the architec- tural features of the place.
 Street trees of necessity must be plant ed in rows, but all other adornments in the form of trees and shrubs should be used in, free rather than a formal fash ion. Sheared hedges of box or privet along the front of a place or upon the borders of the walks and drives are sell dom or never desirable features. unless the whole treatment of the place is for mal specimen tree or shrub Is proper ly located upon the lawn so as to break up the harrenness of a corner or to limit the vision in any direction is an appro- priate object. Oftentimes trees and shrubs can be used to good effect in the imme- diate vicinity of the buildings for soften ing or relieving staring architectural lines. 
 "Of late many plans for the decoration of gardens and grounds have suggested the use of trees and shrubs more in the manner of placing fences and statuary than as living objects, carrying individ- uality. The aim should be to preserve the natural lines and characteristics pe- euliar to each species of Liant used in any decorative scheme rather than to shape the plant into artificial forms
 Tt is the height of folly to prune ever greens in the form of Chinese vases, ami mals and articles of furniture This type of distorture is becoming altogether too prevalent in the mad rush toward the supposed return to nature. Let us not forget that in the treatment of our places that nature unadorned Is adorned most, and that the normal, naturally pruned tree or shrub is much more beau tiful than the one which has been trimmed into mimicry of some artificial object.
 Shurbs as Screens
 Trees and shrubs should be used to con ceal unsightly objects in the foreground or in the background, to give surprises,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05

and 10 give the feeling of discovery in passing from one portion of large es- tate to another, and for the purpose Of in- creaslng the apparent length in drives which double back upon themselves in parks and pleasure grounds. Evergreens which are used upon the lawn should have the lower branches preserved go as to produce the effect of arising from the ground not merely by n single stem, but as a mass. Shrubbery groups should also be chosen so as to carry the foliage of the group to the greehsward rather than to present considerable extent of bare walk between the foliage of the shrub and the lawn.
 As was stated at the outset. the lawn Is the canvass upon which the archtec- tural and landscape effects are to he pro duced and all the artificial structures should be made to harmonize with the contour of the ground and with the gen- eral scheme of the place SO as to pro- duce harmonious and pleasing pictures" !"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05

owned by the Frisco system. Other roads affected are the Missouri, Kan sas and Texas, the Wichita Falls and Northwestern, Kansas City, Mexico and Orient and the Santa Fe system.
 Late tonight a Midland Valley bridge near Stigler is reported in dan ger of collapse. At Eufaula 200 cit zens of the town have formed a vol unteer crew to assist in holding Missouri, Kansas and Texas bridge.
 Couriers sent through the lowlands warned inhabitants of the coming flood and it is believed all farmers reached the highlands in safety. Personal pos sessions were left behind, however, and were swept away.
 The Arkansas river, into which both streams flow. is reported below nor nal and unless the two crests should meet serious damage along that stream Is not anticipated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
Literal Interpretation

From the National Monthly.
 A dealer in horse flesh received word one day that his favorite Black Beauty" had been accidentally killed in an auto mobile accident. Thereupon he ordered his servant to go and skin the animal.
 What. Is Black Beauty dead?" asked Tim, in genuine amazement.
 What's that to you? Do as I bid you and ask no questions.
 Tim went about his business and in about three hours returned.
 Well, Tim, where have you been all this time?' sternly demanded his em- ployer
 'Skinnin the horse, sir answered Tim.
 Does it take nearly three hours to per form such an operation?"
 No. sir: but then. you see. 1t tuck bout half an hour to catch her. replied Tim.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
NEWS OF ENSLEY

The regular meeting of the EnHley Commercial club will be held tonight at the rooms of the inferior court at s O clock Among the matters to be dis cussed will be the protest against the action of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company in putting electric fans on a metre rate. The loca- tion of the playground will also be dis cussed, and it is understood a mojority of the members favor Ensley park as the site for the playgrounds. Other sites considered are the grounds of the Wesley House and of the Minor school.
 A score or more of old veterans, mem- bers of camp Pat Cleburne, will leave this morning for Jacksonville to attend that point. A popular subscription made it possible for the old veterans to at tend the reunion.
 Ensley lodge, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, will give their annual dance tomorrow night at the pavilion at Ensley park. The dance will be ex- clusively for the members of the Elks and their families ana invited guests For several years past the Elks have given dances about this time of the year, which are remembered among the most delightful affairs that have been given in the Steel City. The committee in charge announce that everything is Tn readiness for the affair and a most pleasant time is anticipated.
 
 Election of officers of the Ensley High Scnooi improvement association will be heid this afternoon at 3 o'clock at tba high school building All members ars requested to be present.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
At the Exhibition of Bad Taste

From the New York Tribune.
 Are those artificial flowers in the glass eornuoopia in the motor caro-
 Yes, my dear. Have you some silk roses. violets and pansies to wear on your new too-tight dress?"
 "oh, yes. Have my black uppered tan shoes come home2"
 Yes. And your gold vanity bag. with the complete makeup outfit, is here, too"
 By the way. think the monogram on Sour new silk shirts is lovely"
 Isn't it? Well. get my derby and put on your highly polished black straw hat and we'll go down to that exhibition of bad taste. I'd love to see those silly things people used to have in their houses and the atroeious things they used to wear 9 years ago"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
Deaths and Funerals
". L. Turner

Funeral services over the remains of w. l.. Turner pioneer of Birmingham m who died Sunday, were conducted vester. day afternoon from the family residence Tn East Lake. Interment followed in East Lake cemetery.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
Auto Is Recovered

E. J. Orr of 3024 Twenty-seventh street, north, reported yesterday morning that he had recovered his five-passenger Cadillac automobile which was stolen Sunday night from in front of the Jeff ferson County Bank building. The ma chine was badly damaged.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
Horace K. Jackson

Funeral services over the remainsl of Horace R. Jackson, aged IS months, who died at Morris Sunday night, were con ducted from the residence yesterday aft ernoon. Interment followed in Morris cemetery.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
Mrs. J. P! Batson

Sylacauga, May Especial. Early Saturday morning, Mrs. J. P. Batson died at the family residence on Fort William street. She had been sick for sometime and her death was not unexpected. She was Fl years old at the time of her death and had been a member of the Methodist church for more than half century
 The funeral exercises were conducted from the First Methodist church by the Rev. LA Fletcher Parish. assisted by the Rev. Leon M. Latimer of the Baptist church. She leaves husband, five sons and two daughters. Interment was had in Marble City cemetery Sunday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
w. c. Pennington

Funeral services over the remains of w. C. Pennington, aged 5s years. who died at the family residence 831 Forty third street, north. Sunday night, will be conducted from the family residence Wednesday morning. Interment will fol- low in Enon cemetery.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
H. T. Herlone

Fort Deposit, May 4.-(Special.)- T. Herlong, prominent merchant of Fort Deposit, and g we'll known citizen of Lowndes county died at his home here on Rogers street this morning at 2 o'clock. after an illness of a few days The de- ceased was stricken with paralysis while at his store here last Saturday morning and died without having regained con- sciousness.
 The deceased was 46 years old, and leaves surviving him a widow and a daughter. Lucille; his mother, Mrs. M. A. Herlong of Fort Deposit three brothers, one half brother and two sisters, c. 8. HerionG of Clayton. the Rev. B. M. Her long of Deatsvflle. J. M. Herlong and w. P. Geffoed of Fort Deposit. Mrs. E. Rey- 'nolos*of Highland Fome and Mrs B. N. tetis of Fort Deposit.
 The funeral services will be held at the home tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. conducted by the Rev. J. c. Martin. pas tor of Methodist church.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
Oliver Smith

Funeral services over the remains of Oliver Smith, aged 19 months, were con- ducted from the family residence yes- terday afternoon. Interment followed in Oxmoor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05

declared her intention decided she will depart her journey fromth in of May
 visit the United institutions and of the people of America
 interested Majesty sympathy displayed suff Americans
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05

5oHNs undsrt.hins Co. Phone ,opa
The Washington herald., 1914-09-19
The Federal Reserve Districts.

What the outcome may be cannot be foretold, but
it is gratifying to find that the Federal Reserve Board
does not intend throw into the waste basket the
arguments of the several cities which ask for a re-
view of the organization committees work
Baltimore. in the fifth district, has at the ex-
penditure of time and money, prepared arguments
designed to show that it is better qualified as re-
serve center than Richmond Other cities also have
made protests against the geographical arrangement
of the twelve financial districts.
The new currency act will go into operation with
the districts and centers originally selected and it
may be that shortly thereafter the Federal Reserve
Board will deem changes advisable.
The boards powers practically unlimited 1t
is not unreasonable to suppose that conditions may
arise which will wipe out the twelve financial dis
ricts and convert thu into one, far the actual
working of the new law is concerned
The Washington herald., 1914-09-19
Does Mr.. Norris Disrust the PeopIel

Senator Norris, of Nebraska, proposes that the
Senate shall investigate the primaries, and just
how much the people have been corrupted by the
Senatorial candidates. Senator Norris has an in
vesdgating turn of mind and not many days have
gone BY since he departed from the village of Nc
Cook in the short grass region of Nebraska and came
to Washington, that he has not suggested some kind
of an Investigation, by one House or the other Of
Congress He was like Uncle Josh when he came to
the Capital and wanted &c regulate things but unlike
Uncle Josh he has never got over it He has intro
duced more resolutions for investigation than all
other members of Congress combined, and the range
of his Investigations suggests that he still imagines
that he is country attorney and that Congress is
grand jury to investigate all the petty accusations of
the villagers, and present indictment He has
been the friend of the Peepul and the foe of the
bosses, and he has some notoriety an invest-
gator who could start something.
But isn't the Senator in danger of injuring his
standing with the dear people when he starts out to
investigate them instead of the bosses? 1t all
very we'll to lay all the blame for alleged bad nom
nations upon the bosses who manipulated conven-
tons and legislatures to defeat the will of the
people But we have been told for years that the
Statewide primary and the popular election of
United States Senators would all these evils by
placing the nomination and election in the hands of
the people IheSe reforms have come at last, ana IN
Pennsylvania more votes cast for the nomina-
ton of Senator Penrose than for all other candidates
combined, while in Illinois Roger Sullivan had a
majority of $1,000 in the Democratic primaries, not
wthstandng the opposition of Secretary Bryan Mayor
Harrison and Mr.. Hearst
The opponents of Penrose and Sullivan in Penn
syvana and Illinois agree that the people did it But
the Senator from Nebraska proposes to find out
why the people did it. He wants to know how
much money the candidates for Senator spent in
Pennsylvania and Illinois, and how they spent it
Did they buy the votes of the people and what prices
did they pay? 1t is just possible that the dear peo-
pie who have endured Senator Norris weakness for
investigating the bosses and plutocrats will not ap
precate his effort to investigate them But it is
hardly probable that the United States Senate will
take the Senator seriously he takes himself and
adopt a resolution which is reflection upon the
voters of Pennsylvania and Illinois more than upon
the candidates for Senator
And yet it might be a good thing to start this
proposed investigation 1t would not go very far
before it exposed the and humbug of the political
reformers who have been peddling soft soap and
molasses cure-all for the restoration of public
virtue. This is government where the people rule
and whatever their political purity lack of it.
be changed by the Senator from the short grass
region of Nebraska.
The Washington herald., 1914-09-19
Hyphenated Americans Again.

No newspaper has advocated more persistently
than The Washington Herald the nonpartisanship
which should become the American citizen of foreign
birth or parentage during the The Herald even
went to the extent of opposing mass meetings de-
signed to raise money for belligerents The proper
place for the hyphenated American, it suggested,
was upon the firing line.
The President yesterday had occasion to reiterate
his appeal for neutrality among Americans His first
appeal should have been sufficient striking it did
responsive chord throughout the country However,
Editor Brand of the Chicago Stats Zeitung evil
IDENTIFY does not consider himself "fellow-country-
man." and sought to place the German side before
the President, Very properly he failed to get an
audience If Mr.. Brand had been received inter-
views with many other hyphenated Americans as
could be packed into the White House would have
followed.
In the meantime, the President knows enough
about the war; in fact, too much. Accusations con-
corning dumdum bullets, cruelties to the wounded,
outrages upon women, and the manning of children
nothing compared to the task that the Pres-
dent and his feow-countrymen have on their hands
the pacifcation of the world.
The Washington herald., 1914-09-19
The Right Time to Quit.

The arguments advanced by most of those per-
who crtcise President Wilson for ordering the
withdrawal of United States troops from Mexico are
far less calculated to justify their position than they
are to sustain the President They all predict more
uprisings and more fighting among the followers of
Zapata, Carranza and Villa, and no doubt they are
right; but they fail to give any reason why the
United States should maintain an army in Vera Cruz
If troops remained they would be almost certain
to be drawn into the fighting and further shedding
of American blood in behalf of any of the bandit
factions is unthinkable. This government has made
the dubious experiment of putting Huerta out and
Carranza IN. Presumably, no one will contend that
it is our duty to maintain Carranza in power by
force of arms. He must inevitably sink if he can
not swim. The of the United States is early
recognition of government in Mexico, which must
be held accountable for the safety of life and prop
erty. Then, if single American or citizen of a
foreign country is harmed, we must discover the
swftest surest and safest way to inict punishment
upon those responsible
Every American should feel sense of relief and
gratitude when soldiers leave Vera Cruz If they
should be forced into battle under present conditions
no one could have heart in It
The Washington herald., 1914-09-19
Japan's Position.

when Japan captures Kiaochow, as undoubtedly
she will, and the hostlities in the China Sea and
Japan Sea cease Japan will have to stand aside and
become onooker if the war in Europe will be still
in progress at that time" Thus Mr. Ozaki minister
of justice is quoted saying in the vernacuar press
He further comments:
IF however, at that time, the Germans hold their
standing in the South Sea and menace the peace and
commerce of the Orient, Japan WILL according to the
fifth article of the Ango-Japanese alliance consult
the British government, and may cooperate in driv-
ing them out of their hostile base
''In case the war in Europe is not ceased at the
time peace is restored in the Far East Japan and
Germany will remain in state of war However
Japan will be enjoying peace in fact and simply wait
for the restoration of peace in Europe when the am
bassadors will be exchanged. Japan Mail