davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
BURT ARRESTED ON
 CHARGE 0F FORGERY
Arresting Officers Claim He is Wanted in Several
 Cities on Similar Charge

Edward w. Burt. alias Jack Standing,
 alias W. vining alias Benny Rice. was
 arrested by Detectives Goldstein and
 Brown yesterday afternoon at o'clock
 on the charge of forgery and lodged in
 the Northside jail. The arrest took place
 at the Tutwiler hotel. where Burt was registered under the name of Jack Standing.
 According to statements made by the
 arresting detectives, Burt is wanteo in several towns over the country, and is enc of the cleverest check workers in
 the business. He admitted to Detectives
 Goldstein and Brown that he was wanted in Nashville for passing check which was worthless on the firm of Lebock Brothers for $40. He says he passed checks in Memphis and St. Louis also. The first intimation the detectives had that Burt was In town was when some merchants notified the detective depart
 ment that well dressed. smooth talk ing man was trying to pass checks on them under the forged name of Benny Rice, he describing himself as the junior member of the firm of Rice-Stix Dry Goods company of St. Louis. It seems as though one of the members of a dry
 goods concern here asked numerous
 questions in regard to the business Of the firm Burt said he represented and
 finding that the alleged forger could not give intelligent answers decided he was an imposter. It is not known whether or
 not Burt was able to pass any checks here. It will require several days for the checks to come back marked forgery
 in the event he did pass any. All of the bogus checks are made on the St, Louis Union National Bank company of St. Louis, and are signed under various aliases, Benny Rice being the one most used.
 After the arrest of Burt, detective Goldstein found a sight draft on his per son for $50 made out to Jack Standing and signed by Jack Rose, the wealthy brewer of Chattanooga Burt could give no plausible explanation for this draft being in his possession. He merely, stated it had been given to him by MT. Rose.
 Burt is about 25 years of age, and a swell dresser" He had pleasing ap- pearance and evidently is well educated
 He says he was formerly comedian on the stage, and was booked under the
 name of Edward w. Burt. He will be held here for several days before being taken to St. Louis.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
BESSEMER LOSES COURT

The Bessemer court goes up.
 According to Senator Judge that will be the only effect of the governor ve- toing the recircuiting bill" said the sen ator last night. 'in order that Be ssemer might be provided with court. This amendment of course. is lost with the bill, and thus Bessemer loses its court.
 Tn no other way, however, will Jef- ferson county be effected by the action of the governor. As a matter of fact. l disagree with the several members of the legislature who have said in Age-Herald interviews that an extraordinary session will now be necessary l cannot see the logic of their position. And one may be certain that the governor before ve- toing the bill had excellent legal advice, and l am positive that he would have swallowed any dose however disagree
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
LIFE IMPRISONMENT
 IS JURY'S VERDICT IN THE PA|PRY CASE
Jury Stood Eleven to One for Death Penalty is Ru- mOr-Verdict Was Re-
 turned Last Night

Harry Paidry was found guilty of murder and his punishment fixed at life Imprisonment by jury which re- turned its verdict at o'clock last night. The jury had been out since l o'clock Saturday afternoon.
 Paipry was tried for the murder of Nick Gulas. prominent Greek busi- ness man of Ensley. The trial began on Friday morning and the prosecu- tion was conducted by Assistant So- licitor Walter S. Brewer and the firm of Gibson & Davis. The defense was in the hands of attorneys James Han by and Matt T. Murphy.
 As the hours passed and the jury failed to agree it was the consensus of opinion yesterday afternoon that a mistrial would result. However, late yesterday afternoon the jury sent for Judge Fort for some instructions on some points of law. Attorney Matt T. Murphy of the defense also was sent for.
 After Judge William k. Fort had instructed the jury in the presence or the attorney for the defense and the defendant, the jury requested the JodSc " wait lcW iiiiluttS ,dS lntGt was a possibility that a verdict would be arrived at. A half hour later the verdict was returned.
 Attorney Matt T. Murphy immediate ly moved that sentence be passed as he desired to appeal but Judge Fort stated that Paipry would be sentenced next Saturday. The defendant accept ed the verdict with remarkable forti- tude.
 In the gossip that naturally follows all verdicts at murder trials it was stated that the jury was II to 1 in favor of the death penalty but that after many ballots the juryman who was for life imprisonment managed to win over his associates to his point of view.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
PRISONERS GREET
 SOLICITOR AND VISITOR

Jim Davis, the assistant solicitor, is a popular man within the jail. Although many of the prisoners are men who have been convicted through the efforts of Davis, they greet the young prosecutor with a friendly smile and many of them say:
 We got that tobacco, Marse' Davis, and we shore thank you and 'preciate | it."
 | As the party walked through every apartment of the jail everything ap- peared unclean and filthy. It Is not
 really so. The jail is old. very old. and | with its close cluster of dark and damp cells the casual visitor Is bound to be | impressed with the idea that 1t Is the dirtest hole ever. closer inspection will reveal that the cells the floors and | even the gaunt, gray walls are scrubbed
 scrupulously and are clean. But even
 the jail authorities will admit that de- | spite their earnest efforts with water and brush, the smells remain; that pris- on looks just as filthy and dirty as it ever did. and its atmosphere cannot be helpful as reforming influence on the persons confined within its walls. 1t is not cleanliness that the county jail of Jefferson county needs--it is the immediate raging of its walls and a new and sanitary building erected in its place.
 But to the prisoners again. Jim Davis walks through the jail every Saturday to ind out who wants to plead guilty
 and meet any other request of the pris- oners. He greets the prisoners with a smile:
 Hello Cheyenne said Davis. to the negro John Almon Hair who had a | mistrial a few days ago on a charge
 of criminal assault. "I came near break ing your black neck the other day" lA You shore did, Marse Davis, "re- piled tho negro with broad smile. you
 shore was hard on this pore nigger, but
 I thanks you for de tobacco" | It appears that Solicitor Davis does l his best to convict the prisoners in
 the courtroom and when they get back
 in jail he spends all his spare change 1 in buying tobacco and other luxuries for them. MT. Davis himself presents ! perhaps better character study than
 the persons within the jail
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
BIG CROWDS ATTEND
 STRAND CONCERT
Tuberculosis Association Deeply Grat flied for Generous
 Offering

Two concerts were given at the Strand theatre yesterday afternoon, which the public was invited to at tend without charge. Birmingham S newest and most elaborate moving picture theatre was filled to It's ca pacity on both occasions. The first con- cert began at o'clock and the second at o'clock. The programme won en- thusiastic approval.
 Dr. George Eaves, secretary of the Jefferson County Anti-Tuberculosis as- sociation, made brief address, after which a collection was taken up for the benefit of the society. The offer ing amounted to $9015 Dr. Eaves stated that the association was pro- foundly grateful for the donations made as Its needs were urgent. Prof Rienzi Thomas, at the Strand pipe organ, assisted by the Strand or chestra and a male chorus of 16 voices, gave the following programme: Concert piece, organ tParker).
 Abide With Me-" chorus (Sheiley).
 "St. Cecelia." organ (Batiste).
 Rock of Ages" chorus Dudley Buck). Talk by Dr. Eaves.
 Annie Laurie" organ and chorus Dudley Buck).
 March Funebre.' organ (Guilmant) 'Nunc Dimitis" chorus. Vesper hymn organ (Whitney).
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
HUNTSVILLE


bama
 Huntsville. October S.---tSpecialD
 An offer has been made through a
 local newspaper by the Monte Sano
 Pike corporation to turn over the Monte Sano pike to Madison county or some private party who will guaran- tee to maintain the pike and thus do away with the only toll gate in Mad Ison county and so far as known here the only toll gate in Alabama. The pike was built about 30 years ago by the
 company operating Hotel Monte Sano and has remained the property of the
 hotel company or its successors ever
 since It serves the summer residents
 of Monte Sano and because of the
 small traffic, the county officials have
 never been interested in taking it over into the county pike system. The com
 pany, 1t is stated. operates the pike
 at loss but a great many people be-
 lieve that if the pike was put in re- pair and the toll gate removed it would become one of the most pop ular thoroughfares in Madison county and make the mountain great deal more popular.
 Relatives and friends in Huntsville have been informed of the death of Orlander Halsey of Tuscumbia, vet eran of the Fourth Alabama Confed crate infantry. He was 78 years old and for more than 50 years had been a commercial traveller.
 There are already two entrants in the approaching race for judge of the
 Eighth judicial circuit James H. Bal
 lentine and Robert c. Brickell. both
 of Huntsville. Judge Ballentine is
 judge of the law and equity court of
 Madison county. Judge Brickell, who
 was attorney general of Alabama dur ing the ONeal administration. was ap-
 pointed judge of this circuit by the re- tiring governor and is the present in- cumbent of the office.
 Mrs. Annie Vaughn Fort, wife. or Louis N Fort of Chattanooga. died last night at the home of her son. Albert Vaughn, in this city. She was 43 years old and is survived by her husband and three sons, Albert Vaughn, George B. Marks and Robert B. Fort.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
THOUSANDS VISIT CLUB
 AND VIEW NEW LAKE

Thousands of people from the Birming- ham district accepted the invitation yes- terday of the Birmingham Motor and Edgewood and view the new artificial lake that was filled up by rains of last week. From daylight to dark the sev- eral roads leading to the grounds were literally blocked with automobiles and other vehicles. all filled with people on their way to view the new body of water and it's beautiful setting
 The officials of the club were over whelmed with congratulations and ex- pressions of appreciation and admiration
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04

able, rather than make even probable a special session of the legislature.
 "As a matter of fact. the slaughter of the bill leaves the state with 17 cir cults as before. With these 1T we can manage to get along. I would not be sur prised were it to be developed later that the situation since the governor vetoed the bill is more satisfactory than it would have been had he permitted it to live"
 Senator Judge was surprised. however, in that the governor took the action which was regarded by Montgomery cor respondents as sensational The bill was fought out in committees of the house and senate and on the floor of the two branches from July 13 to September 25. During the last hours of the session, it was passed and rushed to the governor. It was thought certain that he would give it his approval. His veto. as d re- suit, caused statewide surprise.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
Educational Association

J. J. Doster. member of the faculty of the University of Alabama. and chairman of the executive committee of the Ala bama Educational association. has called meeting of his committee for o'clock Friday night at the Tutwiler, this city
 The committee will name a city in which the next meeting of the association will be held. and will arrange a programme for that meeting. There will be full attendance, 1t is thought.
 The executive committee follows: J. J Doster, university, chairman; Miss Cora Pearson, Florence; Charles A. Brown Birningham; C.. c. Thach, Auburn; w. C. Griggs, Gadsden.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
VISITOR BREACHES
An Edifying Sermon on the Rosary
 Devotion

Tho Rev. Father Kennedy of Mobile was the celebrant and preacher at high mass at St.. Paurs yesterday As Oc- tober Is dedicated to the rosary. the theme of~his discourse svas on the rosary devotion Members of the con gregation spoke of the sermon as par ticularly edifying
 Father Kennedy leaves Birmingham
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04

were heard on every hand. The two mo. torboats were in use every minute of the day and many availed themselves of the opportunity to take the three-mile trip around the lake. The bathing beach also proved popular. the bathers attracting much attention.
 It is stated officially that an addition to the many other attractions of the club, a rifle range will be laid out in the near future and a gun club organ ized among it's members.
 The grounds will be open to the pup lie all this week and a cordial invita- tion is extended by the officials to the people of the city and district to pay a visit to the club and review the lake and grounds
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
VISIT OF SCRIBE TO COUNTY JAIL BRINGS
 RARE IMPRESSIONS
Assistant Solicitor James Davis Makes Weekly Tour of Jefferson County Bastile-Prisoners Are Very Cheerful-John Wilson Composes a Song
By RICHARD F. LUssIER

That men can live-laugh and sing in that cesspool of brick and mortar known as the county jail was made evi- Solicitor James Davis. accompanied by a newspaper man. made his weekly visit amongst the 200 and odd unfortunates that are confined within the walls of that ignominious monument of Jeffar- son county's tsightedness-the''Bi g Rock"
 This is not an attack on the sheriff s admipistration and upkeep of the coun- ty jail. as the warden and assistant wardens feared, according to their re- marks as the newspaper man entered the Chateau DIT of Jefferson county. Undoubtedly these petty officials keep the jail as clean as 1t can be kept, and no criticism can be directed at them just as no just criticism can be directed at laborers whose duties 1t is to cleanse the pig pens in the Chicago stockyards. The pig pens are undoubtedly kept as clean as they can be- But they remain pig pens, nevertheless.
 But as the petty officials of the jail whispered to Assistant Solicitor Davis to be careful and taking a Phillistine within, the hoarse voices of prisoners man lost his interest in the gross smells permeatng near the entrance of the dungeon vile, and the pettiness of the job fearing warden, to listen. The song was to the tune of ''Tipperary." Who is that snging?" was asked.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
U. s. Treasury Report

October 3.-The condi- In of the United States treasury at
 Ise of business Saturday: Net balance general fund, s12s,s96.s9s; total re- lpts, $2,545,763; total payments. S2.- ,4O9; the deficit this fiscal year is ,593, 1SO against deficit of $15.7S1,- b last year. exclusive of Panama
 hal and public debt transactions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
NEWS OF ENSLEY

Robbers made an unsuccessful attempt iInetime early Sunday morning to fak into the jewelry store of c. E. Her on Avenue E near Nineteenth Feet. The burglars went up the stairs 1ding to the Knights of Pythias hall lf climbed a small ladder through a He between the roof and the ceiling
 the1 use of a knife they cut a hole the Ceiling of the Knights of Pythas l, and by the aid of a rope let them ves down into the hall. A three-quar- f-inch auger was used in cutting a Re through the floor of the lodge room F as the rafters under the floor being
 close together the robbers were un- e to turn the auger in the small space el after trying to kick the blanks loose Ky gave up the task and unlocking the Hge door from the inside they left the The. The attempt was not discovered fil Sunday morning, when MT. Tyler f|bpened to come to his store and notice ! shavings on the floor. The police de- rtment was notified and detectives are Xrking on the case. It is thought that F robbery happened early yesterday
 rning as the Ladies of the Woodmen cle held a memorial meeting in the
 until about Il o'clock Saturday kht.
 large crowd was present at the in-
 llation of the officers and Sunday hool teachers yesterday morning at
 Ensley Methodist church. Fifty eight plications for membership were re- Na6 at tho mn t of the revival services held during
 past two weeks. The following de- rtment superntendents were installed
 Louis Smith, general superintendent 1.-the Sunday school; E. J. Webb, home ||bartment; w. B. Bridge, adult depart xnt; w. T. Cochran. teen age depart Xnt; M. M. Hughes, junior department; IS. T. F, West, primary department; Es M. M. Hughes. beginners depart Int; Mrs. w. B. Bridge. cradle roll Epartment.
 Rally Day services were held at the fsley Presbyterian and Baptist |lrches at the morning services yes day. and were well attended. At the esbyterian church very interesting bgramme was carried out and promo n day for the Sunday school were also
 d. The Sunday school and church was nbined at the morning services at the ptist church. and a lsrge crowd was
 sent.
 The city commissioners of Birmingham Bse allowed the Ensley police depart
 Int new motorcycle which will be ed for emergency calls at night. Here
 ore the Ensley department has had
 y one motorcycle which has been used
 scout duty, by which the new in-
 llation of the motorcycle Traffic Of er Griffis will be kept at the city hall
 answer any calls.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
ONLY ONE WHITE
 WOMAN IN JAIL

What are you here for?' questioned
 Jim Davis.
 Eating coke" replied the fair miss. nonohalantly. as she dropped her mag azine on the bed. I've been convict ed by the government and they're talk
 ing me to Washington this afternoon. I'll bet that will be some trip ehl" And she preened herself proudly be-
 fore the reporter and the ever-smiling
 Jim Davis.
 In regard to government prisoners -a white boy was met in the main jail who had also been convicted for
 violation of the anti-narcotic law. Hey. young feller," said Jim, when are you going off?"
 This afternoon, MT. Davis" replied the boy. Judge Grubb gave me a stretch of 13 months at the training glad of it.
 What" questioned the reporter. you're glad to go to jail?" l Why not" replied the boy, "it is
 the first chance that l have ever had. | This school in Washington Is not a ' jai1--it Is practically a college, they
 tell me. and l will get an education and manual training there. The chances | are 1t will make me forget this ever | lasting curse of the cocaipe habit" How did you start this habt?' "A doctor started me. I was injured. The pain was so bad they shot the dope Into my leg. For weeks they gave me coke to make me sleep and offset the pain and after it was all over I
 could not get along without 1t. haven't sniffed any dope for three months and I pray every night that I never will again. This conviction is the turning point of my life" The boy, | sturdy. fair-faeed youth, walked Into his cell with his head high--determin alton in every step.
 After this the death cell.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
TODAY'S EVENTS
At the Theatres

Yefferson-Al. c. Fields Greater Min fels.
 BiJou-"Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage stch.' No matinee. Tonight at S:30 Mock.
 lyric-keith vaudeville. Matinee 2:30 l|m., night, 1880 and o'clock Majestic-"The Dream Girl" musical 'lnedy. Matinee 2:30 p. m.; night 7:45 lh 9:15 o'clock
 Grand-"A Night at Coney Island Nlesque; matinee D. m; night 7:30 IH o'clock
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
At PhotOplay Houses

iftrand-'The Voice in the Fog" fea- Hing Donald Brain. Ipdeon Two-"The Price She Paid, Ith Flo LaBadie.
 pdeon One-"A Man Afraid of His Erdrobe," with Anna Little. R Rrincess-'"The Family Divided" with Ina Mayo and Bryant Washburn. "Mortmain,' with Robert Ueson and Muriel Ostriche.
 M Naudette-"An All-Round Mistake, '' 1th King Baggott. 1klcazar-'Fatherho with Hobart 8rworth featured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
MERRY TROUBADOR
 SINGS A FAREWELL

In leaving the jail Wilson, the mer- ry troubadour. sings few more verses then the heavy barred door is opened. A loud clang and 1t Is closed-the voices die away--it seeemd in hope less vail.
 Outside the sunlight never seemed finer-the air never purer and deep breaths are taken. The thought of the man condemned to serve 65 years in jail-and singing jared the finer sensibilities. It did not appear to the casual eye that the man realized his plight or was 1t that the very vile ness of the gray. gaunt prison had dulled his senses of proportion?
 Outside in the clear sunlight of q wonderful autumnal morning the buff walls and gray parapets of the county jail appalled, as the memory of the visit within fingered. A seemingly dis tant multitudinous roar came floating over the walls. It was the prisoners dinnertime. It sounded like the surf foaming on a long. low. pebbly beach and it was as impotent.
 Really, a visit to the Jefferson coun- ty jail under the guidance of an of- ficial who will show you everything has its educational value. If every voter could visit the place--it would not remain there very long.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
VISITOR GOES TO
 THE DEATH CELL

Every Saturday Jim Davis pays a
 visit to the four convicted murderers
 at the county jail. The death quartet
 await the visits greedily.
 Joe Mullins, Sam Mullins. Henry
 Fogg and Jesse White, four negroes.
 are the occupants of the condemned cells. They are awaiting the results of appeals to the supreme court from
 a sentence to hang. They are cheer full lot
 Hey thar Marse Davis" they greet ed the assistant solicitor, 'come here to mo first"
 And to each cell Jim Davis visited and gossiped casually. Hello, Joe" said Jim "r reckon the supreme court will handle your
 case pretty soon. The chances are you are going to hang" You're sure Is hard on us pore nig- gers" replied Joe. laughing broadly.
 "excepts you gives up all de tobacco we likes"
 Say. Marse Davis" yelled Henry Fogg from across the corridor ."kin dey hang woman for murder" Yes" replied Jim, but they don't do 1t very often" T done told you de law" triumph antly cried the negro Fogg to his cell
 mate. And for the rest of the day this legal and sentimental point was ar gued. To four men condemned to hang the subject of hanging has of itself 6 pecu1iar fascination If is said
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-04
NEW VERSION
 OF POPULAR DITTY

lt IS John wilson, replied Assistant Solicitor Davis. person opened the jail door It appears that he is an inside trusty. He Is John D. Wilson of Enshy who was con victed of the murder of Hugh Guthrie several months ago and sentenced to serve 65 years in the state prison. He is a prisoner awaiting the result of an appeal to the supreme court
 Wilson, immediately dressed. gath cred a few of his convict singers to- gether and there fo1sthe benefit of the reporter sang heartily:
 It's long way to the county roads It's a long way to go.
 It's a long way to the penitentiary. To the toughest place l know. Goodbye, young Solicitor Brewer, Farewell, Heflin and Black.
 It's long, long way to the peniten-
 tiary.
 Where I'll never get back.
 As a final chorus the prisoners under the leadership of Wilson sing in an improvised melody of their own.
 They'll place good licks until I'm
 black,
 And I'll never get back.
 know I shall wiggle when he draws
 back,
 And I shall, never get back.
 You all know l am too little to be hit
 like that,
 And you're sending me to place Where I'll never--get-b-a -c-k." There are other songs-the majority of which are about Judge H. B. Aber- nethy and members of the solicitors stan. All appear happy within the jail without a care or thought of the nor row. and their merry roundelays greet the visitor as sharp contrast to what one expects to see.