The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-09-28
M'KEE EXONERATED
 BY JEFF HARRISON,
 CONFESSED BANDIT
Gang Leader Said to Have Denied Knowing Alabama City Man Held on
 Charge

Gadsden, September 27.-(Special) Ben F. Mckee on Alabama City man who is in jail in Montgomery facing trial in the federal court on a charge of connection with train robberies, has been exonerated by Jeff Harrison, lead CT of the gang, who was sentenced to 12 years on his own confession, ac- cording to McKee's attorney, Thomas H. Stephens. MT. Stephens says he has 1t on the authority of government of ficial and a Birmingham attorney who was connected with the case that Har- rison, after his trial, made the state ment that he didn't know Mckee and that he took no part in the train rob berries which his gang pulled off. Mo Kee is to be tried October 21.
 The Alabama furnace in North Gads- der, narrowly missed a shut down when a crap game was raided and the negro employees taken in hand by deputies from the sheriff's office just before a run was to have been made Tuesday night. The negroes, despite the pro- tests that they were needed at once or the entire run of metal would be lost, were bound in preparation to carrying them to jail. The superintendent finally came down and persuaded the officers to let the men remain. Intimation by representatives of the company was made this morning that the matter might be carried into court. and 1t was stated that a conference with this in view was held with the attorneys of the company The plant, which went into blast several weeks ago after hav- ing been closed down several years, is now turning out 250 tons of iron day, and employs 2S0 men.
 The housing of the reunion guests, the big problem now facing the com mittees in charge. was discussed by the general committee Tuesday afternoon, and a general canvas of the homes of the city, to begin at once, was decided upon Effort will be made to secure cots from the war department for those who cannot be housed in the hotels, boarding houses and private homes.
 Paul P. Harrison, whose death oc- cured at his home in Duke, Calhoun county, was buried at his former home in Glencoe Wednesday afternoon. He was formerly connected with the La garde Lime and Stone company. The surviving children are Lowell, Wilber and Emory Harrison of Duke. Mrs. J. |P. Lister of Gadsden, Mrs. Robbie Reade of Glencoe, Mrs. Glen Lister of Qadsden and Miss Alma Harrison of Duke.
 The first boil weevils found in the
 county this year were received this
 morning from Altoona, where, 1t is reported, there are weevils in abund- ance. A few weevils were found in the county last year, but they arrived at such a stage that all died out during the winter This year, however, they will reproduce and will hibernate through the winter and next spring their depredations will begin in earn
 est There have been numerous re-
 ports of boil weevils in the county this
 year, but in each case where examined
 by experts they have been found to be some other member of the weevil family Many farmers are preparing to reduce their cotton acreage next year in anticipation of the coming of the boil weevil.
 The pathhnders who will locate the | Jackson highway will be in Gadsden Monday, October 16, according to an- nouncement of their itinerary received
 here this morning. The work on the public roads over which it is pro- posed to bring this highway through the county will be almost completed by that time.
 One hundred men started to work in the Altoona mines of the VanZandt Mining company, which opened this morning after having been closed down for a month. Three mines are now in operation here. There Is a scarcity of labor as result of many laborers leaving for other states. Off, ficers here have been on the lookout for labor agents all summer and sev- eraI have narrowly escaped them. Aston Green has been elected vice president of the Alabama City, Gads-
 den and Attalla Railway company and will take up his work with this com pany October l. He will have charge of the office and sales promotion de- partmentS.