davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
BOARD ID ACT ON
 APPEAL PETITION,
 AUTO FEE REPEAL
Those Without Official Papers Subject to Arrest After Today. Over 1000 Have Passed
 the Examinations

Action will be taken by the city commission tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock on a petition asking the re- peal of that section of the new traffic code which provides for the collec- tion of $1 fee for issuing drivers permits.
 These permits must be obtained by all drivers of motor cars, with the exception of those who have chauffeur licenses. The petition was presented at the ses- sion of the board yesterday afternoon by M, NJ. Ullman, representing J. A. Ban green
 The petition was referred to Fred c. Moore, city attorney, to be reported on tomorrow afternoon. on motion of pr. N. A. Barrett, president of the commission.
 VALIDITY ATTACKED
 Validity of the section authorizing the fee was attacked by MT. Ulman Tn the petition on the ground that it is in violation of the state revenue code, which provides the state license is the only license which may be collected for the operation of automobiles
 Constitutionality of the section was up held by the city attorney in an opinion rendered several weeks ago, when the same agitation was fostered by MT. Ullman. Based on a Mississippi supreme court opinion, which said mnnicipality had the right to charge such d fee n connection with police regulations MI. Moore defined his stand.
 Since that time MT. Ullman says he fhas found a case in the supreme court of Alabama in which a & privilege tax levied on cars by the board of county commissioners of Conecuh county was denied.
 PRIVILEGE TAX
 However, it is argued that this was privilege tax, while the fee being opposed is levied as police regulation Those who are given permits must pass an examination on their qualifications as car drivers. Their knowledge of traffic rules is also tested.
 Meanwhile, about 7,250 permits have been issued at the city hall. Today is the last day to register before the pen alty of arrest will be imposed. John Il. Taylor commissioner of public safety has declared all violators will be arrested and prosecuted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
CALLS SAITH ID DISCUSS EXPORTS War Finance Corporation Is to Meet Monday in Wash
 ington

Meeting of the directors of the war si nance corporation has been called fot Monday next in Washington. Col. T. Ct smith vice president of the Birmingham Trust and Savings company, will attend on special invitation of Eugene Meycf Jr., managing director of the corpora ton
 The war finance corporation was cEeat l. ed to assist exportation of cotton ama other agricultural products by financlns their movement and it is especially with regard to exportation of cotton that the views of southern bankers of prominence are desired Tn telegram to Colonel smith requesting his attendance at th4 Monday meeting. MT Meyer said;
 9,tThe corpora ton desires to hold con- the southern states. The purpose of the cc r.. aHces is to discuss methods by Which thee wac corporation may assist most et- Actually in financing exportatiop of cot ton and other agricultural produets.
 The coming conference is understood to have been determined on following T cabinet meeting held Tuesday at which the farmer problem was discussed and it was decided to take prompt steps to dc what can be done to help out the farmer.
 Birmingham business experts say the coming conference hids fair to precede early practical stspa of relief.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
ARREST IS MADE
 IN AMBUSH CASE

Eddie Williams, an eighteen year. | old negro. said to have been out on strike for several weeks in the Pratt City coal district, was arrested by members of the Ensley police lepart- ment yesterday in connection with the attack upon two miners near Pratt City late Monday afternoons. The arrest was made by, Tayle and Brown of the Ensley police depart- ment, who state they have several otkers under suspicion and other ar rests will be made within the next "A hours
 John. Dawson and Arthur Whitfield the negro miners who were seriously injured when the attack was made. were reported to be resting as well as could be expected Dawson is said Ito be fatally wounded. Whitfield will recover, it is believed.
 Special deputies and officers of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company and members of the Ensley police department, have been working on. the case since the attack was made.
 In the meantime, the officials of the. Tennessee company are taking every precaution to see that their miners, are protected. Fifty special deputies were sworn in Tuesday and an addi-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31


 Institution of the probe at this time was decided upon, after Commissioner Taylor had emphatically insisted upon the investigation starting at once. Those summoned to appear hefore the commission are Truman Morri- son and Hunter Watkins of the S1 Tire company: Capt. c. E. Glover, Capt. D. S. Simmons, Officers Clyde Vaughn, Louie Edwards and Joe Hol- man. Considerable discussion as to the time of starting the investigation was brought on by members of the commission. Mir Taylor remained adamant. however, and insisted that there be no postponement of the probe.
 If there is anything to investigate l want it investigated right now de- clared Commissioner Taylor. Per sonally, I see nothing to the whole affair except as I have stated be- fore. The sooner the investigation
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31

is made the better. l must insist upon immediate action in regard to this natter
 The whole affair grew out of the alleged arrests o. several auto access sory men Sunday a week ago Ats that time Officer Clyde Vaughn is said to have arrested a number of auto tire dealers for, alleged violation of the Sunday closing law.
 When he asked MT. Taylor regard ing the prosecution of the men, Mir Taylor. under the impression they were two men who had been arrested for washing cars on Sunday, told him to tear up the bonds, as the city did not want to prosecute a man for washing cars.
 The matter became the subject for a hot discussion in the Tuesday meet ing of the commission when Com missioner Burruss demanded full investigation of the charges in con nection with the bonds. A motion providing for the probe, introduced by Mir. Burruss. and seconded by Mir Taylor, was passed by the commis- sion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31

1 to let the people kill him Since he was lodged in the county jail le has maintained his innocence while off cer.s kept steadily at work gathering | information which was weaving q wei of the strongest circumstantial evi- dence against the negro. | Yesterday afternoon he asked to be taken to the solicitors office
 and there in the presence of
 Sheriff J. C. Hnrtsfield, John s.
 Harris, chief warden at the county jail, Austin Walker, deputy sher- If. J. D. Owens and the official
 stenographer. made voluntary confession of the crime.
 Credit for the splendid work in this case is due to Deputies McDuff. Tay- Tor and Walker. according to Mir Tate. while all officers assisted in lcorducting the search. Within a week from the date of the crime these men have arrested the negro and secured complete confession, which he de clared he did not think streng shened the case any, as much damaging evi- depce had been gathered against the negro. Whitesde will be tried in the criminal division of the circuit court the week of April 25. which has been designated for the hearing of capital eases.
 THE MURDER
 MT Bourgeois a Confederate veteran and Lacey Murphree, were found dead several days ago by searchers when they failed to return from fishing trip. They had been dead several hours when their bodies were dis GOV cred That of the boy was about 15 feet from the aged man. Murphree lIxro 11-ip shot in the back Sheriff Hartsfield put practically his entire force oi deputies to work on this double mur- der and the success of their effor5s has been demonstrated by the alleged confession.
 MEN RELEASED J. L. Hendricks and John Davis, wnc were arrested after the murder of J l. Bcurgouis and Lacey Murphree, wers discharged from the county jail yester day These men were arrested last Sat urday and since that time had been held
 Following the alleged confession ol John Whiteside, negro, to the crime these men were released and allowed tf return to their homes Both men live 1T the vicinity of Henry Ellen where thl double murder occurred,
 POLICE RECORD John Whiteside negro, self-confesseC murderer of j. l.. Boureouis and Lacey Murphree, near Henry Ellen, more thai a week ago, has twice been in the to.Is of the law before, declared Chief of be tectives George L. Lyons yesterday
 Chief Lyons visited Whteside at tho county jail yesterday, the negro aomlt- ting he had escaped from the county chaingang in August, 1917 after being sentenced for vagrancy and carrying { pistol. MT. Lyons said pistol had beer found on Whiteside at that time.
 On October Is, 1916 the negro was ar rested by the detective department anc charged with highway robbery He ,s alleged to have robbed# another negro The evidence was incomplete and he was acquitted
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31

This body was named at meeting ol citizens called at the Tutwiler hotel yes terday, at which Frank E. Butler. gen eral chairman of the Civic Association committee working on the semi-centen- nial celebration, presided Appointment of the committee was made by MT. But Ter following the introduction of mo ton to that effect by E. w. Barrett.
 THE COMMITTEE
 Members of the committee are as fol- lows w. " M. Robertson, Jr., chair nan; Dr. J. II. Phillips, w. D. Nesbit, John R. Hornady, c. N Wiley, Hill Fer guson Coleman Blach. V. H. Hanson Mrs Harry Upson Sims, Mrs. Paul Earle Mrs. w. J. Adams and Mrs. J. k. Hor- nady.
 The committee will assemble all fea- lures thought practical and report back to the general meeting on day to pc set by the chairman of the special com mttee.
 Main features of the meeting yester- day afternoon, besides the appointment of this committee, are given below.
 Robert Jemison, Jr, suggested the CO., operation of the civic organizations of the city De detHllely pleuBeu Delois AhS concrete work was done on such prof ect.
 Dr. J. H. Phillips opposed the idea of a. semi-centennial celebration when the balloon races are held on the ground that too little time was given for proper preparation.
 ACCOMMODATION
 Harry Halfacre declared May was the best time for such an event because of the lack of suitable accommodations in December He said it would be neces- sary to house the crowd expected under canvas
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
GETS HARDER WORK

Lieutenant Commander A. G. Dibrell. in charge of navy recruiting in Alabama, will soon be placed in charge of the navy recruiting activities in the state ot Tennessee, according to orders signed oy Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roose- welt. which were received here yesterday.
 Headquarters, it is understood. will 3e at Nashville The removal of Lieuten- an. Commander Dibrell to Tennessee will place him in charge in his native state His removal to that state is in ac- knowledgment of the excellent recruiting records he made while in charge of Ala Lama. for Alabama has led in the worN while Tennessee has proved a hard knot.
 The change is effective April 2l
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
WHAT THEY SAY
Bs BILL THOMPSON

The question was What dos you think ahout the action CT Judge H. l.. Aberuethy in giving a negro a seil- tence oi year a hard labor on the county roads iri addition to q fine uf S50a for seliing whls-y which hs deemed contained poison?
 Where asked: Here and there aboui town.
 Tie answers were:
 Dr. R. H. Drake, city health depart ment More power to Judge Aber- nethy, for 1 think hs, has started great work There is too much poi son booze being sold here now and with sentence of year at hard labor in view q man will think twice before lie gets out and sells poisoned booze"
 o. < Finch. county license inspec- tor. sIt's the best piece of news I've read in my morning paper in a long time. When that negro gets out now it's a 10 to l bet that it will be some time before he goes to selling booze of any llind.r
 Fred Lacey. musician, Morris hotel: "A few more sentences like that one Judge Abernethy just handed out will about rid Birmingham of people who have the nerve to sell poisoned booze Instead of giving the negro year at hard labor l think it is a pity that Judge Abernethy didn't have the au- thority to give him about 10 years
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
OPPOSE ADVANCED
 SWITCHING CHARGE

The carriers have given notice Of an intention to raise switching charges in Alabama. Charles Jones. secretary of the Birmingham Traffic Bureau. spent Tuesday in Atlanta, making protest in the name of Bir- mingham shippers. MT. Cole of tho American Cast Iron Pipe company. ant MT. Jones of the Gadsden Chamber of Commerce likewise entered protests. Present charges are s6.50 for intra- plant switching and .ntra- -termina. Switching and $9 for ter-terminal switching II is proposed to raise tn ? first and second charges to $S and the third to $11.
 It was presented that present charges are high enough and re- munerative, and that it was a particu- larly inopportune time to institute higher charges.
 MT. Stanfield of the Stockham Pips company and Charles CottreH, repre- senting Montgomery interests, also att tended the meeting and made pro- tests.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31

According to MT. Tate, the state ment of the man was as clear and clean cut as he had ever heard, and tallied exactly with the evidence which Chief Deputy Fred McDuff, J, E. Taylor, deputy sheriff and chief of police of Leeds. and Austin Walker, a deputy sheriff of St. Clair county. had worked up against him.
 WAS HIDING
 In spenking of this alleged con fession yesterday afternoon Mir. Tate said the negro stated he had
 stolen the corduroy suit he had on, the shotgun with which inc killed MT. BourgOis and Lacey
 Murphree, pistol and watch
 from his cousin. Andrew Gar
 rett, near Vincent.
 After this he was attempting to
 make his escape and was stealing along through the woods to Il
 place of safety. as he knew the
 officers would be on his trail as soon as the robbery was reported.
 Whiteside said he was lying in
 the bushes in the woods through
 which the aged man and young
 boy passed returning from their
 fishing trip and when he saw them he was afraid they would report
 his whereabouts to the officers, so fired at the old man. killing him instantly. When the boy
 started to run he then fired on him.
 He then escaped from the woods and later sold the gun to Jones Owens, a farmer in the vicinity for 02 and re- ceived a $2 bill for 1t. This the ne- gro claims to be the cause of his cap ture, declaring. it is stated, ae al- ways did know a two dollar bill was bad luck.
 ROBBERY
 While the negro did not give any otf CT reason for the double murder. officers are of the opinion his motive was robbery, as he needed money to get away. The masonic ring and watch taken from MT. Bourgouis were the clues which led to his arrest.
 Following the shooting, the officers state, several attempts were made by Whiteside to dispose of the ring. This is the clue which led the officers on the trail of the negro and resulted in his being nearly surrounded in the vicinity of SpringvilIe from which he S"~oPSN ps SAISiiihS d freight lFaln TOT Chattanooga. Deputy Taylor also boarded train and kept behind the negro. He found the masonic ring just after he had gotten off the train near a water tank where the negro dropped it. Tn the Tennessee city things happened thick and fast and within a few hours after the arrival of Whiteside there he was appre- herded by Chattanooga officers and brought back to Birmingham Saturday night, the officers making the trip in automobiles.
 WORK KEPT UP
 Er route to Birmingham from Chat tancoga, Whiteside declared he was lrrocent and begged the officers not
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31

C. N. Wiley declared in favor of May for the celebration so advantage could
 be taken of the offer by the contractor to turn over the new federal building foe
 use by citizens during the celebration if held at that time.
 l. Coleman Blach indorsed Mr. Jemi- sons suggestion that the cooperation
 and indorsement of all civic organiza-
 tions should be obtained before the prelimInaries are started He sup.
 ported the idea of holding the cele- bration in the spring. but warned against being too ambitious in plan- ming.
 $. J. Bowie declared in favor of mak- ing the semi-centennial celebration g. separate event, saying there was not sufficient time to prepare properly for
 such celebration on May 19, 20 and q. ". V. M. Robertson, Jr., outlined suggestions for celebration to be held on those three days. in which many things were mentioned.
 FEATURES SUGGESTED Among these suggestions were. An industrial exhibit congress, with Dan Limmick in charge; an auto show, with auto dealers in charge; fashion show. for which the merchants would be re- sponsible; a scout rally, which would be looked after by F. H. Andrews an athletic carnival. pageant and pa AeANNt eit uHNSiiAhb VI FHtSoh uU solS
 of Red mountain, street dance. .
 banquet in the new federal building, and many other features.
 Sam Bowman made the suggestion that delegation go to Washington
 to Invite President Harding to attend the celebration He also suggested that the postmaster general autnorize
 special die to be used for cancelling
 stamps at the post office here, bear ing a legend to this effect National Balloon Races, Birmingham, Ala. May
 21, 19zl."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
Euenfs of Today
 In Birmingham

Real estate luncheon, o'clock. SouticrM club.
 City commission hearing on automo- bile appearance bonds, 10 o'clock.
 ANU SEMENTS Jefferson Theater.--D. w.. Griffith s sN ay Down East. photopiay. Lyric---keitb vaudeville and pie tures.
 Loew's Bijou-Vaudevlle and pie tures.
 Irianon-George Arliss, in "The Devil"
 Aleazar--"0nce To Every Woman" Strand--.The Inside of The Cup.' GnIax--Wiliiam $. Hart, in "o'M2lley Of The Mounted"
 RiaItO---'Nes or No" with Normia Talmadge.
 Odeon--Comedy and serial drama. PrincesS--COniedy and serial drama Edgewood Pnrk--Daneing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
NEGRO VOLUNTARHY Y CONFESSES KILLING
 BOURGOUIS AND BOY
Solicitor Hears Negro Tell StorySays It Adds Little Evidence Collected by Deputies McDuff, Taylor and Walker-Will Be Tried Week of April 25.
 Had Police Record
By ETHEL GILLEN

John Whde alias Amby Garrett brought back from Chatta Saturday night confession of the of J. L. Burgou 73 Lacey Murphree yesterday the office of Solicitor Joseph ate.
 This by MT immediately following the which double which right
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
BURRUSS ADVISES
 HEAVY BOND FOR
 NTNEY OPERATORS
Says Public Has No Recourse Now in Accidents-Commis- sion Adopts two Traffic
 Ordinance Amendments

Strongly condemning reckless driving on the part of jitney drivers, H. P. Burruss, city commissioner of public improvements, told other mem- bers of the commission at their meet ing yesterday afternoon the time had come for definite and drastic action.
 Jltneys. as now operated have become a serious menace to the public, he said. stating it was the duty of the commis- sion to take up the matter of more strin- gent regulations for these vehicles at once. The commission has no right to allow the operation of these cars, reck- lessiy driven through the streets, with ont reasonable measures rendering traffic more safe, MT. Burrus asserted.
 HEAVY BOND
 Requirement. of heavy bond and lia- bilty insurance to protect pedestrians and persons who use the jitneys as means of transportation is necessary now, in MT. Burruss' opinion.
 Citing the case of Mrs Mary bowman, 1918 Eleventh place, south, who was knocked down and badly injured few nights ago by jitney at Eleventh ave- nue, south and Fifteenth street Commis- sioner Burruss declared the streets were no longer safe for traffic when jitneys are taken into consideration.
 As matters now stand, persons injured have 10 recourse in most instances, he declared Many of the drivers have no resources except the car they operate, making it out of the question to recover damages for injuries.
 CITIZENS BURDEN
 Why should the citizens of Birmng- ham shoulder the burden created by ire sponsibie drivers of these cars?'' asks Mir. Burrpss. "Birmingham's city commits sion owes it to the people to put into er- feet regulations which will place some responsibility on these drivers.
 Reckless driving, which has seemed on the increase during the past few weeks, would be curbed to a great extent by such action. Naturally, the danger of accidents would be lessened The per son who is accidentally injured would have scme recourse against the man re- sponsible.
 ORDINANCES ADOPTED
 MT. Bdrruss' statements followed the passage O. an amendment to the traffic ordinance requiring jitneys to keep in line behind street cars when they were discharging passengers. This restriction applies in the zone bounded by Morris avenue and Fifth avenue, north, and Sew enteenth street and Twenty-second street. The measure was introduced by Commis- soner John H. Taylor and passed by unanimous vote.
 Another traffic ordinance amendment passed yesterday afternoon required pay nient of a $l5 license fee by all jitneys, taxicabs. busses and all livery vehicles operating in the city or between the city and outside points. The new portion or the law bears on the taxing of vehicles plying between Birmingham and points outside the city. This was also intro duced by Commissioner Taylor and passed without dissenting vote
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
Semi Centennial Project Gathering Headway With
 Committee Appointments
General Meeting Held Tutwler Yesterday Featured by Lively Discussion Consensus of Opinion May Right Time for Celebration-Many Sugges-
 tions Are Proposed and Considered

Practical incorporated heday celebration which be held here May 2 will be meeting citizens the Southern tomor 2:5 o'clock
 the presidents organizations the city to ointot the lsofs such a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31

tional twenty more were placed on duty yesterday.
 No disturbance has occurred since the attack was made, but all the mines and plants of the company are under
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
To Examine Fiue Policemen And TWo CiuiHans About
 Appearance Bonds Matter

With five members of the police before egaon of the alleged destruction holding
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31

the steel works of the company at Gadsden have been practically com~ pleted. When demand comes for max mum operations the plants will be ready for, the call both in increased car acity and in greater smoothneSs and economy of operation.
 For the present the steel works at Gadsden are operating on a short turn filing scattering orders for nails, fencing and the like.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
TREAT IN MUSIC

Birmingham music lovers will be given treat next Thursday afternoon and night when the New York Philharmonic Symphony orchestra will be heard in concert at the Jefferson theatre. under the auspices of the Music Study club,
 Holders of regular season tickets will be entitled to a seat either at the mati- nee or evening performance. Coupons raay be exchanged beginning next Tues day. The seat sale for the general public begins Wednesday morning at the Jef- ferson box office.