The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-03
MORE SENSATIONS ! ARE IMMINENT IN
 CH|[TON, IS BELIEF Five Thousand Men Present When Court Is, Opened by
 Gunter and Grand
 Jury Sworn In
By WILLIAM l.. GoRMLEY


 C1anton, September 2.--(Special.) )-While 200 or more of Chiffon county's citizens who compose two strong political fac- tions, sat in silence in small temporary courtroom and small groups of followers of each faction discussed the burning of the $3000O courthouse as they stood on the sidew ak nearby, Judge Gaston Gun ter of the Fifteenth judicial circuit de- livered hIs charge that was devoid or sensations to a grand jury made up of farmers when circuit court convened at C1anton Monday afternoon.
 When Judge Gunter told the granc jury members that they were at liberty to go and return later, Chiffon county citizens, or that part represented at the opening Of court, breathed sigh of te- lief, because Chiffon county. as well as all Alabama, had expected many sensa- tional phases of political differences 70 be addsi to a chapter that already is ad :. mitted by both democrats and republicans to be very serious. Expecting the judge to charge the grand jury to investigate the report of Examiner J. H. Craig, who reported alleged irregularities in ac- counts of officials of Chiffon county, and the burning of the court courthouse a few days following the report, approxi- matey 5OO0 men were present at the court opening. The only reference Judge Gun ter made to the report was when Judge Reynolds. probate judge and one of the accused officials left the courtroom, be- lieving the cnarge had been completed.
 'Thcre is {. matter that has some con nection with public officials of the coun. 'ty that 1 shall take up with you later," said the judge as the grand jurors pre- pared to leave the courtroom. This as sertion was the only thing that borderec on the sensational, and Chiffon county officials consider the sensational fea- ture is to come later.
 J.. Bice, county treasurer; the probate judge and members of the commissioners court, who were severely criticized in the report of alleged irregularities, sal through the grand jury charge- However. the probate judge did not hear the stare ment of Judge Gunter regarding matters to be taken up later.
 SITUATION CRITICAL
 Chiffon county has not recovered from charges and counter charges that to- lowed the examination of books of publi.. officials The situation has become critl- cal, this much being admitted by demo. crats anu republicans. Rumors became sensational following the destruction il, a mysterious manner of the courthouse, and it is nCw openly charged by manj members of one faction that politicsl. enemies l'urned the public building. Then there are many who believe it was dons to hide alleged wrong doings of officials Clanton voters were found to be free with their severe criticisms. Small groups gathered on Clanton streets Mon. day afternoon discussing the develop business life of the town and placed the state.
 REWARD OFFERED
 Probate Judge Reynolds, who claims to have saved all important records of his office when the courthouse was de stroyed, authorized a reward of 5000 Monday afternoon for the arrest anc conviction of the party or parties wao burned, or were responsible for the burn ing of the county building. The reward is offered by Judge Reynolds NJ. D. Fosheem, circuit clerk: w. T. Bean, eu- perintendent of education; H. A. Harris, sheriff; J D. Collins, tax collector; J. D. Dennis. tax assessor: H. NJ. Simpson, register in chancery; Grady Reynolds son of the probate judge; J. NJ. Grant of the county equalization board: F. E. Collins, lawyer; J. Bice, treasurer; J. H Atkinson of the Chiffon county dratt board and W H. Gillespie, chief deputy sheriff.
 A job printing office had instructions to run the reward as an advertisement and also to print a large number of CIT culars for distribution over the county. =