The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-14

Construction of new court
 possible was favored by the
 grand jury which declared the
 present buildings are altogether
 inadequate, insanitary, inconven-
 lent, poorly lighted and badly
 ventilated.
 In order that the congested condi7 : tion of the dockets in the criminal division of the circuit court mignt be cleared the grand jury recofo : mended to Judge Dan A. Greene, pre- . siding judge of the circuit court and to Jndge H. F. Heflin and Judge Will liam Fort, presiding in that division, that the chief justice of the supreme court of this state assign at least one additional judge to the criminal division of the circuit court.
 All county institutions were de- clared to be in splendid condition The grand jury condemned the ap- pointment of a number of illiterate Q notaries public. The report of the grand jury is as follows:
 \ The Report
 We. the grand jury, duly impaneled by Hon. H. P. Heflin on July II, 1921, having completed our investisa- tions, desire to make this our final report of our work and labors:
 We have been in session 12 days. during which time we have docketed 225 cases, found 199 true bills, 50 no bills, and examined. SIT witnesses.
 As instructed by his Honor. Judge H. P. Heflin, we investigated the matter of the mob which Kidnapped Mrs. Kate Alexander and man by the name of Cooley, and carried them to a secluded place, near Vand erbilt and inflicted corporal punisn- ment on each of them. This grand jury, notwithstanding the examina- ton of a large number of witnesses and the use of every diligence. has been unable to ascertain the names or indentity of the individuals taking part in this dastardly, inhuman, ille- gal, and atrocious performance. II Is hard to conceive that any set or men, living under representative form of government, and who must of necessity look. to the government and the observance of its laws Ter their own protection, could be guilty of so dastardly. Illegal, and unlaw : full an act as these men were. No act of violence, in thls county, for years, could have had more damaging and far-reaching effect towards the de- struction of the government. or bid for more fragrant violation of its laws and of the rights and libertiei of it's citizens, than this one act. The people who composed this mob must of necessity, have been of a very low grade and type of citizens, having no regard for the keeping of the law and an utter contempt for the gov- ernment under which they live and of the rights and liberties of the citizens of the county, each of whoi,. regardless of the offense charged. pr accusation made, has right, under all circumstances. to fair and i'm partial trial by jury selected from the body of people under the form of law.
 Desperate Characters
 There could be no other conclusion than that the men who took part Tn this violation and unlawful act would not hesitate. under any circum- stances, to take part in the most heinous crimes known to our law. We have left this case open Tor the action of any future grand Jury and we call upon the citizens. if any one knows of Any circumstances in the slightest degree, showing the per petrators of this crime. to report the same forthwith to the solicitor or this county, or to any future grand 1ury: and we have, by letter for- warded to the governor, requested him. if in his power to do so, to of fer a reward for the apprehension