The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-28
Robert Todd and WillTurner Arrested by Detectives Brannon and Macke
 for Murder
WIDOW IS POSITIVE
 THAT TODD IS THE MAN
 WHO DID THE KILLING
Officers Will Go Before Grand Jury and Present Case This Morning. Expect Speedy Indictment and Trial-Detectiyes Are Con-
 mended by Superiors

Robert Todd, negro. and Will Turner, alias "The Snake," negro, are prisoners in the city jail facing charges of murder. They are alleged by Detectives William C. Brannon and Frank c. Macke to be responsible for the murder and robbery of J. W. Alex ander at his store, 906 North Nine. teenth street, last Tuesday night.
 Todd was arrested early Saturday morning by the Ensley police at Ell Bessie avenue, Ensley, on the orders of Detectives Brannon and Macke Turner was arrested at 1 o'clock yes. terday morning by Detectives Bran. non and Macke at his home in Eighth alley, between Eighteenth and Nine. teenth street.
 With the arrest of Turner, the de. tectives reported to Chief Martin Ea. gan that those guilty of the Alexandel murder were in custody and that tn, newspapers could be informed of tn, details as no further arrests were con. templated. Commissioner A. o. Ian, was also quickly informed of the cap. t're and warmly congratulated the de. tectives for their excellent work
 Yesterday morning several negroes who had been held at the city jail or suspicion of being connected with tn, Alexander murder were released
 Used Elimination Method
 The successful conclusion of the Al. cNander case. according to Detectiv, Br;tnnon. was due to the fact that every possible clue was thoroughly investi gated and by process of elimination the negroes. Todd and Turner, wer. found to be more strongly connected with the killing than any of the other suspects and the detectives concen- trated their efforts on them.
 Friday night the arrest of Todd wa. ordered. Saturday morning at 11:3l o'clock Todd was carried before Mrs J. w. Alexander to be identified. De. tcc.ive Brannon warned Mrs. Alexandel to be absolutely positive as a man. life depended on her words. Mrs. Al exander had already viewed severa negroes arrested by other detectives ant had been unable to identify them
 Identified by Widow
 The moment the negro Todd wa, brought before her, Mrs. AIexande, cried:
 "That's him. | can never forget thai face. That's the negro that robbed me now and I see 1t nIl. It's him, mn, sure of It,"
 In the presence of Mrs. Alexander Todd showed great excitement ant would not face her. He squirmed con- tinuOusIy md appeared greatly relieved when the detectives brought him bacL t0 the city jail, where he was then ex. amined at length.
 During Saturday afternoon Todd con. fessed to the detectives that he hat been around Alexander's store with Will Turner. alias "The Snake" but that he had never killed anyone. Hs shuddered with fear when the eight pound iron bolt with which was dealt the fatal blow was placed in his hands On the huge nut at one end of the boil were bits of hair and clotted blood from the murdered man. The negro was not told that the bolt had beer the instrument of death. He was simp- fly told to hold it in his hands but ac- cording to the officers. Todd, who ii a negro about 21 years of age and who just has been released from the mines where he served a sentence of II months for picking pockets quickly ex- claimed:
 "Ob, LOT I never killed anybond' and dropped the bolt to the floor. Further questions by the detectivei brought out many damaging admis' sions the detectives say, but the ne gro would not confess that he killed MT. Alexander. Detectives Brannor and Macke are of the opinion that Todd will talk within few days.
 The negro Turner Is an exconvict anf was very surly to the officers. Al inc time of his arrest the door of hii house had to be nearly broken dowr |bafore Turner would open and surren. der. He was kept handcuffed to ( chair throughout the early hours ol yesterday morning at police headQuar' ters and was finally placed in the city tail on A charge of murder when ht grew impudent in answering the ques