The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

I | clock. In about 10 minutes Sunderla nd came limping up to- the door and begged to be let in. The watc,iman never opers the door tc .lliow any me in and he lnere- y called tho police when Sunderland in- formed rlr tbet he had been robbed and shot.
 The fact that two negroes had appeared | at this point and inquired about the off, cers was thought by the men investleat- ing the case last night to be significant. In the first place 1t was thought that Sun derland might have been in some trouble in house that these negroes knew about and that they wanted to have him ar rested: either that, or they having found that it would be sometime before the policemen would call, decided to lie in wait for the man and rob him of all he had.
 Signs of Struggle
 The place where Sunderland said he was held up bore the marks of strug- gle. His hat and revolver were found at the spot where he said he had been shot About 10 feet in the same direction in which he walked after being shot lis purse, without any money, but with all other contents intact, was found. There was q pool of blood on the sidewalk, and the finger prints of the man as he att tempted to rise from the ground were plainly visible
 When questioned at the hospital after he had been informed by the hospital authorities that he was mortally wounded and was going to de Sunderland re- peated the story that he was walking to- ward Tenth street on Fifth avenue when he noticed negro coming in his direc- tion. As the negro came abreast of Jim the robber caught him in the collar and threw him to the ground. While 'hey were struggling on the ground the high wayman pulled out gun and shot i'm. Sunderland then went to the place where the watchman called up the police for him. He repeatedly told this story When asked what he was doing in that section of the town he merely repiied that he was just looking around"
 Sunderland told the police that he had been in town for a day or so only. They found that he had been here for tour days, probably longer. Sunderland ad- mitted that he registered at the Terrsinal hotel under an assumed name, but W hen he was asked what name it was he replied that he had forgotten. What was the number of your room?" he was asked Number 36," he said. Upon investiga- ton it was found that Sunderland had registered at the Terminal hotel under the name of John Smith, and had checked out Monday afternoon A bank book that was found on his person after the shoot Ing showed that he had deposited S110 in the First National bank Monday morning.
 Did Not Take Watch
 Despite the fact that he was held up. according to his story, the bandit did not take a handsome watch that ne had in his possession at the time Neither did he take his new revolver. IL will be recalled that the revolver that was identified by Sunderland as his weapon had been discharged one time and very recently. He was asked whether or not he had fired at the robber but said that he did not know, that he was too excited.
 Regardless of the way he was shot, the fact remains that it is the most puzzling case that has come to the notice of the police in many months. No motive for any of the theories can be advanced. If he had money in the bank. why did he attempt suicide? If he was held up and robbed by high wayman, why didn't the robber take hls watch. or revolver. or turn his pockets out9 None of these things were done. If Is a singular fact that one