davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
REPORT OF CORONER SHOWS DECREASE IN
 NUMBER OF HOMICIDES

Decreases in the number of homi : 1922 in Birmingham and Jefferson county according to the report sub mitted to the board of revenue by Coroner J. D. RGssum Wednesday. The number of accidents, however, was more in 1922 than in 1921, due to the Dolomite explosion, in which S9 persons were killed November 22 Had it not been for this explosion there would have been a decrease of accidental deaths.
 The coroner's report shows that there were 165 homicides in Jefferson county during the year. This Is a decrease of 1S from the previous year when IFS persons died at the hands of others. There were nine less sui- cides in 1922 than in 1921. In 1921, 30 persons took their own lives while in 1922 only 21 committed suicide.
 Accidental deaths show an increase of 60 over the year 1921. According 10 the report 291 met death by acci- dent during 1922 while in 1921 the total was 231. During the year just ended the coroner investigated 3S2 deaths from natural causes as op- posed to 3S5 last year.
 There were more homicides during January when 17 were committed than any other month during the year. May. with 10, had the fewest number for the year. During De- cember there were 15 homicides. 15 accidental deaths. one suicide and 30 deaths from natural causes, the re- port shows.
 According to the report the coroner investigated S59 deaths during 1929 as opposed to SPA during 1921 This is an increase of S5 in the number of inyestigations made.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR | MRS. HARRISON THURSDAY

Mrs. L. F. Harrison. age 4s years, 1422 Fifteenth street, south. died Tuesday night at 1o.30 at South Hish- lands infirmary. following an Illness of less than one week. The funeral will be from L.ige Loy's chapel Thurs day afternoon at 2:S0. with Dr. James E. Dlllard, pastor of Southside Baptist church. officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood cemetery.
 Mrs. Harrison was a member of the Southside Baptist church and has a hest of friends throughout the city who will be saddened at her death. She is survived, by her husband, LIE. Harrison and one daughter. Miss Helen B. Harrison; her father, w. H. Brooks, of Decatur, Ala; one brother. T. F. Brooks, of Louisville. Ky, who is assistant general manager of the Louisville and Nashville railrcad sys- tenn; two sisters. Mrs. s. c. Hatfield of Baltimore, Md. and Mrs. W. H. Todd of Decatur, Ala.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
LACK IF SYSTEM.
 IN CITY BUYING. CAUSE IF OEF IC|T.
Promiscuous and Reckless Buying Is Prevalent in City Departments, States
 McLendon

D. E. McLendon, commission pres ident, will tighten the reins on reck- less city expenditures Thursday aft ernoon at conference of comms- sioners and department heads to be held in the commission chamber at the city hall President McLendon declared Wednesday that he pro poses to curb purchasing of supplies by department heads without requi- sitions from the purchasing depart- ment.
 He has frequently called attention of department heads to the necessity for stopping the practice of prems cuous buying, which he has charac- terized as somewhat prevalent, and the need for system in the matter of city purchases He said he would present this problem squarely up to the responsible heads at the confer ence.
 President McIendon said if all pur- chases can be brought under the pur- chasing department, as he proposes to do, there will be a considerable saving effected to the city. Supplies can be purchased cheaper through that department, he said, and fre quently arrangements can be made whereby economies can be effected.
 The city ended the first two months of the fiscal year with every department except one over it's budget and total average of ap- proximately s7.oO0 The comptroller's report for the month of December has not yet been issued
 The commission ended it's first year of operation with a deficit in the general fund of approximately ss1,0O0, according to the auditors report.
 If we can live within our budget for the remainder of the year, We will be able to take care of things all right said President McLendon. it Is absolutely imperative. however. that we stay inside the budget. We have got to call a halt on excessive .1a.,, |
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
OFFICE OF TREASURER PAYS OWN 1922 EXPENSES

For the first time In history the of flee of county treasurer of Jefferson county was self-supporting during the year 1922. Not only was It self supporting, hut during tho year 1t earned the county approximately ss0.- 900.
 During the year the treasurer's of flee realised S4e,ebl.57 by placing tho county'A money at interest under the provisions of an act of the 1921 leg islaturo. Tho expenses for this time were t17,01sps, leaving n balance Of t2a,e37.b0 to bo placed in tho school fund of the county.
 Tho nct under which tho county'n money was piao0d at interest was in- troduced in the iDsi legislature by John C. Arnold, lrof, M V, Henry, county treasurer, a former school or- ficiai, favored the bill and lobbied for 1t st Montgomery,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD, THURSDAY JANUARY 4,
LAWYER JOHN STRANGE LOSES LARGEST HAT AND TR0TS OUT OLD STRAW
n oEs the man who has hlther-

D OES the man who has hither- to held the title of the
 wearer of the largest sized hat in Birmingham have a rival?
 This question is troubling court house attaches.
 IL is whispered around tlfat John Strange, veteran Birmingham at terney,. wears the largest hat of any man in town. Wednesday morning he appeared about the court house wearing a straw. hat. Investigation disclosed the fact that sneak thief had entered his office and taken his hat. The old straw was the only one he had at hand.
 That cleared up the matter of the straw, but the question of what the man who got the hat will dc wita it remains unsettled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
CITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SEEKING BOOKLET HELP

Durban. South Africa. wishes to know how the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce advertises Birmingham, having seen the recent very compli- mentary notice in Postage" of the various booklets issued from time to time by the chamber under direction of Manager O. l.. Bum, Prentice Hall (S. Al Limited, Durban. has written MT. Bum asking for copies of the booklets.
 Durban is one of the largest 6f the prosperous Cities in South Africa and is one of the most modern cities in the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
------=--s.------- RESERVATIONS DEPLETE RANKS OF MOTOR SCOUTS

With the resignations of Sergt Ed die C. Burges and Motor Scout Clyde Vaughn in the hands of Assistant Chief of Police Thomas Christian and other members of the department making preparations to take posi- tions with the county forces. the scouts have dwindled to an insuffi- cient number to adequately patrol the streets of the city for reckless drivers and liquor runners.
 Up until two months ago the motor scout department had a personnel of Is men, four scouts and one sergeant to each of tho three shifts. The scouts have now dwindled to a total of eight for all three shifts, exclusive of the Ensley precinct. and with but one sergeant to patrol the entlro Birmingham proper district
 The eight members of the motor scout department are Sergt. $. T. Cobb. Sam Taylor, Roy Rehberg. Paul Reed, c. C. Mocorkle. M. v. Har- less. Jim Neely and Floyd Eddins.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
NEW WARRIOR BRIDGE WORK STARTS IN APRIL

Erection of the proposed bridge over Warrior river between Bessy and Flat Top will begin in April under a decision of the board of rev enue. A delegation visited the board Wednesday urging the immediate be- ginning of work on the bridge. Delay will be experienced until 1t is deter mined whether the river is navigabte at the point of the proposed bridge
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
ATTENTION ELKs

Members of Birmingham Lodge. No. 70, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. arc requested to meet at the chapel of tho LiEe Loy Undertaking cstnblishme Thursday afternoon at 8 o'clock fop tho purpose 0f attending the funeral services fov Brother Ed q. Hau. A. HARRY MOORE,
 Exalted Ruler. Atdu N. uAdLEy, sscy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

Sir Knights of Woodlawn Conman- dery, No. 31, Knights Templar, are requested to attend the funerni service for Sir Knight Ed C. Hnu' which will be held at Lige Loy's chapel Thursday afternoon at ! o'clock. D. M. WEAkLEY,
 Eminent Commander. J. \. MCCARTNEY, Recorder.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04

Charles A. Due, Sr.-Funeral serv- ices for Charles A. Due, Sr, will be conducted from his residence, 500S Fourth avenue, north, at 3:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon. Burial will be made in Forest Hill ceme- tery, Johns in charge.
 A. I. Dexter-Funeral services for A. I. Dexter, who died at his resi- dence, 2900 Avenue c. Monday. were conducted from the residence at 10:3O o'clock Wednesday morn ing. The remains weye sent to Whitewater, Wis, for burial by Ridout.
 Joseph Edward sightIer--Funeral services for Joseph F. Sightler, age 5S, who died at his residence, 251s Avenue F, Wednesday, will be con ducted at the residence at 3:39 o'clock Thursday afternoon. Burial will be made in Oak Hill cemetery, Lige Loy in charge.
 Mrs. Lucy Jones-Funeral services for Mrs. Lucy A. Jones, age 67, who died at a local infirmary Wednes- day morning. will be conducted at 10 o'clock Thursday morning at the chapel of Lige Loy. Burial will be made In Elmwood. She is sur vived by one daughter, Mrs. Bessie Rome and one grandson James Bome of Birmingham.
 Arthur S. Evans-The body of MT. Evans, former Birmingham resi- dent. who died in Cheyenne, Wyo, Wednesday morning, will be sent to Birmingham for burial. Johns will be in charge of the funeral arrangements, which will be an- nounced later. MT. Evans was a brother of ". T. Evans and nephew of Miss Mary Thompson and J. K. Thompson, all of Bir- mingham.
 Joseph H. weatherIy-Funera serv- ices for Joseph H. Weatherly, age s S9, who died at the residence Of his daughter, Mrs. Richard Heine at Talladega, Tuesday afternoon, were conducted at Johns Chapel at 2:30 o'clock WeonesdaY afternoon. Burial was in E,lmwood. NIT. Weath- erIy was a Confederate veteran and a pioneer citizen of Birming- ham.
 MASONIC NOTICE
 Members of King Herman lodge. No. 774, A. F.. & A. M., md Master MasOns are requested to attend fu- neral services over the remains of Brother Edward George Rau, to be held at Lige Loy's chapel Thursday, January 4, at $ D. m.
 SHIIGERMAN w NJ.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04
DEATHS

Charles A. Due, Sr.-Funeral serv- ices for Charles A. Due, Sr., will be conducted from his residence, 500S Fourth avenue, north, at 3:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon. Burial will be made in Forest Hill ceme- tery, Johns in charge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04

Barrett School-The Barrett School Improvement association will meet Thursday afternoon at 2;3o o'clock. All members are urged to be pres ent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-04

Here on Business--Dr. A. R. Bau- der, professor of physics and electri- cal engineering at the University of Alabama, was in Birmingham We'd nesday on business.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
CHINA DEMANDS GOOD ROADS
Oriental Country Awakes to the Neees-
sity of Immediate Development
of Its Highways.

A plea for good roads as a neces-
sity for the proper development Of
China is made by the Oriental Motor
of Shanghai which began publication
a year ago to encourage interest in
motor use. Asking where the United
States would have been if the good
roads movement had not been ear
nestly supported throughout the coun-
Try, the editor says:
"Yet at this time of greatest devel-
Opment in the making of roads China
lies dormant II any nation in the
world needs roads, good roads and
national highways, it is China. Means
of communication in the country are
inadequate and medieval, transcOn-
tinental travel is only possible by
water at the rim Of the country, while
tine great heart Of the nation is still
inaccessible to any mode of transpOr-
tatiOn except the most primitive.
''China can never become a nation
until her roads are developed. With
them the penetration of the interior,
beth for commerce and pleasure,
would mean a few hours or few days
by motor. The people of the interior
would be brought into touch daily
with motors and motorists from all
sections of the nation. They would
begin to realize that there are parts
of the country other than theil
own province and city, and the great
welding influence which would make
China a nation united would begin
New York Times.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
UNWORTHY RULER OF ROME
History Aeeords Low Place to Commo-
das, Whom Fortune capricioVsly
Lifted to High Estate.

CommOdus was a Roman emperor,
notorious for his cruel and vOluptu-
Gus character He was endowed with
extraordinary strength, and often ap-
peared in imitation OF Hercules.
dressed in a lions skin and armed
with a club. To display his skill and
strength in arms ne appeared publicly
in the amPhitheater. As his Oppo-
rents were armed with weapons Of tin
or lead. while ne was encased in i'm
penetrable armOr, he had naturally an
easy victory on every occasion. For
his amusement he cut asunder per
sons, put out their eyes. and mutilated
their noses, etc.
COmmOdus was strangIed by the
gladiator Narcissus. who was hired
To commit the deed by Marcia, the
mistress of Commodus. who had
plotted with members Of his official
family, to put him out OF the way
When he died the senate declared him
an enemy of the state, ordered his
statues to be broken to pieces, and
his name to be erased from all public
inscrlptiOns.-DetrOit News.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
Searching for Shock.


There are so many instances where
speech and hearing have been restored
by severe shock that there is a gen
eral notion among deaf and dumb per
sons that their salvation rests In this
direction. Consequently they are re
sorting to airplane trips as a means
of restoring thSir functions. The man
ager of the air station at Croydon,
England. reports that he is besleged
with requests from these afflicted per
sons who are hopeful that an expert
ence in midair might supply the nee
eSsary shock. The parents of an at
fiicted child brought their offspring to
the - ton and made a request that
the child be taken aloft with the idea
of possibly curing her, but aside from
the tonic effect upon the child there
was no other result. The child re
turned to the ground in a very happy
frame of mind and was delighted with
her experience 1t has been suggest
ed that the trip alOft does not have
the desired effect for the reason that
the various experiences in the air are
more or less expected and thGasfOre
the element Of SuddennesS and shock
are lacking
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
New Control for Autos.

Dispensing with the present emer-
gency brake and gear-shIft levers in
any motor car. the clutch, brakes and
gear shifts are controlled by means
of pneumatic pressure of from 40 to
65 pounds, obtained from the motor, In
a device of recent invention. The ap-
paratus, according to Popular Ne
chanics Magazine, is mounted on the
transmission case In place Of It's cover,
and Is operated By means of a small
pivOted lever. With the new control
1t Is impossible to strip gears, or to
engage the clutch when the brakes are
set.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
Warren stAriea-

Warren is a Shelbyvllle boy five
years old and fond of eating. One
day he and another little boy were
playing soldier, and were shooting
both men and women, when Warren
cried out: Don't shoot the women.
cause they do the cooking"
Wsrren's father was telling about
transacting some business matters
with a woman and said: "She is Sc
ignorant, she doesn't know anything. '
Warren looked up and said: Reckon
she knows how to cook. don't she?"
One day Warren's nurse was ready
to give him bath. She called to him
to come and he said: "Wait a min
ute" Again she asked why he didn't
come and he replied: 'T am trying
TO make my minute as long as mom's.'
indianapolis News.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
Popularity Of Rubber Hs.ls-

Sixty per cent of the shoes manu-
factured in the United States today
are said to be equipped with rubber
heels. Shoes for men are more often
equipped with rubber heels than shoes
for women. 1t is estimated that IS
per cent Of the rubber heels manu-
factured are for men. The United
States census OF manufactures Of
1920 covering production during 1919,
showed that 275,357, ,2O6 pairs Of
leather boots and shoes we're manu-
factured by ,449 establishments. This
was exclusive Of slippers and fiber and
other footwear not Of leather. During
the same period the production of rub
Der heels reached 1873, ,408, ,769 pairs,
and 9.777,OS5 pairs of rubbers and
composition fiber sOles were manu-
factured.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
Holland Rsstrict, Elxsrs

Flying regulations of the Neither.
lands government provide that the
minimum altitude ever closely inhah-
tied areas is 400 meters (1,312 feet)
All aircraft must always fly at such a
height over towns or public gather
ings as will permit OF their landing
outside Of such areas In case of en-
CINE failure. No trick flying may he
INDUCED in above closely inhabited
areas or public gatherings.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
Ask Law to Protect American Names.

Ask Law to Protect American Names.
At the nineteenth annual meeting
and reunion Of the Reade Society for
Genealogical Research, held in this
city, resolutions were passed asking
that a national act be passed by con-
gress making it unlawful for any per
son to assume the family surname Of
any one Of colonial, revolutionary
or historical fame. 1t was also voted
that for the protection Of such names
and to avoid confusion, mistakes or
fraud, the organization seek to pre-
vent foreigners from taking any
colonial or American names which
have been made prominent Boston
Globe.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
Urge Adoption Of Metric system.

Urge Adoption of Metric System.
In a report made to the house Of
representatives by the committee on
coinage, weights and measures,
which favored the adoption of the
metric system by the government Of
the United States, it was pointed out
that, according to estimate made by
the bureau of education and others,
twO-thirds of year would be saved
by the adoption Of the metric arith-
metic. 1t is also averred as a matter
of evidence that the metric system
and it's application to the solution of
problems may be learned In One-tenth
of the time required for gaining equal
facility in the use Of the English sys-
TEN Of weights and measures.-Wash-
ingtOn Star.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
MEETING OF KENT LEVY COURT
W. r. Smith Named Constable for
Duck Creek Hundred-Other Officers

W. X. Smith Named Constable for
Duck Creek Hundred-Other Officers
At Tuesdays session of Kent Coun-
ty Levy Court, constables were ap-
pointed as follows: First district, w.
r. Smith; fifth, Frank Vansant; sew
enth, William T. Jewell; eighth, E. r.
Hughes; ninth, NJ. 7. Adams. tenth
J. S. Salevan. Appointments for the
second, third, fourth and sixth were
left open. The award for printing
the highway bond issue was, awarded
to Security Bank Note Company, of
Philadelphia, for $188. Reports from
the county officers, of fees collected
during February showed: Prothono-
tary, S6929; register of wills, ST.
1891; recorder of deeds, $993.25;
clerk of Orphans Court, $18.27; clerk
of peace, SIS. ST. Joseph Industrial
School at Clayton requested appoint
ment of a special constable for the
buildings, which was granted in the
appointment of James Hanifee. S.
Carl Hughes, treasurer of the Kent
County AlmshOuse, was granted $45C
for appropriation to the almshouse
for March.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
Waste Paper Money

A traveller recently returned from a
trip AE0ugh Austria had his cafe bill
handed to him made out on the back
of ten-crown note. When the patron
expressed his surprise at this unusual
proceeding, the waiter told him that
bank notes were cheaper than plain
paper.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14
STATE AND PENINSULA NEWS
TOLD N BRIEF SPICY ITEMS
NEWSY ITEMS GATHERED FROM
OUR STATE EXCHANGES
Brief News Items of People We Know
In and Around the Larger Penin-
sula Towns and Communities

The epidemic of measles among
children in Centreville and vicinity has
greatly abated and the public schools
were reopened on Monday.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14

Laurel wOrkmen are busy now on
the new bridge spanning the Laurel
River, the material for construction
having arrived, after considerable de-
lay caused by the railroad handlers.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14

So ruthlessly has the hand of death
been laid upon ChestertOwn recently
that it is estimated that during the
month of January there was one
death every three days during the
month. There were eight deaths on
one street, during the month, mostly
among the older residents of the town.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14

The first annual Eastern Shore in
terschOlastic Defamation contest will
be held in William Smith Hall, Wash
ington College, ChestertOwn, May 18.
The purpose of the contest is to foster
public speaking in the public schools.
Each county on the Eastern Shore
will elect one representative in a pre-
liminary contest.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14

At a meeting of the Sussex levy
court, held Wednesday afternoon, Feb
urary %, Robert Clark Hill was chOs-
en- general supervisor of the road
foremen thruout the county for the
month of March. Mr.. Hill has been
acting county engineer of Sussex
county since the spring of 1921.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14

The Rev. c. H. B. Turner, rector of
st. Peters Episcopal Church, at Lew
es, has returned after his annual
months vacation at Waycross, Ga,
where he was rector of a parish for
several years. Doctor Turner is wide
ly known as an historian of the East
ern Shore, and especially for his his
tOrical notes of the Episcopal Church.
AlthO he has been offered many larg-
er parishes, he is content with Lewes
and is strongly interested in the old
town, one of the first in the east
where the ocean and the Delaware bay
meet.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14

The ice-boat Latrobe, from Balti-
more, went to Rock Hall, Saturday
morning, opened the channel to the
ferry landing and conveyed one of the
ferryboats to Bay Shore 1t is not
likely a return trip can be made, be-
cause the camel and bay are rapidly
filling up with heavy ice.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14

Thieves on Thursday night last en-
tered the home of Straughn Lloyd, a
produce broker of Salisbury. In the
morning his daughter, Lillian, aged
18 years, was found gagged and tied
in her bed, where she had lain most of
the night, unable to make any of the
family hear her. She was unconscious
and is in a serious condition, being un-
able to give any information that
might lead to the capture of the in
vaders of the home Nothing of any
value was missing from the house
and less than thirty cents in money
was taken.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14

At the last monthly meeting of the
Blackbird Home and School League,
Mrs.Fred HeinOld presided, and unan-
imOus approval was voiced of the plan
for a new school and for no reduction
in the salaries of teachers. 1t was
agreed to write to members of the
legislature representing that district
to aid passage of the original amount
for the school budget.
Smyrna times., 1923-03-14

Regular trips of the Rock Hall Bay
Shore ferry are resumed, much to the
satisfaction of the large motor truck
service plying between Eastern Shore
towns and Baltimore, who were COM
PEELED for the last two weeks to drive
all the way around the head of the
bay at great expense to keep their
schedules in operation. The schedules
on the Chester river and Rochester
lines will be resumed the last of the
week if weather conditions remain ia
vorable.