davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
ASK FOR CONFERENCE OF
RAILROADS AND EMPLOYEES
FATE OF JOHN S. WILLIAMS
In THE HANDS OF The JURY
Without Having Reached Verdict the Men Retired Early
Hour This Mornng-Closing Arguments and Judges
Charge Were Heard Yesterday

talked of the possibilities of mistrial.
The closing arguments that occupied
the day, admittedly powerful efforts by
two attorneys with brilliant legal repu-
tations, drew a crowd that filled every
inch of the Newton county court room.
The spectators, maintaining the good
order of previous days, silently lis
tened, but they showed no less emo
ton than the defendant.
Williams, surrounded by his wife
and family, watched attentively as he
heard himself denounced as the author
OF one of "the states most atroeious
crimes" and was as little affected out
wardly, at least, by pleas for his &C
quittal.
Arguments and charge over and the
case in the hands of the jury at 1851
p. m, the Jasper county planter re-
manned in the court room chatting first
with his wife and family, his face
wreathed in smiles at something that
was said. Soon he was one of group
of men who drew their chairs together
and talked as friends do when they
gather around the general store at the
county seat.
Williams was placed on trial here
for the murder of one of three of his
employees drowned in Newton county
and the state arranged, in event of
acquittal, to hold him on the other
two indictments.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
Bill Has Been introduced in
Both Houses and Battle
Is on in Earnest.
PORTION OF LEE COUNTY
is SLATED TO BE TAKEN
HlilsborOugh, Lee and Lafayette
Are Also on the List to
Be Sliced Up.
(sv JOHN C. rRIcE

1
! TALLAHASSEE, Fla. April s.-Rius
i, for the 'five-way split" of Deso.o
county, largest in the state. have
neen introduced in both houses, and
the battle is Joined The newt coun-
Ties 1t is proposed to form are Glades.
Hardee, Charlotte. Highlands and a
part OF DeSoto win be left with the
old name Committees up here to nut
the thing over for the county division
lists are the following:
Hardee County-CharIes Carlton ana
A. G. Smith. Wauchula.
Highlands County - w NJ Peel,
Avon Park, George sebring. of Sc
Charlotte County-Capt J. w. john
son and Mr.. Blount, of Punta Gorda
Giades County-D w. Stevenson
ana Andy Carter, of Moore Haven.
DeSoto county now embraces an
area of 1855 square miles, or slightly
less than the entire state of Connect
cut. 1t has an assessed valuation of
$1o61O,198.
Under the lines of division as pro-
posed Hardee county would have $50
square miles of territory, with an as
sessed valuation of S2,6l514
DESoto county would also have 63O
square miles of territory, with an as
sessed valuation of S2,s5l.347. Ar
cadla would remain the county sent
charlotte county, of which Punta
Gorda would be the county seat. would.
be 718 square miles in area. with an
assessed value of $1,64G.777.
GIades' with Moore Haven as the
capital would have 736 square miles
OF territory, assessed at sl,44O. .906
highlands county, of which Avon
PARK or Seabring would be the county
seat would be the largest of the five
having 1,016 square miles Of territo,,
assessed at s2,056.027
Opposing division, J. G. Sharon non,
OF Arcadia, is here to fight tho hin,
Nlfr carter will stick with the division
lsts until DeSoto is split into five as
they Planned on the motto of aAII cr
Nohe' with which they made their
llght. When that is Accomplished h.
expects to apply for "a slice of Lee
county to fatten Glades up n Iittle
IN this ambition he will have the an
position of Representative Perry NJ
Lee who will fight any partition ~
the county to the last ditch At tbi,
time. However, Mr.. Carter has homes
Oh settlhg Senator Malone, of the Leo
Monroe district to introduce the hi
adding part of Lee to Glades ana
thinks he can put the thing tbrougb
There will be a fight.
Inc Dill for the formation Of Divia
county out of the south end of I.afav-
cite has been introduced in boyb
houses. and there seems to he littIs
opposition to it,
Another proposition is to create
me county of Plant, formed of the
eastern part Of Hillsborough, with
rant CITY as the county seat; also
denfy' carved from Lee county, with
Ritter as the county seat.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
Representatives of Both Sides
Have Approached Pres
ident Harding.
PLANS INQUIRY OF
RAILROAD AFFAIRS
I'm Effort to Bring About Reduc-
tiOn in Rates and Oper-
ating Costs.
Cey The Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, April S.-The ma
securities Joined today with five rail-
road labor unions in proposing that
President Harding call a conference of
representatives of both owners and
employees to discuss the railroad prob
lem, particularly as it affects wages
and working condition now in dispute
before the railroad labor board.
S. Davis warheld. president of the
association, and Darwin p. Kingsley,
president of the New York Life Insur-
ance company, conferred for an hour
with the president on the general
transportation situation and suggested
the conference as one of the means for
adjusting the difficulties the roads
face. The request from the unions
was In the form of telegram from B.
NJ. Jewell, head of the. railroad en-
ployes department OF the american
Federation OF Labor.
Coincident with the conference at
telegram, Chairman Cummins of the
senate interstate commerce committee
announced he had drafted a resolution
for Introduction next week, authoriz-
Ing a general and exhaustive investi-
cation of railroad affairs. He plans
20 begin the inquiry about April Is.
Means for bringing about a reduction
in rates, operating costs and the ques-
nj 81 I.,- 1-ir g.
ship viii be the principle angles to.
be gone into. Rail managers will be
heard first and labor representatives
will follow.
No comment on the conference to-
day was made at the white house but
after the meeting memorandum left
with the president by the representa-
tives of the securities owners was
made public by them saying the con-
ference covered a wide field"
After suggesting that properly
called meetings between the men and
those representing the railroads be
held under the auspices of tn existing
governmental agencies - the labor
board and the interstate commerce
commission" the memorandum said:
1--WE are on record that wage ad-
lustmenIS Is only part OF the problem
and expressed the view that this
SHOULD be attained under circum-
stances carrying assurances to rail-
road workers that whatever may be
brought about is reasonable and just"
The securities owners, IL was added,
felt assured that in cases in which
agreement cannot be reached with an
Individual railroad management, the
employees would enter into immediate
discussion of their differences by re-
gional boards, equally divided, formed
by each OF the four groups of rail-
roads as now arranged by the com
merce commission for rate making
purposes.
The telegram 10 the president from
the labor unions proposed that all
wage disputes be held In abeyance
pending the conference and settlement
OF the question of rules II included
12 points which were described as ia
boris self-evident and inalienable
right" which would have to be settled
at the suggested conference. II further
specified that the national agreement
should not be discounted in any way
pending the outcome of the confer
ence. The 12 points included the eight
hour day, collective bargaining and
pay for overtime work.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
And
TRANSPORT MEN
Will WALK OUT
England About to See Greatest
Labor Struggle i'm Coun-
try's History.
MINERS WON'T LET
PUMPMEN GO BACK
By Tuesday Night 100000
Men Will Have Joined
Ranks of Strikers.
(ay The Associated Press>

LONDON, April 8.-Tuesday mid
night, unless there is some develop
ment in the meantime, will see the
commencement of the greatest labor
struggle in the country's history.
Approximately 100000 workers
then will have ceased their duties in
protest against what they consider to
be an organized attempt on the part
of the employers to enforce a general
reduction in wages.
This is the central fact of the labor
situation as it developed today in
breakdown in the miners conference
and a consequent decision by the tri-
pie alliance-made up of miners and
railroad and transport workers-for
the first time it was organized, that
its entire membership, roughly esti-
mated at 100000 miners and 100000
each from the railroad transport
workers organizations, should quit
work in support of the strike of the
miners. The governments standpoint,
as voiced by Premier Lloyd George in
a brief speech in the house of commons
this afternoon is that the action of the
miners and the other members of the
triple alliance is an attempt by direct
action to intimidate parliament and
the nation The premier announced
the military and other measures
which the government intended to
take to defeat this attempt.
The standpoint of the miners is that
the sudden removal of control of the
coal mines is the result of a pact be-
tween the government and the mine
owners to enable tie owners to en-
force an unjustifiable reduction in
wages. The attitud, of the railroad
men is that unless there is support
of the miners at present, similar di-
lemma will face tie railroad me1
when the railroads are released from
control. - p
The refusal of the miners to yield
on the question Of permitting pump
men to return to the mines had as its
motive a convidion that the with
drawaI of the lumpmen is the only
weapon in thei hands. They argue
that a few weeks cessation of work
will not really njure the mine owners,
who, considering the depressed condi- |
ton of the indlctry, have ample stocks |
of coal on the surface. They declare |
that the mine wners hive brought this |
fate upon thmselves by including
the pumpmen mong those whose con- |
tracts will be cancelled unless they |
accent the ney wage terms, made not
through joint discussion, but by the
mine owners themselves.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE
STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

TALLAHASSEE, April S.-The COM
mittee which is to investigate the af-
fairs OF the state highway department
was formed today by the appointment
OF Representatives Miller, Edge and
Parrish and Senators Igou and Ander
son. The committee has agreed to
meet and organize Monday night Some
OF It's members have gone home for the
week. However two or three of them
VIII be here during the interrnission
and they will be digging after facts
until the rest Of the committee return
Continued On Page Two)
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
INQUIRY INTO
BALLOON Loss
Board of Investigation Has Been
Ordered Convened at
Naval Air Station.

A board of investigation has been or
dered convened at the naval air sta
tion at Pensacola to inquire into all
the circumstances connected with the
flight and the subsequent loss of per-
sonneI and material of the free balloon
A-56O4 on March %.
Captain H. H Christy, commandant of
the station, reported to the navy depart
ment today. The search has not been
entirely abandoned, but little hope is
entertained that either the men or the
balloon will be found.
The flight was duly authorized, the
report said, for purposes of instruction
in night flying, four students being car
ried in addition to Chief Quarterlnaster
G. K Wilkinson who was in command.
The report told in detail of the meth
ods of search employed, in attempting
to find the big gas bag. seaplanes. land
planes. motorboats, destroyers, sub
chasers and dirigibles being used for
that purpose.
The only tangible Indication of the fate
word received March 90 and March 80
that cries had been heard in the swamp
west of Lake wimico. The area was
carefully searched without results, the
report declared
The loss of the A-5604 will not result
IN orders prohibiting further naval free
balloon flights. it being pointed out that
thousands of such flights had been made |
rom the station at Pensacola in the
asst eight years without loss of life until |
his time. The regulations governing the
lights are stringent, it was asserted, and
he training in free balloons was de-
,lared to be necessary as an indispen-
able preliminary. to dirigible and kite
,aIloon work.
In addition to Wilkinson, whose home
vas in Houston, Texas, those aboard the
A-5604 were: r. V. Elend, BellevilIe
H.; John C. Elder, Lebanon, N Y; E. L.
kershaw. Payne. La, and W. H. Treaty,
,aIen. Masg.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
MACDONNELL
IS ENDORSED
Chamber of Commerce Recon-
mends Him for Member
Shipping Board.

The board of directors or the cham
Der of commerce yesterday endorsed
j. Lee Macdonnen as the dernocra tic
member of the U. S. Shipping board
to represent the Gulf coast Mr. Mac
donneu has already been endorsed
by the state democratic executive COM
mittee and by the state republican
executive committee. He has also re-
ceived the endorsement of a number
of powerful commercial bodies and
has received letter sof commendatfon
from large number of individuals Is
whose influence in the activities of
the state is wide.
Among those who have assured Mr.
Macdonnell of their support is James
B. Morrow, executive director off the
Mississippi Valley association and un-
til recently the active head of that or
ganization. Mr.. Morrow is in Pensa-
cola now for his health, but will again
take up the reins at the convention in
New Orleans May 2, and 4.
Others who have endorsed Mr.. Mac
donneH are the president of the First
National bank of Jacksonville. the
president of the Cotton exchange att
Memphis, Secretary of War John w.
Weeks, of Massachusetts,, Matthew
Mcfarland of Tampa, and a number
Of others.
Chairman George W. Bean, of the
state republican committee, has as
sured Mr.. Macdonneu that he will do
all in his power to further the claims !
Of the Pensacola man. Chairman
George P. Raney, Of the state demo- |
cratic committee, has also approved
Mr.. MacdonneIPs candidacy for the
appointment.
With these endorsements and many |
others which are in sight or have been
promised, friends of Mr.. Macdonald
believe that he has an excellent chance
to land the appointment, especially
because every endorsement has laidI
stress on Mr.. MacdonnelTs fairness
and has expressed a belief that ne
would work for the interests of the
entire Gulf coast, and not for any one
port to the detriment of all others.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
(ey JOHN c. TRIcE)

TALLAHASSEE, April SIS n a o r
Lindsay s sjoirat- serate resolution NO. I
Of the senate authorizing placing before
the people next year an amendment of
the constitution that will permit special
school districts to raise the amount of
the millage from three to ten mills,
passed the senate this morning after
short debate. The vote was 26 to 4.
Senators Hulley, Rowe, Shelly and Turn
bull casting the nay votes. The propo-
sition has been endorsed by numerous
Rotary clubs and other business organi-
cations throughout the state. The only
change from the present constitution is
in raising the millage limit. Senator
Lindsay made an explanation of his
pointing out that in many dis
tricts it is impossible to carry out the
full school term because of lack of
funds. In Bombay, for instance, in order
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
WOULD CREATE FOUR NEW
COUNTIES OUT OF DE SOTO
ADVISE AGAINST ESTABLISHMENT
OF A HOG CHOLERA SERUM PLANT
Appointed Last Session Legislature
That Serum Be Purchased and Distributed by
the State at Actual Cost

Mr.. Gregory of Gadsden county
called up his motion for the reconsid-
GRAFTON of the resolution passed at the
second days session. providing for the
mailing out each day of something
over 1000 copies of the daily journals
After a discussion Of some length the
motion was tabled.
A motion to allow the enrolling COM
mittee to appoint help to handle the
work in that office as the necessity
arise for such help brought on quite a
discussion between Representative Nc
Rae, the chairman OF the committee,
and a number of other gentlemen. It
was maintained on the one side that
in the interest of efficiency the COM
mittee should make the appointments
and on the other hand that the old
custom of the speaker making the ap-
pointment should prevail
The speaker announced the appoint
ment of Representative Miller Of Du-
val, Edge of Lake and Parrish of Bre-
ward as the house members of the
joint committee to investigate the do
ings of the state road commission.
The house then took up the intro
ductton of bills which consumed the
Of the session. There were
about 90 bills sent up to the read
ing clerks desk, most of them being
local bills.
The house then adjourned until
o'clock Monday afternoon.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
IS ROY HARRIS
in RIGHT Mind?
Self Confessed Murderer Has
Authorities of New York
State Guessing
tey The Associated, Pre..,.-

BUFFALO, N. Y, April 8.-Roy
Harris, who confessed Wednesday
night that he was one of the principals
in the murder of Joseph B. Elwell IN
New York last June, will be taken 10
New York, probably Sunday, it was
said tonight by Harry P. Oswald, of
the metropolitan detective bureau.
Oswald said some points in Harris
story remained to be checked up here
and that the work would probably
take all of tomorrow.
Oswald refused to say whether the
decision to take Harris to New York
indicated if there was a basis of truth
in his story or not
Roy Harris, who confessed to the
local police Wednesday night that he
was one Of the principals in the muir
der in New York of Joseph B. Elwell
is mentally and physically normal, IN
the opinion of DIR. James w. Putnam,
alienist, who made a second examina-
ton of Harris today.
The examination was made at the
request of Detective Sergeant Henry
P. Oswald, of the New York police
department, who indicated his belief
that Harris story was the work of a
disordered brain.
Oswald questioned Harris at length
today without developing, he said any
substantial change in the prisoners
story OF how he and a companion were
hired by a woman to kill Elwell.
Harris, the detective said, told a
queer" story of what become of the
$500 he claims to have received from
the mysterious Mrs. Fairchild" in
part payment for the murder. He told
Oswald he lost $500 of the money bet
ting on the horse Man-o'-War to lose.
The rest of the money, he said he
lost in a poker game played in a vas
cant store in New York. There were
IA other players, but he knew them
only by their first names.
1t was after hearing this story that
Oswald asked for an examination of
Harris by an alienist. The New York
detective said that he had been un-
able to- shake Harris in any of the
details of his account of the murder.
"Of course" he added, there is moth
ing in the statement of the man which
could not have been gathered by the
reading of the newspapers at the time
of murder" Oswald said that while os
police officer hey still had an open
mind as to the try xth of Harris story,
as an ordinary citizen he would say
that the man was = colossal liar"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
STEW SPARKMAN
/ THE CAPITAL
Y JOHN c. TRIcE

TALLASSEE, April S.-Former
Congressn Stephen NJ. Sparkman. of
Tampa. lched Tallahassee this after
noon anvil spend a few days here
renewinald acquaintances with mem
bers. MSparkman did not recall when
he set from home that the solons
usually ourn over the week end and
consequey is not meeting many of
them.
Judge L. Billingsley, of Miami, COM
mander the American Legion, is in
Tallahas for a few days stay.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
HELPING PENSACOLA


Each day, In this space, The Journal
will give a condensed history of one OF
the leading business firms of the city.
T. II. WILLIAMS & CO. went into
business in October, 1910, in stable
at the rear OF 120 e. Cervantes-st
with a stock worth $50 and a horse
and wagon. At the present time the
company--which is T. Z. Williams
hlmself-occupies the entire store at
10 w. Garden-st with floor space of
7,644 square feet and a $4,000 stock.
The story of the rise of T. E. VIII
liams & CO. is a lesson in two OF the
essentials of successful merchandising
hard work and advertising. These
two, combined with fair treatment, Mr..
Williams says, have built his business.
Starting with the stable in 1910, Mr..
Williams expanded his floor space to
516 square feet in 1912 and in 1918
bought out the Hoomes Furniture Co.
at 80 Il. Wright-st, at which location
he continued the business until Feb. 1,
1921. when he moved into his present
location.
Long before moving to Garden st,
however. Mr.. Williams business had
outgrown its quarters on Wright st
and he had taken over warehouses on
Tarragona-st. bringing his floor space
up to 4.S36 feet.
ThW salesroom and warehouse space
at 10 w. Garden-st is 1914 feet, which,
added to the original space on Ger
vantes-st. brings the total space occu-
pied by T. L. Williams up to 9,616
Eaot
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
LON APPOINTED
CIRCUIT JUDGE
tMARY M. MEcINNis,

TALLASSEE, April S.-Governor
Hardee ~ appointed Hon. A. V. Long
of STarHudge of the circuit court in
and fore eighth judicial circuit of
Florida. ceeding the late Judge J. t.
Willis oachua. 1t is understood that
Mr. Lon appointment viii go to the
senate Immediate confirmation. Mr..
Long hilf was a distinguished Wis
itor in icapital today.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
ONLY FOUR VOTES IN The SENATE
AGAINST RAISING SCHOOL MILLACE
Senator Lndsays Joint Senate Resolution Authorizing Placing
Before the People Next Year Amendment of the
Constitution Passes Upper House.

to finish out the last two months of an
eight months stermzs it is necessary to
raise money by public subscription. Since
the people of the state must first vote
for an amendment to the constitution,
after which the people of the school dis
tricts which wish to raise more money
will have an opportunity to vote if they
wish to be taxed.
Senators Rowe and Shelly spoke against
the measure, Senator Rowe saying there
had been many abuses in the formation
of special districts in "shoe string"
style in order to take in territory for
taxing purposes. Senator Crosby spoke
for the measure. saying his experience
Of 10 years as a school trustee had taught
him it was needed.
The senate was in executive session
for time to receive a message from
the governor. then adjourned to four
o clock Monday afternoon
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
CONSPIRACY CASE
GOESTO THE JURY
fsv r. Associated 7ress.) }

MACON, g., April 8.-After deIib-
Grating for our and a half hours a
Jury in fedeal court in the trial of As
persons acosed of conspiracy to rob
the America Railway Express com
pany of $1}O,O0O had failed to reach
a verdict 80 o'clock and at that
hour was AIKEN to supper. Judge
Beverly DEvans announced that he
would recee a verdict if reached dur
ing tie nht.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
WILLIAM CONNELL
WAS ACQUITTED

ATLANs, Ca, April 7.-Willard
Connell, Wen known farmer Of Pike
county, VS. acquitted of the charge
of peonai by a jury in the United
States disict court here today. Con-
nell wascharged with unIawfully
holding negro named Cornelius AL
exander his farm. The case was
submitteto the jury without argu-
ment anthe verdict was returned
after fivainutes' deliberation.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-09
Case Goes to the Jury.

COVINGTON, Ca. April S.-The
fate of John Williams. accused of the
murder of IL negro farm hands to hide
peonage conditions, went to the jury
here late today but the early hours of
the night wore away without word as
to it's decision.
Judge John B. Hutcheson, presiding,
charged the jury on three verdicts,
murder which under Georgia law
would carry the death penalty; mur-
der with recommendation for merry,
which automatically carries life i'm
prisonment, or acquittaL.
Spectators and court attaches dis
cussing the probable verdict also