davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
MATTHIAS SUCCEEDS
BARR IN CHARGE OF
Tel. ENSLEY PLANT
General Superintendent Re-
signs to Accept Flatter-
ing Proposition From
Michigan

G. J. Barr, for the past 10 years gen.
eral superintendent of the steel plant
and furnace divisions of the Tennessee
Coal. Iron and Railroad company, has
rendered his resignation.
w. G. Matthias, assistant general su-
perintendent, has been named as his
successor. Information to this effect
became known yesterday, but on ac-
count of the absence from the city of
George Gordon Crawford. president of
the company, no formal statement
could be secured.
Mr.. Barr. who is rated as one of the
best steel and iron men in the country,
goes to Sault Ste. Marie. Mich, where
he Is to be in charge of large indus
trial concern. He was not in the city
yesterday, having gone to his future
home, and the exact nature of his new
work was not known. 1t was stated.
however, that he was to be in charge
of an exceptionally large industry.
Mr.. Matthias. who succeeds Mr.. Barr,
is also well known as a successful and
experienced iron and steel man. He has
been assistant to Mr.. Barr for the past
six or more years. and was engaged
in the same line of industry before COM
ing south.
Karl l.. Landgrebe. superintendent of
blast furnaces of the Tennessee COM
pany, will succeed Mr. Matthias as as
sistant general superintendent of the
Ensley steel plant and furnaces He
too is widely experienced and has been
most successful in the conduct of large
Industrial plants. No information has
been given out regarding the probable
successor to Mr.. Landgrebe.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
.TWO-YEAR SENTENCE
IMPOSED BY JUDGE
ON JAS. B. HOUSTON
In Brief Statement Prisoner
Plead Guilty to Charge
and Asked the Mercy
of the Court

James B. Houston, former city clerk
and treasurer of Bessemer, pleaded
guilty before Judge William e. Fort,
sitting in the second division of the
criminal court at 2:30 o'clock yester-
day afternoon and was Immediately
sentenced to serve two years at We
tumpka, the state penitentiary.
The sentencing of Houston was not
without its dramatic features. An hour
before the grand jury had filed a par
tial report, in which the indictment OF
Houston for having diverted about
$4,000 of the civic funds of Bessemer
before Judge Harrington p. Helm,
who at once passed the case to Judge
Fort
Houston, escorted by deputy sher-
ifs. was brought from his cell at the
county Jail a little later and brought
In before Judge Fort. He appeared
calm and in a low, distinct tone an
nounced that he would plead guilty
as charged in the indictment.
James B. Houston. have You any
thing to say before this court passes
sentence on your" queried Judge Fort
II throw myself absolutely on the
mercy of the court" replied Houston,
looking Judge Fort in the eye 'T
plead guilty. 1 surrendered myself be-
cause 1 could not stand the lash of
conscience any longer I gambled away
the money and lost from the very start
and then stole more to regain my
losses. have no excuses to offer and
I am glad to go away to expiate my
error. 1 want to go now In order to
come back again to try to regain my
name. That's about all, as there is no
need to speak of the shame and hui
initiation of my present position and
what I have brought on my friends"
Judge Fort then sentenced Houston
to two years. He said:
II would like to give you the low
est penalty the law allows. which Is
one year and a day." said Judge Fort,
but I cannot under the circumstances.
You were trusted employee
and you failed in your trust. There
fore I will sentence you to two years
penal servitude. With good behavior
you will get four months off and withx
in two years can return amongst your
friends to start over again. Realize that
no mans hand will be agains you. but
that all will reach out and aid and
comfort you IL you conscientiously try
to make good on your. return from
prison."
About two weeks ago James B.
Houston walked into the office of So
liictorSHu L. Black and calmly stated
that he was a defaulter and would
like to plead guilty before some Judge
and go to Jail Immediately. Since that
time Houston had been in the county
Jail awaiting the proper judicial ac-
ton before he could start the expfa-
ton of his admitted crime in the state
penitentiary.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
CONVENTION OF
ALABAMA MERCHANTS
PROVED A BIG SUCCESS
Fddlers Provide Fine Amusement Concluding Feature Of
Meetng-Pratt City Merchant Won Automobile Registra-
ton for Three Days Estimated at Business and
Pleasure Kept Visitors Busy During Convention

three days of the year, both in point of
pleasure and benefit from the conven-
ton.
From noon yesterday the visitors were
kept busy. The merchants enjoyed the
double victory of the Barons at Rick
wood park yesterday afternoon to the
fullest extent, and there were no more
loyal Birmingham rooters in the grand
stand than the visitors.
The browning entertainment feature of
the meeting, however, was the fiddlers
convention given at the jefferson the
atre last night. Only persons represent
ing Alabama merchants or the merchants
themselves were allowed to participate
in the contest for the three prizes.
LeGrand Wilson was elected manager
of the fiddlers convention at the meet
ing yesterday morning, and had charge
of the programme last night. DIR. r. NJ.
Cunningham presided over the meeting,
while ex-senator Frank S. White, Judge
John H. Miller and Professor F. A.
Davidson were the judges.
About Is fiddlers entered the contest,
and each was allowed to play three Sc
lections. The music consisted princi-
pally of old-tine airs, while civil war
tunes were the most popular THE
Eighth Day of January probably was
among the most popular tunes of the
occasion 1t was written to commemorate
Andrew Jacksons victory at New Or
leans.
Among the other selections WERE
Turkey in the Straw Leather
Breeches'' Honey Bee, such Apple
Blossoms" "Cotton-Eyed Joe." "Arkan-
sas Traveller" Alabama Girl" "Pret-
test Girl in the County" Shake That
Little Foot" Sally Goodwin" "Old Flat
Woods" Rye Straw" bill, the Cabbage
is Done,' "Old Joe Clark Sugar in
the Coffee" ''Natchez Under the Hill"
"Bonapartes Retreat" The Old Hen
Sf4kled When She Laid Speckled
Egg" and many others.
The following registered at the Cham
Der Of Commerce and participated in the
contest last night: B. higgins. Gate
City; j. P. Green, Bessemer D. D. Hol-
lis, Sulligent; w. l.. Harrell, Bessemer;
J, A. Funderburg, Cropwell; F. S. Coup
land, Admission; H. ]. McCary, ITALIA
dega; J. A. Traffanstedt, Collnsville; J.
M. jackson. Piedmont; W. G. Adams,
Rockford Mr.. Tots, Woodlawn and B.
w. McKinnon of Talladega Springs
Several hundred more merchants regis
tered at the headquarters in the Cham
Der of Commerce building yesterday,
many coming in for the last day and
to attend the baseball game and fiddlers'
convention last night. 1t was estimated
that the total number of visitors reg
istered at headquarters up to last night
was in excess of 2000 while only 1900
registered for the first day.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
CAMP WILCOX WILL
ELECT DELEGATES TO
GADSDEN REUNION
Meeting This Afternoon at the Cable
Hall-Fine Musical Programme
Arranged-Public Invited

Camp Wilcox. United Confederate
Veterans, will meet this afternoon at
the Gable hall. 1918 Second avenue. at
$3.50 O'Clock Among the business to
be transacted will be the election OF
delegates and alternates to the Gads-
den reunion and the enrolment OF
members and the announcement OF
sponsors, maids and chaperons for the
reunion.
fine programme has been arranged
and will include an address by Walter
Brewer.
Mrs. Robert Farnum will render
annie Laurie" and Miss Katherine
Welch, dainty little tot of II years.
will sing "A Little Bit of Heaven"
All Confederate veterans, Daughters
of the Confederacy, Sons of Veterans
and the public generally are cordially
invited to attend.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08

Surprising all expectations, both in
and in point of entertainment. the fid-
dlers' convention, held in connection
with the meeting of the merchants
association, was the biggest success
of the three days events.
The jefferson theatre was filled to
it's capacity last night, while more
than 1000 persons were turned away
from the fiddlers' convention. The
fiddlers were given more applause than
in Birmingham
Following several selections by Da-
Wilson's orchestra, three vocal numbers
were given by Fred Whaley and Miss
Margaret Hogan.
j. F.. mccarthy of Pratt City held No.
$50, the lucky number that drew the
new model Ford touring car given by
the Birmingham merchants and job
bers to the Alabama merchants. Miss
Hogan drew the number from the pile
of coupons.
With the last stroke of the bow at the
old-time fiddlers' convention last night,
the fourth annual meeting of the Ala
hama Merchants association came to a
close. The merchants will leave for
their homes this morning.
With the declaration that the 1916 con-
vention was the greatest success in the
history of the association. the visiting
delegates left the Jefferson theatre last
night highly pleased with their stay in
Birmingham Everything attempted in
connection with the convention was sat-
isfactorily carried out The merchants
declared that they have had the banner
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
Plan Electrical Week

Birmingham is to have an electrical
celebration in December as part of the
national movement to promote the use
of electricity and electrical contrivances.
During the week December 20. practi-
cally every city in the country will have
an exhibition of the electrical business,
the various uses to which it can be put
and the development of its uses.
Plans for the national celebration have
been made by the Society for Electrical
Development and the local committee.
which has been named to take charge OF
the affair in Birmingham follows:
H. M. Kohn, commercial manager Bir-
mingham Railway, Light and Power COM
pany Frank Hammond, general agent
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company; r. T. Brooke, local manager
General Electric company; H. W. Mat
thews, president Matthews Electric Sup
ply company; F. T. Pellens. Westinghouse
Electric Manufacturing company; J. r..
Wilcox. Wilcox Electric company.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
OFFICERS OFLOCAL
TROOP OF CAVALRY
FORMALLY ELECTED
Matt Murphy Head of Organization
Which is Temporarily Mustered in
State Seryice-Drill Tonight

The members of the Cavalry troop.
headed by Capt. Matthew H. Murphy.
were formed into a temporary organiza-
ton last night at the city hall armory.
Officers were elected and the troop nus
tered in as a temporary state organiza-
ton by recruiting officer Capt. j. D. Car
Isle. About so recruits were present,
and it is expected that over Is will be
present tonight at 6 p. M. when inspec-
ton and drill will be held.
The officers formally elected last night
were Matthew H. Murphy. captain: Rob-
ert G. Thach, first lieutenant. and Owen
G. Gresham, second lieutenant. The nom
commissioned officers will not be ap-
pointed until the troop is officially in
spected and mustered in by Capt Thomas
A. Roberts, U. S. A.
Col l.. Z. Steiner and Captain Roberts
may arrive in Birmingham tonight. in
which event the official inspection will
take place. 1t is possible. however. that
their coming will be delayed until Sat-
urday or Monday. depending upon their
mastering plans in south Alabama.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
GOOD PROGRESS MADE
IN TICK ERADICATION

Good progress is being made in Kidding
Jefferson county cattle of the tick. ac-
cording to the government report for last
month. In the county there were 1871
herds. consisting of 57011 head of cattle,
dipped in the county. Out of this largo
number only 1896 herds, consisting Of 5000
head of cattle. were found to be infested
with ticks. This is considered a good
record, and with the further splendid CO.
operation that cattle owners have been
giving. it is said. the cattle tick should be
entirely eliminated in the county within
the next three months.
A total of 14717 herds, consisting of
75s,775 head of cattle were dipped In the
state during the month Of August. This
number includes all counties doing CO.
operative work and II counties having
completed the work.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
CHIEF EAGAN MAKES.
MONTHLY REPORT OF.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charge of Disorderly Con-
duct Responsible for Larg-
est Number of Arrests.
Health Violations

The report of the work done by the
police and detective departments dur
ing the month of August was made
public last night by Chief of Police
Martin Eagan. 1t shows total of 1886
arrests with $S55257 collected in fines.
Stolen property valued at $11,11S.S6
was recovered and returned to own
ers.
The largest number of arrests were
on the blanket charge of disorderly
conduct, which covers all crimes from
arson to splitting on the sidewalk
There were 272 arrests on this charge.
The next largest number of arrests
was for violating the health and quar-
antine laws. For violating the prohi-
bition law 1874 were arrested and So
were convicted. For wife whipping
seven were arrested and six convict
ed Forty-two persons were arrested
for exceeding the speed limit with 81
convictions. In Ensley 326 arrests were
made with 273 convictions.
For Jefferson county 166 arrests were
made, five prisoners turned over to
the federal authorities. IL arrests for
Tie JuVcullo COoIts lV 1dSlllVeS 1TOm
justice caught and nine persons de-
livered to the welfare department.
A summary Of the report follows
Total arrests for recorders court
1885: arrests for sheriff of Jefferson
county, 1865; arrests for federal au-
thorities, s. arrests for Juvenile court
10; arrests of fugitives, TO- and 10
delivered to the welfare department
White males arrested, 709; white
females arrested, 131; colored males
arrested, 500; colored females arrest
ed, 297; total arrests by police and de-
tective departments, 1886.
fines and costs collected: From re-
corder's court No. /, $2931.50 North
side Jail, 1921; Southside Jail, $608. so;
installments, $1092.75 solicitors fees,
$225; miscellaneous. $3S; appeal cases.
$12S2.S2; from recorders court No. 2,
Ensley, $1763; total fines and costs col
lected, sS552.57.
Arrests for refusing to pay street
tax amounted to AZ with 80 convic-
lions. The majority of the persons
arrested for this offense were negroes,
who were given fines ranging from 81
to $40
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
KAHN PLEAD GUILTY
AND WAS GIVEN TWO
YEARS AT THE WALLS
Charged With Forging S25
Check-Former Jeopardy
of Grimes Is Rejected
By Jury

DR.. Alfred e. Kahn, a well dressed
young man, appeared before Judge Will
liam E. Fort yesterday afternoon and
forgery of $25 check on the Brming-
ham Trust and Savings bank. He was
Immediately sentenced to serve two years
in the state penitentiary
DR.. Kahn made a brief statement to the
effect that some day the world would
know of the cause of his downfall, but
that at the present time he was not at
liberty to speak. Judge Fort merely
stated that it was his information that
under the circumstances he could not
give lighter sentence.
There were several other pleas of guilty
before Judge Fort yesterday and he also
disposed of his docket and again CO.
operated with Judge Helm in cleaning
up the days docket of the first division
of the criminal court.
Before Judge Harrington p Heflin
a few minor cases were disposed of and
the entire afternoon was spent in
thrashing legal technicalties in the L. M
Grimes case of assault with intent to
murder Grimes. through his attorney,
entered plea of former jeopardy, which
was knocked out by the jury.
About o'clock yesterday afternoon
Grimes was placed on trial for having
assaulted with a weapon Nick Brooks
in September 1911 Brooks, former Chief
of Police George H. Bodeker and Chief
of Police Martin Eagan, were placed on
the stand by the state and then court
recessed until this morning. The case
attracted interest through the strenuous
legal fight to free Grimes.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
Suits Filed

The following suits were filed yes
terday in the office Of the clerk of the
circuit court:
s3O0O-Will Johnson sues the Louis
VILE and Nashville railroad. alleging
annoyance from decayed fruit.
$5000-Sam Cole sues the Gulf States
Steel company. alleging personal in
juries
SS000-Will Brooks sues the Ameri-
can Radiator company. alleging per-
sonal injuries.
$3o,000-Henry MCGEE, as admins
traitor for Estes Eddington, sues the
Alabama Great Southern railroad. al
legtng death from railroad accident.
$S000-Jack Isbell sues the Tennes-
see Coal, Iron and Railroad company,
alleging personal injuries.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
At the Photoplay Houses

At the Photoplay Houses
Rialto-Edmund Breeze in weak
ness of Strength"
Strand-"Joffery," with c. Aubrey
and Diane" with Baroness DEWITT.
Trianon-Wiliam S. Hart in Apostle
Of Vengeance
Belle Theatre-'The Marriage Of
Molly o." with Mae Marsh and Robert
Harron.
Odeon Two-Closed; opens Saturday.
Alcazar-'The Dawn of Freedom,
with Charles Richman.
Vaudette-"The Yellow Menace"
with Edwin Stevens.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08

The allied armies have taken q great
quantity of mules from the breeding sec
ton Of the west and middle west. and a
large number from the southern states.
The result is high priced mules for the
southern planter. There is only one remc-
dy. Substitute horses which are not
high You can buy for 1928 to $175 a
horse that will do the work of a 500
or $500 mule. Why not save 500 per
head and use the horse? Get a mare,
breed her and raise a colt. See the ad-
vertisement of the big sale of 400 work
horses at Lexington. KY. September q
to %. Attend their sale and bring home
some good work horses They win an
swer your every purpose.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08

j. F. McCarty, merchant of Pratt
City, was awarded the five-passen-
ger new model Ford touring car
given by the Birmingham mer-
chants and jobbers. Miss Mar
garet Hogan, while bhndfolded,
drew the winning number.
F. S. COPELAND, the one-armed fid-
dler of Admission, was awarded the
first prize of $50 in the fiddlers' con-
test. j. P. Green, veteran of the
civil war, won the second prize of
500. DIR. Hollis was given the
third prize of SIS; J. ]. Trafford-
stedt of Cpllinsville, the fourth
prize of $40, and ], M. Jackson,
fifth prize, S..
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08


convictions on S54 of the cases of mis-
demeanors and 437 cases of felonies
were tried and bound over to await the
action of the grand jury.
Clerk Bonner further shows that 276
persons were sent to the county roads
or the county farm for a grand total
of 1874 years. or an average sentence
of eight months. The report Of Clerk
Bonner follows:
CLERK BONNER'S REPORT
Hon. Hugo Black and Assistants:
w. S. WEIGH and James Davis,
County Solicitors.
Dear Sirs: Complying with your
request of recent date. I am send
ing as nearly a detailed report as
I can of the work done by this
court for the past year. the ex-
penses of running same. the moneys
collected, the number of persons
sent off and the number of those
who have been discharged.
1--WE have docketed 1854 cases.
There have been 1881 misdemean-
ors and $50 felonies. There have
been tried and convicted S54 mis-
demeanors, and 437 felons have
been bound over to await the ac-
ton of the grand jury. There have
been 276 persons. including men
and women, sent to the county
roads or the county farm. There
have been 1921 misdemeants and
3S5 felons discharged or acquitted
AS you will see by the above
figures 1867 more misdemeants have
been acquitted than have been con-
victed The aggregate number of
years of those prisoners who have
served time for the county within
the past IL months amounts to 1874
years. There are 106 misdemeanor
cases pending trial and 81 felonies
"All monies collected for the
county by the clerk are paid to
the country treasurer the first of
each month. This court has paid
into the county treasury this past
year $685. All the running ex-
penses amounted to the salaries of
of the Judge and the clerks, which
is $4,000; telephone service. $72;
hooks. paper, etc, $103, which
amounts to a total of $4775 per
year. Subtracting the money paid
out by the county from the money
paid into the county, there is a net
balance of $1540.
IT hope you can readily see by
the above figures stated this court
has been successful from every
point of view. Respectfully sub
mitted, J. M. bONNEH,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08

Nelson Turner, negro, 704 Fourth
avenue, north was seriously injured
at 1880 o'clock last night when he was
stabbed with a knife by an unidentified
negro woman at Sixteenth street and
Avenue E, who made her escape Tur-
ner was removed to the Hillman hos
pital in the police emergency automo-
bile.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08

information about any case in few mo-
ments.
"All misdemeanor cases go to trial
within week after the warrant has
been sworn out, the felonies always
securing a hearing within 10 days The
morning sessions of the court are de-
voted to misdemeanors and the after
moons to felonies. We all work regu-
lar hours-.S:30 o'clock in the morning
to o'clock every afternoon.
SELF-SUSTAINING
Notwithstanding the fact that the
criminal branch OF the municipal court
is self-sustaining. the record clearly
shows that Judge Abernethy has been
merciful When man or woman is
brought before Judge Abernethy on a
charge involving moral turpitude, IL
it is their first offense and they are
convicted, they are either paroled or
given the minimum fine of 81. and the
address Of the convicted person filed
on a docket maintained for that pur-
pose. and a careful watch is main
tanned by the detectives on their fu-
ture conduct. If person Is again ar
rested for the same offense the SEN
tence is generally from three to six
months of hard labor on the roads A
third arrest for the same offense
brings sentence of year and a half
on the roads. My experience has been
thai with adults offenses involving
moral turpitude will be repeated if the
opportunity occurs.
Il consider Judge Abernethy's court
one OF the most important in Jefferson
county and the manner in which 1t has
been conducted during its first year
of existence reflects great credit on its
judicial officer"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-08
AN ENWABLE RECORD
of CRIMINAL BRANCH
of MUNICIPAL COURT
Court Presided Over By
Judge H. B. Abernethy
Is Self Sustaining
is OPERATED ON
EFFICIENCY SYSTEM
First Offenders Are Shown Mercy
By Court, But Subsequent
Offense Brings Sure
Punishment

Judge H. B. Abernethy has made an
enviable record during the past year.
according to official report
Clerk j. NJ. Bonner of the first di-
vision of the municipal court filed a
statement with Solicitor Hugo L. Black
yesterday showing that 1854 cases
were docketed before Judge Abenethy
in the past IL months. of which 1881
were for misdemeanors and $50 were
for felonies. The report of Clerk Bon
ner shows that there were trials and