The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-23
DRIVER Of TAXI
DECLARES WILSON
SLEW KIRBY COLE
Knew Him The Minute | Saw
Him." Says Message Of
June Inman
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU |
THE AGE-HERALD
AlA A L. an |


of the death sentence of Tom Wilson,
scheduled to be hanged in Limestone
county June for the murder OF
Kirby Cole, received by Governor
Brandon today included a telegram
from June Inman, driver of a taxi
cab. who declared that he was in the
car at the time Cole was killed and
knew Wilson was the man who fired
the shot.
Il am the taxi driver who was with
Kirby Cole when killed" said In
mans telegram. Il know Tom Will
|, son killed him. knew him the min
ute 1 saw him.
Governor Brandon also received
long telegram during the day from
ex-service men of Limestone county,
who appealed to the executive to per-
nit the law to take it's course with
out any change in the governors Of
flee. The telegram stated that Kirby
Cole served eighteen months overseas
as a member of the Rainbow division.
Urge case be not interfered with
by smoke screen of false sentiment
and msstatement,' said the telegram.
Let the law be enforced and make
our state safe for democracy and
pursuit of happiness" Those who
signed the message were Grady
Spence, r. n. Cartwright, Jr.. Benton
Turpentine, d. o. Looney W. p. Cope
land, A. II. Richardson. Jr, c. o.
King, H. G. Davis, ]. p. DAILY. Dupree
Phillips, E. w. Tuten. Claud Smith,
Thomas Spence and J. A. Hughes.
Identified As Ex-Convict.
Another development during the
day established the fact that Wilson
and Jack B. Curley. ex-convict, are
the same person. Curley was con-
victed of burglary in Limestone
county in 1920 and served an in
determinate sentence of 13 months
to two years. Finger prints OF VII,
son made in the Birmingham Jail and
finger prints of Curley made in the
/ state prison convinced officials of the
convict department that they were
of the same fingers.
Charles r. Davis, warden at Flat
Top, and H. II. Stewart. superintend-
! ent of the states cotton mills also
| Identified a photograph of Wilson In
the Age-Herald as a photograph of
| Curley.
In addition to this information.
Fred Wall, solicitor of Limestone
| county sent Governor Brandon the
! following telegram regarding VIII
sons previous prison sentence: Tom
| Wilson pleaded guilty here March,
1920, charge horse stealing under
name of Jack B. Curley. He served
| his sentence.
| Says Reports Incorrect.
Another telegram from Solicitor
Wall told the governor reports that
other persons would be implicated In
the killing of Cole were incorrect.
Absolutely nothing to newspaper
reports that Cameron Coulter and
Annie Flppo killed Cole" said the
solicitors telegram.
"This matter was thoroughly inves-
tigated by the grand jury. They mad
,,-tt no
In addition to the protests OF ex-
service men and Solicitor Wall, Gov
ernor Brandon received kilograms
and letters from F. E. Gilbert. fore
man of the jury which convicted
Wilson, Walter II. Ryan, o; w. Strane
and O. w. Crutcher of Athens.
Appeals for the Communication of the
| death sentence were received during
| the day from one who signed herself.
"A mother" Mr. and Mrs. f. l.. Raney
of Decatur and Mrs. Lucille johann
4 sen of Birmingham.
NEGRO ASKS COMPUTATION
| Winston Jackson, negro. sentenced
to be hanged June for the murder
| of Jim Donaldson, white, filed pc
! tition with the state board of pardons
| today for the Communication of the
! death sentence to life Imprisonment.
| The chairman of the board set the
petition for consideration at a spe-
| cial meeting June 6.
Sentiment against Jackson has
changed in recent months and chief
prosecuting witnesses have Joined in
an appeal for clcmency. The employ
err of Donaldson, who prosecuted
| Jackson, has requested Communication,
stating that information since the
trial had convinced him that Jack
! son had no motive for the crime and
that Ed Williams, who is now serv-
n U I'd ae
the one who fired the shots.
ALABAMA BODY INVITED
The public service commission to-
| day received an invitation from the
National Association of Railway
| Utility Commissioners to send a
representative to Chicago for a meet
ing of the national conference on
| valuation of railroads which will be
held May 25 and %. At this con-
ference plans will be discussed for
for the valuation of all railroad prop
critics of the nation. which is requir-
ed by the railroad transportation act.
Information has reached the Ala
! bama commission that the carriers
are insisting that the value of their
value fixed by shippers. The valua-
ton is important because the rail-
roads are permitted to earn fair re-
turn on their investment and the in
terstate commerce commission is re-
CURED to establish such rates as will
provide this fair return.
RATE INCREASE ASKED
Contending that present rates now
earn a return of only two per cent
on the investment. the Greenville
telephone exchange today requested
the public service commission to
permit an increase in rates. The
company proposes to increase the
one line business rate from SO to
1915 month and to make other
proporationate increases.
PAROLE IS GRANTED
Governor Brandon issued an order
today granting a parole to w. w.
Stubblefield of Lee county, who was
convicted in 1921 of grand larceny
and sentenced to three years and ten
days. The board of pardons recon-
mended clemency.
PAROLE PLEAS REJECTED
Giving the same reasons they
gave in refusing a favorable report
on the parole of A. d. McInnish
Lauderdale county man who had
been convicted of distillng, the
state board of pardons today de-
ciined to recommend the parole Of
Wiley Cannerdy, the third person
convicted of operating the still.
Howard G. Davis, attorney general.