davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
CIRCUIT COURT ID
 OPEN TOMORROW
Judge Fort to Organize Grand Jury-Heavy 0ockets Set
 In All Divisions

All divisions of the circuit court of Jefferson county will resume tomorrow morning after a two weeks recess for the holidays. Court will be called as io o'clock tomorrow and at 9;S0 o'clock sli other mornings.
 Five divisions of the court are assigned to the trial Of jury cases and one to the trial of nonjury cases. matters coming up under the workmen's compensation act, default judgments and other uncon- tested orders
 Heavy dockets have been set in both divisions of the criminal court, which are presided over by Judge William F. Fort and Judge H. r. Heflin. The week beginning Monday, January l7, has been set aside for the trial of capital cases. Eleven defendants charged with offeuscs punishable by death under the statue of Alabama will be tried at this time Of this number, eight will be called o1 to answer to charges of murder in the first degree and three to robbery. These defendants will be arraigned in open court Saturday and their cases formal ly set.
 Appeal cases from the recorders court of the city of Birmingham will be tried the week of January 24
 The grand jury will be organized to- morrow morning by Judge William F. Fort, and following the charge will in- mediately begin on it's investigations. A docket has been set for three days and includes 70 cases. More than $50 wit nesses have been summoned to appear and testify before the county jury.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
CITY WOULD BUY
 THE WATERWORKS Officials Give Reasons of h. terest Regarding the Pro-
 posed Transaction

In regard to the proposed purchase Of the waterworks to be voted on January A, 1921, city officials want to draw at tention to the following features of the transactions
 for s7,75O,000 which price is lower by over s2,225,ooo than the valuation placed upon the property by the engineers of the state utilities commission.
 "Porchase can be made on six months notice at any time after July 1, 1921.
 "Provision is made for the city to as- sume $5,000,0O0 of outstanding bonds of the water company which bear low rate of interest, making it necessary for the city to issue only S-,750o00 of bonds in the event of purchase.
 Automatic reduction in rates provided for should the earnings of the company at any time exceed the amount fixed by the public service commission
 Permanent maintenance fund is ere ated. insuring adequate up-keep of -he property and a high standard of eff ciency.a
 Provides for immediate installation of increased facilities which will cost s40O GOO. and will relieve the city froin any possibility of water famine.
 ..The rate-making valuation is fixec permanently, the basis being s7,0o0,ooo or s3 GOO less than the states valuation of the property.
 "Supervision by the city of operation of the water company in important par ticulars. with quarterly statements ol income and expenditures by water com papv v
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
BODY IDENTIFIED
 AS AGED MINISTER
Mystery Attending Discovery of Body in Deserted Cabin Ap-
 parently Solved

The body of the white man found , dead in a deserted cabin near Traf- ford in November is believed to be that of c. H. Butler, an itinerent minister, who disappeared in Septem- ber according to John D. T Rives, assistant coroner. The body was badly decomposed and beyond Identification when fopnd. it is stated. The man was 73 years of age and was dressed in overalis and had on heavy shoes Near him WAS found a heavy cane and a Bible and he had apparently died or was killed some weeks before found.
 When he went to investigate the case MT Rives found a small piece of the Andalusia Star, dated August b, and wrote to the editor who assisted in identifying the body by using the story MT. Rives received letter some time ago from Mrs. A. II. Gardner of Joplin, Mo, sister of Butler, saying she believed her brother was dead. A letter was received yesterday from Mir. and Mrs. A. r. Stanley of Opp sta ting that from the description given they believed the dead man was G. II But Ter
 According to the letter Butler was an itinerant minister, who visited them in August and went to visit friends in Andalusia. He came back to Opp, but left there September l, going towards Blrmngham. Butler always travelled on foot, they stated and carried a small knapsaek and grinder for sharp ening knives, razors and scissors The clothing effects of Butler described in the letter corresponded with the things round In the cabin with the dead man, according to Assistant Coroner RiVes
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
FRIENDLY SUIT ON
 COUNTY'S AUTO BILL

Petition for an injunction restrain ing the board of revenue of Jefferson county from issuing warrants for pay ment on oil and gasoline for the opera tion of automobiles furnished county officers and for repairs on these cars will be heard tomorrow afternoon at ? o'clock before Judge Dan A. Greene presiding judge of the circuit court
 w. J. Yielding filed the bill against D. c. Ball, chairman; Thomas E. Huey Lacey Edmundson, w B. Copeland and Jerry Gwin.e The suit is friendly one to test the authority of the board isl providing automobiles for the sheriff, coroner, humane officer and tax collec- tor, which was denied by the state auditors in their report recently.
 It is alleged in the petition that the members of the board of revenue have audited and approved and are about to issue warrants for 13 claims to various pafties named in the petition, includ- lng bills for repairs and parts for au : tcmobiles of officials of the county.
 Other claims involve the amounts due 10 mechanics employed in the county garage Tor work done by them in the repalr and upkeep of the automobiles and trucks owned and used by the va rious officers in the discharge of their duties. ~
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
Jitney Driuers Say One
 Man Cars Block Traffic

Members of the "amalgamated hood of jitney drivers" yesterday entered formal protest before George Lewis Bailes, assistant city attorney, against the alleged de- lay traffic suffers every time it is inadvertently caught behind a one man street car dscharging and taking on passengers.
 Three representatives of the brotherhood who did not disclose their names, appeared in the legal depa artment of the city and gave their testimony.
 It's just this way. mister" said the spokesman for the party. Me and my pals tied up behind one of these 'drive-it yourself street cars, some calls 'em baby carriages. There we sit for minutes while the passengers gets off and others gets on and the fares is collected and rung up and the motorman-con ductor puts on his gloves and looks over the car to see nobody is ridin' free and clears his throat and cranks his electric flivver and rings his bell to start himself and moves off around the corner or wherever he is goin'.
 Now we figure that we could make one fourth again as many trips as we do make if we didn't have to wait so long behind those abbreviated broughams on every corner. It is purely matter of business with us. We don't want that the street car company should be discriminated against, but we feel that having to wait behind the /. little rack bugs is little bit of d discrimination against us. We drive jtneys for living, we pay for the privilege and we want the law fixed so we can get just as much : out of 1t as we arc due.
 Now. what we would like is some kind of clause or ordinance or something adopted that will make it possible for us to move on as soon as we drop our passengers Honest. these two-in-one carts have cut down our profits an awful lot. We carry three loads where we used to carry four and collect 21 cents where we used to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
YEARS SMEET|NG0F BIC SISTERS CLUB To Be Held In Katherine Inn Tuesday Afternoon-Home
 Is Ready

Members of the Big Sisters club wIf hold their annual meeting at the kath- crime Inn; cooperative home for working girls recently established by the club. Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock.
 Work of remodeling the home has been completed. A number of the rooms will be furnished and ready for Inspection Tuesday afternoon. Several of the local furniture stores have contributed furni- ture and equipment for the home. The rest of the house will be furnished by the Big Sisters club and by other CO operating organizations. Just which ones will contribute will be announced later.
 A modern sleeping porch, ventilated on three sides, has been added to the back of the house. On the first floor a large dining room has been added. Remodel ing of the bathrooms. installation of tiled shower baths, doing the floors over in light oak, and fresh paper and painr throughout the house have completed the improvements.
 Every member of the club is urged to come and inspect the home Tuesday aft ernoon Plans for the 1921 membership campaign will be discussed at the meet ing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
D|VORCE:S GRANTED
 IN 1920 TOTAL 915
Jefferson County Records Show Average of 76
 a Month

Divorce suits filed during the year 192J numbered 1,l25. according to records in The chancery division of the circuit court. Of this number 9l5 were granted, with was an average of 76 per month
 This is one of the largest numbers of divorces filed in 12 months since the consolidation of the courts, according to officials.
 A large number of persons against whom divorces are granted fail to get decree giving them the right to re- marry, according to Hunter Armstronc, register in chancery. then marry again without the consent of rne court As q result of their failure to secure permits. sion of the court, all children of these unions are therefore prevented inhertin3 2 the property of their fathers.
 When lawsuits are brought in order to have the property inherited by child-en in families where this has been done, the court always rules that they are ille- gitimate and not entitled to inherit In order to avoid this, persons against whom a divorce is granted, when nor given the right to remarry in the de- cree, should make application for this right, MT Armstrong said.
 At the last general session of the Ala bama legislature Mir Armstrong drafted an act requiring the presentation by all dvorcees of a certified copy of the di- vorce decree. stating the right to re- marry, to the probate judge. The bill was not passed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
WILL HEAR CHANGE
 OF VENUE ARGUMENT

Petition for a change of venue Tn the case of c. L. Anderson. charged with robbery will be heard before Julge William F. Fort in the criminal division of the circuit court tomorrow afternoon at o'clock
 Application for the removal of he case from the circuit court of Jefferson county was made about 10 days ago by Judge B. M. Allen. attorney for the de- fendant on the grounds that many rob- berries had taken place in and around Birmingham during the past few months and the large amount of pub licity given them.
 It was pointed out that with senti- iment so against the man as result cf the crime with which he is charged, {, ii would be impossible for him to be given fair and impartial trial in Bir> mingham.
 of the defense and the prosecution be-
 fore deciding whether or not trial Of this case will be moved from this court
 to the court of another county. | Anderson, together with Frank M
 Cook, was arrested several weeks ago | oS, two charges Of robbery. It was al
 legged that the men robbed l.. r. Me- Eachern 1400 30th street north, an em- plpye of the Manhattan Rubber com : pany. lo17 Fourth avenue. north. while he was at work and after hitting him on the head left him tied in the rear lof the store.
 On the same night Anderson and Cook are alleged to have robbed Will liam Travis, 2716 Avenue F. of about
 $40 at the Gulf Refining company's fn- ing station, Avenue F and Twenty sec ond street.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
COAL PRODUCTION
 OF STATE IN 1920 IS S15,227,OOO TONS
Only 3 Per Cent Short of 1919, Despite Car Shortage and Labor TroubIes-Month
 Just Closed a Record

The officially government repoEted product of Alabama coal psines in 1920 lis 15,227,OOO tons.
 These reports which are rendered weekly. are generally 5000 to 5000 tons defective, owing to failure of all mines to send in reports. When the state mine inspector. C. H. Nesbitt, makes his official summary for the year, the final figures will be about 19,5ou'ooo .ons, which will be compared with 15,92S.f96 tons in 1919.
 Lowest production was in Septem OCT, when for brief time terrorism reigncd in the mine field, and men were afraid to work The military were placed on duty following several assassinations of men engaged in mining, and produc- tion at once recovered, and during De- cember made a new high record for that period. The Christmas week out put was far above all prior records for that period.
 LITTLE DIFFERENCE
 The mine strike has been on in one way or another since April. diifer- enee in coal production of 100000 to 500,000 tons, or less than per cent. |compared with 1919, indicates the fail- uTG Ol tftS StiihG lhOiI pIOduC~lOu standpoint. The only real loss in com> parative production was in that Lrief period prior to the coming of the ,-!il Iitary and enforcement of law. Car service had lots to do with hold- ling down the 1920 production. All last spring there was a car shortage of a much as 50 per cent in some fields That alone accounts for more 'han 100000 tons. But for the car shortage' the years production would have cx- |ceeded that of 1919.
 BY MONTHS Production reported by months in 1920 has been as follows:
 January, 1,6s3,331 February, 1251 . 4so; March, 1,261 sos; April, 1,251,164; May, 1,204,0S4; June, 1,212,6S7; July, 1.445,125; August, 1,16o,s91; September, |994,8S5; October, 1,316,446 November, 1,12o,6s9; December, 1,S74,447. Total. Is. 227, 900.
 The December production was great Ter than that of March or February, when there was no strike, and greater than that of any month since the gen Ieral strike call was issued and the in. national union threw its entire weight into support of the strikers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
CIVIC ASSOCIATION
 PREPARESF0R 1921
Pittsburg Plus Elimination Leads List of Its
 Resolutions

In outlining the activities for the year a92l, the Birmingham Civic Association has announced that it's chief efforts will be centered on five projects, namely:
 Abolish Pittsburg plus in steel prices; to secure air mail service between Bir- mingham and Chicago; location of the State Baptist hospital in Birmingham location of Moose national home for aged in the Birmingham district, and city zoning.
 There is every indication that l92l will see Birmingham and all other steel producing districts made independent of Pittsburg,'' said SecretaryManager Charles L. Harold. This means that Pittsburg plus, which is gross dis crimination against Birmingham, Chicago and, Duluth, will be discontinued. This will be either by the voluntary act of the United States Steel corporation or by the enforcement of the Clayton anti trust act and the trade commission act, which the consumers of the south and west are seeking at the hands of the fed eral trade commission.
 when blHiii5hdii anu lie Soueh "Ae constituted separate and independent zone for price distribution in the various forms of rolled steel products, this sec ton will know new era of great pros- perity.
 Birmingham already enjoys the ad- vantages of a pig iron base which has brought about a remarkable growth in the foundries and other iron melting in- dustries of this city.
 There are number of activities other than the principal objectives above men, toned in which the Civic Association will engage during 1921. Each of the 26 com mjttees now outstanding is pledged to hold meeting during January and lay out schedule for the year. A number of projects are being worked out under the leadership of B. H. Hartsfeld con- corning which announcement will be made from time to time''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
POLICE DEPARTMENT
 WILL KEEP RECORD
 OF ALL COMPLAINTS

Permanent records of all complaints made to the Birmingham police depart ment will be kept during 1921. The install lation of the new system of records was effected by Commissioner John H. Taylor yesterday. The system will give rec ord of all calls turned in, either to the dectective or the police department
 The desk sergeants of the two depart ments will be required to fill out blanks with the name of the person calling, ao- dress, telephone number and the nature of the complaint, also the time when IL is received
 The officer to whom the case is as- signed after making investigation will i'll in the other half of the blank. This Will give a complete record of everything concerning the case.
 Large sheets on which the permanent record is kept vii be placed in loose leaf ledged. The sheets will contain com plete information about the case with every circumstance which arose recorded
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
NORTH BIRMINGHAM BANK REPORTS SHOW
 PROGRESS FOR YEAR

The annual stockholders and direc- tors meeting of the North Birmingham Trust and Savings bank was held yes- terday afternoon at 2:S0 o'clock
 A report of the activities of the bank for the past year was read and figures were given by R. H. Wharton, cashier, which showed that the earnings of the bank for the past eight months had been in excess of 2S per. cent. m
 All the officers of the bank who have served during the past year were re- elected. They are: c. B. Rogers, presi- dent; J. H. Berry, first vice president; George B. Tarrant, second vice presi- dent, R. H. Wharton, cashier, and G. C. Bryant, assistant cashier.
 All the old members of the board of directors were reelected and the name of J. H. Call was added to the list. President Rogers closed the meeting with the announcement that the total resources of the mank were in excess of $1,300,O00, and that the bank enjoyed one of the most prosperous years in it's hiStory
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
COMMITTEE PLANS
 DIRECT APPEAL FOR
 STARVING CHILDREN
Gov. Kilby Gives Endorsement to Movement and Pledges Aid-LocaI Committee
 to Meet

Birmingham committee mem
 bers who are to direct the ap-
 peal in the city and county to
 raise funds to save the lives of starving children in Europe are
 preparing to complete their or ganization at once and to com Iplete arrangements for the open ling of the direct appeal next Sunday.
 Dr. J. E. billiard, chairman of the local committee, has called meeting of all committee members at the Civic Association rooms at 7:30 o'clock to- , morrow evening to go over plans, com
 plete organization details and in gen eral make ready for canvassins every section of city and county.
 The committee members are: J Mercer Barnett and ]. Frank Rush ton, American Relief Administrations; Dr. R 1 N. Simpson. pr. M. $. Barnwell. Dr. G
 R. Stewart, Dr. ]. A. McSporran and 1 Dr. II. NJ. Edmunds, Federal Council of ! Churches of Christ In America Ma> i Blach and D. M. Feidelson, Jewish Joint 1 Distribution Committees; w. M Cosby
 and George Connors, Y. M, c. A.. Mrs. George Connors and Mrs T. c I Randall, Y, w. C. A.; Dr. Kyle J. Kin
 kead and A. w. Nelson, American Rec 1 Cross; John Sehauer and John Ander- son, Knights of Columbus.
 Dr. w. R. Ware, who represents the
 Knights of Columbus on the state com
 mittee in charge of the appeal, has sent q special request to the six coun- | cils in Alabama asking that every member of the order give to his utmost | in behalf of thsee children, who l through no fault of their own, are con
 demned to. a death of starvation in a
 war devastated land, unless Americe 1 with her billions hurries to their res I cue.
 | While local committee workers are busy in their preparation for the can vass that opens January 9, the state 1 organization is straining every effort 1 to complete organiza tions In every dis ] trict in the state. Goveror Thomas F., kilby has given his personal indorse- ment to the work, and it is probable l that this official indorsement also will be forthcoming, In a letter to Herbert Hoover, chairman of the European Re l lief Council the governor warmly in- dorses the movement and declares his l intention of co operating in every way His letter follows:
 "IIon. Herbert Hoover, 4s Broadway New York, N. Y
 | "My Dear MT. Hoover:
 Your letter of December came dur l ing my absence from the state. T give my hearty indorsement to the work you have undertaken, and it shall be my pleasure to cooperate in every ! way possible for the success of the
 movement. Very truly yours, THOMAS F. KILBY, | Governor"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
POST0FFICE RECEIPTS
Increase of $60,0O0 Over 1919 Shown By Statement of Postmaster Smyer

Postoffice receipts during 1920 amounted to $S90.000, according to a statement made yesterday by Postmas- ter R. B. Smyer This is an increase of $so000 over 1919, when the total receipts were $s3O019
 This is really a large increase. as during portion of 1919 the increased postage rates of ? and 8 cents were in effect. which added to the total re- ceipts. During the past twelve months the old rates of and ? cents postage has been in effect and the gain shown is considered splendid one by officials.
 While 1t is impossible to secure the exact total of recepts for the month of December, it is estimated at about $9O.ooo by MT Smyer. The official fg- ures for rthe first II months of 1920 amounted to $7a7.o42.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
UNUSUAL DEATHS IN 1920 SUM AZ January Led the Year With 43. February Was Next,
 With 37

Deaths by unusual causes during 1920 were 422, according to the rec ords in the office of John R. T. Rives, assistant coroner. This was an in- crease of only l over 1919, when 42l deaths were caused by accident, homi- cides and suicides.
 January and February of last year led with 4S and 37, respectively. There were three suicides in both January and June. with a total of 14 for the year as compared to 12 in 1919
 During 1920 there were 755 deaths investigated by the coroner, while there were only 732 in 1919.
 Causes of deaths investigatigated in 1920 and 1919 are as follows:
 1920--Accidental, 33S; homicides, 159; :; suicides. IL; natu al, 331; total, 753.
 1919--Accident; 236 homicides, 146; suicides. l2; natural, 311; total, 732.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
.1,6I1,6OO Gallons or
 Beer Dumped in 1920
Destroyed Stills in Alabama and Other Property Seized Valued at Approximately Half Million Dollars.
 One Officer Killed and Several Wounded

Property valued at approximately &42T,25O yvns seized and destroyed during 1920 by federal prohibition enforcement officers in Alabama, according to the annual report of V. l.. Pierce, officer in charge.
 During this period. I,343 distiller- ies were destroyed, 1,6I1,6OO gall Ions of beer and 2.OOO gallons of whisky were poured out; 1,O4S arr rests and prosecutions grew out of the years work.
 Bffty-two automobiles valued at s27.56O; 70 horses and mules, valued at S2.500; IT wagons and harness
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02

valued mt $50; sugar, syrup and meal valued mt S3.OOO. and n stock of merchandise valued at $1,50O were seized.
 The estimated value of the stills destroyed was $437 200.
 At the present price of corn whisky, the amount poured out by the officers would have brought s30.O0O.
 Alabama has mad an average Of 1J men working in the state, nc- cOrding to Mir. Pierce, and with the exception of Richard ID. Griffin, who was killed in St. Clair county several weeks ago. and the Yvound- ing of J. C. Stanford in shelby county, no accidents have taken place.