The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-14
MARTIN PROTESTS
 PAROLE OF SEARS,
 FORMER DEPUTY
Pardon Board, However, Takes Favorable Action on Petition-Fifteen
 Refused Freedom

Montgomery, October l3 = (Speeial.-Ac- ton of a majority of the state board Of pardons in recommending the restoration of the rights of citizenship to Robert l.. Sears, former deputy sheriff or Montgomery county. who shot negro in a Montgomery county courtroom i'm mediately after the negro had been ac- quilted of attempting to kill Sears, has brought forth a protest from William l.. Martin, attorney general, and member of the board of pardons.
 Sears was paroled several months ago after serving about 15 months of a three year sentence for assault with intent to murder. Judge John Purifoy, secretary of state, and M. c. Allgood, state audi tor, recommended the restoration of all rights of citizenship, but Attorney Gen eral Martin dissented and filed the fol- lowing protest with Governor Tender son:
 ..The offense for which the petitioner was convicted is referred to in the pre- yious decisions of the board He as saulted a negro defendant in criminal case in the courtroom immediately after the acquittal of the latter. He served less than E months of the sentence inn posed upon him by the trial judge. The act of which he was guilty was pro test against the courts and organized so- ciety. I feel that full pardon and res tora tion of civil rights should be indefi- nitely withheld from the petitioner.
 FIFTEEN PETITIONS DENIED
 Fifteen persons failed to receive the favorable consideration of the board while 1S were recommended for parole or pardon by the board at the october session Those recommended for release are: Mary Beatty, Elmore, receiving stolen property; Joke Brake Morgan, manslaughter, restoration of rights; Ed ward Davidson, Morgan burglary; A. j.. Dempsey Etowah. assault to muroer; William D. Gaddy Montgomery, Diga- my; Flavian Hatchcock. Colbert Ior- gery; George Henry, Jefferson, forgery' John Humphrey, Jefferson, murder sec ond degree; Harry Martin Morgan, our- xlary; Will Perkins, Shelby, burglary Zeak Treadwell, Clay, carnal knowi- edge: Goodlow Wilson, Calhoun, grand larceny; R. l.. Sears, Montgomery, as- ssult to murder, restoration of rights.
 The board declined to recommend elem ency in the following cases: Oscar Bon ner, Chambers, murder second degree will Brown, Mobile, murder second de- gree; John Carter, Coffee, disposing or r1ortgaged property: Hattie Daniels, Jeff Serson. murder; Robert Fowler. Etowah, burglary; Alonzo Hausman, Montgomery, assault to murder; Annie l.. Lee, Geneva, manslaughter; Clarence Miller, Jeffer- son, murder first degree; Will Mooney, 1ullman, assault to murder; Will Mas sey, Montgomery. grand larceny; Gus Preston. Lee. burglary' Lee sils. MO bile. murder second degree; Hunter Smiley. Lowndes, assault tog murder; will Todd, Bibb. murder first degree; Ansiey Yelder, Autauga, murder second degree.
 Other cases went over to tho next meeting, which will be held November Sa
 NEW BANK FOR CLAYTON
 With tho intention of engaging in the general banking bUAnesA citizens of Chiffon county have requested charter from tho state banking department. 1t is proposed to invest s25,000 in 3 bank at Elanton. Among those interested IS G. B. White of Birmingham. The banking department has the request under con sideration.
 CONNECTS KILLED
 Official notice was received by the con yict department Saturday of the death oi one white convict and three negro con
  ty. The white man was Bob Patterson alias Ben H. Pratt of Montgomery. whc was sentenced to two and one-haif years for grand larceny in 1915. The negroes were Herman Beard of Walker county Tom Stewart of Walker and Claude Jones of Etowah
 rope which was pulling car of coal out of the mines broke, permitting the car to run back into the men who were at work in the mine. Six mules were also killed.
 HORTICULTURALISTS MEET
 The State Horticultural society held 3 meeting at Foley, Baldwin county, Sat urday and discussed problems growing out of the plant industry in Alabama Foley has established a name because of it's activities in this line. Amons those who were scheduled to make talks at the meeting were: James A. Wade commissioner of agriculture; J. Il. Me Crary of Birmingham, and pr. 0. F. F Winberg of Silver Hill.