The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-17

 Billingley's books, in which afterward a shortage of $10,000 was found.
 He evaded an answer.
 As to Expenses
 He then said that Alapama should have more examiners. He expressed the belief that a uniform system of bookkeeping in every county of the state was mprac- tical.
 He testified that the examiners draw, under the ruling of the attorney general s4 per day for expenses for 365 days In the year. He testified that railroad ex- penses were-not included in the $4 allowed for per diem expenses.
 He testified that he was assigned to other duties by the governor while he was inquiring into Camp "Tooty." He later said that he had heard it rumored that General Scully had questioned his right to inquire into government prop erty.
 The Alamo Echo
 pr. E. T. Fields of Ensley was the next witness. He was former chief surgeon to the convict department of the state and physician to No. 12 mines, near Ensley. Convicts at that time, he testi- fled, fared well. He said he was removed by the governor, ''ruth'essly so, in my opinion," he added.
 q was told by Dr. Yam that he would give Colonel Bowman $500 to land job for him. Bowman got the job and gave him the $500 This and my so-called con- nection with the Alamo Gas company were given as causes for my removal"
 He testified that in 1912 cruel whippings were administered at No. 12 mines. He testified that in his opinion 1t should be made the duty of the physician of a mine to inspect the quality and quantity of food given convicts. He testified that the life of convict was shorter than the life of a free miner.
 Life at Lucille
 S. A. Neems, warden at Lucille, testi- fled that he received $100 a month, house, provisions and a cook. He was asked regarding Jess Connors an escaped convict, and he told how the convict had escabed. He reported the escape to James G. Oakley, president of the convict board, he said
 The object in asking tle questions con corning Connors was not apparent.
 He next told of the food given convicts at Lucille. He testified that he himself did the whipping, limiting the number of lashes to 15.
 T understand the company wrote to the convict department" he said, "com- blaming that I whip too little."
 He testified that the convicts were re- quired to get 2250 pounds of coal for n ton, each being docked for rock and dirt. He testified that he knew little regarding what happens within the mines and had to take the word of company officials for the conduct of convicts
 At this juncture Representative Smith asked if the witness had heard of check for $50 sent through the mails to Jess Connors. He answered in the negative. This was apparently the reason for the first question regarding Connors.
 Clothes Washed Together
 Witness testified that bathing facilities at Lucille are good, but that the clothes of negroes and whites are washed to- gether, and that perhaps a white man is wearing this week the clothes a negro were last week. He said that this was wrong and that he was responsible. He said further that in his opinion, the con victs were docked too much at Lucille.
 He said in conclusion that he never heard of a conspiracy on the part of Jess Connors' friends and company officials for the convicts escape.
 Much stress was evidently being put on the escape of this one-legged convict. given by the convict department free of charge to the company He was charged with murder.
 Simpson on O'Neal
 Dewitt Simpson, former stenographer to Governor O'Neal testified that the governor did deal in cotton futures, and that he (witness) would write on tele- grams, "charge to the state.' He swore that he carried such telegrams to the governor for his approval He said that it was his best recollection the governor instructed him to mark telegrams charge to the state" He swore that he was never instructed to abandon the practice of having telegrams so charged.
 Brown Called Again E. G. Brown was again called to the stand He was asked regarding routine matters affecting to collection of auto mobile licenses and the mode of trans ferring remittances to headquarters. He testified that the people of Jefferson coun- ty were considered to be more inclined to evade the payment of licenses than the people of any other county. MT. Brown declined to answer ques- ! tions regarding a. certain alleged defal- cation on the part of one or more of his predecessors, and named George c. might be cited for contempt. He finally agreed, however, to give the names of his I pr edecessors, and named Georege C. l Oliver, George bowman and J. E. Ken | nedy. Before retiring from the stand | Mir Brown insisted that certain H. S.