davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
PUBLTSHER'S WILL
 FILED IN PROBATE
G. F. Milton, Jr, Becomes
 President Chattanooga News

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. April 2S. The will of the late George F. Mill ton was filed for probate today with the Hamilton county court clerk. his widow, Mrs. Abbie Crawford Milton and his son, George F. Milton, Jr., qualifying as executrix and executor.
 Under the terms of the will the widow and his son, George F. Milton, Jr., and three daughters become own CTS of the majority of stock in The News with, the control of the common stock in the name of George F. Mill ton, IT,, who becomes president of the company and executor of the paper. The testator created a trust fund of $5.000 of preferred stock of the com pany one half of the income to he used IS an annual prize to the editorial writer in the south who has written the best editorials on international peace {; and one half to the woman writer in the south who has done the most for her sex.
 The employees of ten years standing of The News were given $100 each, Walter 0. Johnson will continue as general manager. of the bu mess and mechanical dcpartments of the paper.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
HOLLAND BORROWS
 $4O,OOO,OOO M v. s.
ReversiOn Former Position of
 Tender to the World"

NEW YORK. April 2S.-The king dom of the Netherlands, whose bankers were one time lenders to the world, to- day concluded negotiations with an American banking syndicate for $4O,- GOO, ,O00 loan, its first external borrow ing on a dollar basis. Public offering of the bonds, which mature in 30 years and bear 6 per cent interest will be made tomorrow at 9S1a to yield over 6.10 per cent.
 With Holland changing from her accustomed rule of lender to that of borrower, officials of Kuhn, Loeb & Co.,, and the National City company, heading the syndicate. declare it was symptomatic of the enhanced financial prestige and power of the United States that the Dutch governments first external loan in a foreign currency had been foated here on dollar issue.
 "The present loan," they added, may be regarded as desirable form of in- crease in exports. Any foreign loan floated in this country, payable in dollars, must inevitably increase to that extent the purchasing power of the rest of the world from the United States. whether that purchasing power is used by the original borrower or is transferred to others"
 Half of 150,000000 guilder Dutch loan was sold in this country two years ago
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
HOPE ABANDONED FOR IA VICTIMS OF MINE BLAST
Twenty Bodies Already Taken From Ben-
 wood Shaft {

WHEELING. w. Va. April 2S.-- Twenty bodies had been recovered tonight from the Benwood mine of the Wheeling Steel corporation. where IA miners were entombed today by an explosion. Nineteen bodies were found by rescue workers In the Browns run air shaft and the other three were To- cated in the main passageway.
 One of the dead miners was iden- tified as George Holiday, Jr., son of the superintendent of the mine. Super intendent Holiday declared that a check disclosed IA men were in the mine when the explosion occurred. One hun dred remain unaccounted for and hope that any may be found alive has been practically abandoned.
 Can Assign No Cause
 l. NJ. Scott, president of the Wheel ing Steel corporation declared that while the mine was an old working. no evidence of gas had been found until two months ago. A small explo- sion occurred then, he said, but an air shaft was sunk immediately and work had progressed without difficulty for sixty days. Mir. Scott was unable to assign any cause for the explosion.
 It was tragic day for Benwood, and the urrounding mining region. The day force had been in the mine only 15 min utes when those on the surface were startled by violent quake and dis tant rumble. All knew what had hap pened. and men, women and children dashed in the rain to the mine mouth. They found the entry blocked by a caye-in and through this mass of rock and earth drifting spouts of smoke and gases.
 The man-power of the region was massed at the mine while awaiting the arrival of the mine rescue car with it's crew of trained rescue men. Volun- teer crews dug at the blocked entry while others rushed to the mir shafts lO- cated back in the country in the hope that they could get into the workings. It was through these airshafts that the first rescuerS were let down.
 Six of the bodies recovered were found near the Browns run airshaft two and half miles from the mouth of the mine. The other two miners had been cut out when they were within a few hun dred feet of the mouth They were still breathing faintly when found but died before the rescuers reached the mine month,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
MELEE FOLLOWS YOUTHS" ARREST
Louisiana Court Room Scene Of
 General Battle

AMlTE. La, April 2S.-The court room in the Tangipahoa parish court. house here was alnos twrecked today when a man named Dunnington at tackled R. Nj. McGeehee, whose com plaints moment before had caused District Judge Robert Ellis to place the two sons of Dunnington under bonds of $1.000 each. The boys had been charged with disturbing the peace.
 In the midst of the melee, Judge Fl. lis left the bench and rushed to the lower floor for. additional deputies to quell the disturbance. One of the Dun. nington's was almost choked to death by his assailant and one participant who had anear almost bitten off, had to receive medical. attention.
 When peace was restored Judge Fl, lis resumed his place. increased the bonds of the -Dunnington boys to $2, 900 each and ordered the jailing, of ev' cry man known to have participated in the row. They were charged with disturbing the peace, mayhem and re wiling the court
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
BOARD WILL MEET
 M PARISH PRISON
Italians Clemency Pleas to Be
 Heard In Louisiana Jail

NEW ORLEANS, April 2S.-Judge Robert Ellis. who sentenced to death the six Italians found guilty of the murder of Hallas Gaines three years ago and under the law, a member of the board of pardons which will hear Wednesday approved today the pro- posal of Sheriff BOwden of Tagipahoa parrish that the board meet in the parish prison instead of the office of the attorney general. The prisoners have been Tn jail here for safekeeping since the murder, and the sheriff sug- gested that they appear before the board in the prison and thus avoid any possible demonstration or attempt at rescue during journey from the jail to the Civil Courts building.
 Attorney General A. V. Coco. chair man of the board and Lieutenant Gov ernOr Delos JOhason, the third mem Der. also approved the proposal.
 The convicted men are sentenced to hang at Amite on May 9.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
HUGO BLACK OPENS FIRE ON BOYKIN Telegrams Used to Obtain Influence, Attorney
 Charges DEFENSE COUNTERS IN POLITICAL PLEA Says Boyles Seeks to Break Up Democratic
 Machine CHARLES SCHREINER SPEAKS FOR STATE Offers Damaging Testimony Re garding Operations of AL
 legged "Gang"
DEFENSE COUNTERS , IN POLITICAL PLEA
CHARLES SCHREINER
 SPEAKS FOR STATE
special To The Age.Herald)

MOBILE. Ala, April 2S.-Sensa- tions came thick and fast here today as 69 persons. including city and county political "bosses,'' went on trial in United States court on charges of par ticipating in gigantic liquor con spiracy.
 Assistant Attorney General Hugo Black of Birmingham told the jury at the outset that the case would assume Teapot Dome proportions and that some of the defendants would be linked with some of the chief offenders in the Daugherty scandal.
 Received Aid
 Black said the government expected to show that Frank w. Boykin, one of the defendants, had received assist ance from the late Jess Smith, close friend of the former Attorney General and Nal Daugherty, in welding a pow erful influence with Mobile liquor dealers.
 "Boykin." declared Mir. Black, showed the liquor men telegrams from Smith and Nal Daughterty as proof of his influence with the powers in Washington"
 Defense counsel countered with the charges that District Attorney Aubrey Boyles Is seeking to break the demo- cratic machine in Mobile county and form powerful republican organlza5 tion. They charged Boyles with hav- ing quit the democratic party in order to obtain the post he holds under the |G. 0. r. administration.
 Boyles was further charged by de- fense attorneys with having tried to induce former Sheriff William H. Hol- combe. now a member of the legisla- ture, to enter a graft partnership"
 Turns States Evidence
 Shortly after the jury was completed and government and defense attorneys had summed up their cases, Charles (. & ,lreiner, one of She defendants and Il confessed blindtiger operator, turned states evidence and gave damaging testimony as to operations of the liquor ring. He will he back on the stand Tuesday.
 Exchanges between government and defense counsel became so bitter that Judge Robert T. Erwin several times sharply reprimanded them.
 "A big conspiracy for the sale of in- tOxicants without interference from fed eral. state, county or city officials, ex- isted here, and we will prove it," As sistant Attorney General N. F. Stall worth told the jury.
 District Attorney Boyles was the target for hot attack by attorneys representing former Sheriff Holcombe. They charged Holcombe appeared be- fore the December grand jury ''to get Boyles indicted, but failed because ROylpS summoned nariured 1r;tnaesas
 Continued on Page Two)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
JUDGE POWDERS OVER ROAD CASE
 AFTER HEARING
Gainesville Detour At. tackled and Legality of
 Highway Act Assailed
. fState CapitaI Bureaul

MONTGOMERY. Ala. April 27.- Hearing of the case in which an injunc- ton is sought against routing the Eutaw-Livingston highway via Gaines vile was concluded in circuit court here early this evening, before Judge Leon McCord, and the case taken under ad- visenent. after arguments lasting over seven hours.
 Hcrace Wilkinson and W. B. Harri- son of Birmingham, representing citizens of Greene and Sumter counties, who are seeking to enjoin the building of the Gainesville detour, assailed the consti- nationality of the 1923 act creating the highway commission. They further ar gued that Chairman John A. Rogers of the highway body is disqualified from passing on the ease by reason of personal interest and that the Gaines Evflie route is neitsler the most fiFecf nor most feasible to connect the county seats of Greene and Sumter counties.
 Reports of F. A. Davis and H. c. Wells, federal engineers, disapproving the Gainesville detour and favoring the Boligee route. were offered, the Davis letter showing the cost of the Boligee route to be only about GO per cent that of the cost by way of Gainesville. It was claimed that while the court could not require the highway commission to build a particular road, it could restrain the commission from building a road in conflict with constitutional and statu- tory provisions.
 BOal d's Contention
 Counsel for the highway commission argued that the act of 1923 is constitu- tional and it's title adequate, that the charges of cOllusion between Commis- sioners Rogers and Suttle were mere unsupported conclusions of complain tants that the road via Gainesville was designated by the legislature and by the old highway commission of F members before the present commission came into existence and that no contract has been made for the building of the road and consequently members of the commis- sion could not be interested in a con tract which does not exist.
 In concluding this argument in the case Judge Horace Wilkinson of Bir- mingham read reports from F. A. Davis and H. c. Wells, federal engineers, both disappearing the Gainesville detour. The Davis report estimated the cost of the Gainesville route at $499,000 and of the Boligee route $337 ,500 OF in case use is made of a portion of an existing road, $307 500.
 Judge Wilkinson also read affidavits (COntinuNd nn page fOnr)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
RING LINKED WITH SMITH;
 INDIAlA GOVERNOR IS SE,NT TO JAIZ
FINE DREAMS OF LONG LIFE
 END FATALLY

SAN RAFAEL, Cal, April 2S.-- Dreams of eternal youth proved fatal to John E. Merton, 26, who died Mon day from self-performed operation.
 Merton, a resident of Fl Verano a brother; his stepfather. John Waldo and his stepbrother, James Stephenson on Easter Sunday, killed young goat and injected fluid into themselves.
 All of the men, it is said, had fol lowed with interest accounts of opera tions being performed on prisoners in the San Quentin penitentiary, and de termined to make similar experiments themselves.
 Last Wednesday, Mertin's sight, be. gan to dim. He told friends he felt "jumpy." In San Rafael, he consulted a physician who kept him under ob- servation for day, later ordering him to hospital where he became totally blind Sunday.
 Death followed Monday.
 Mertin was to have been married in two weeks.
 None of the other men involved in the strange operation have felt any ill effects, they say.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
Throngs Line New York Streets As Funeral
 COrtege Passes

NEW YORK, April 28.-One hun 5slred thousand persons, high and low, rich and poor, today paid their final tribute of respect to Charles F. Mur- phy, for two decades chieftain of Tam many Hall. Not in many years, has the Metropolis witnessed funeral of such magnitude.
 YIbe impressive silence of the inn. mense throng was the dominant tote. Early in the morning such a crowd had gathered in front of his modest old fashioned home in East Seventeenth street that a hundred policemen were necessary to keep people moving.
 For hours there was a steady stream of men, women and children-the ma jority from the lower East Side-into the parlor where the body lay. Labor CTS with lunch boxes under their arms, shop girls, silk halted dignitaries and women in costly gowns, knelt for a moment of prayer before the casket.
 ThrOngs Line Street
 When the body was taken to St Pat ricks cathedral the cOrtege passed through streets thronged with people with heads bowed.
 More than 5000 persons crowded into the cathedral. where Bishop John J. Dunn celebrated the impressive solemn mass of requiem. Outside the edifice 5000 persons bowed theii heads while the ceremonies were in progress. When the services were concluded and the cor tege started for Calvary cemetery in Queens, where interment was made, fully 50,000 hushed persons were pack ed along Fifth avenue. Thousands of bluecOats lined the route to the ceme- tery.
 The widow. who for two days had been in bed prostrated, bore the ordeal bravely. Several times her feet falter- ed but relatives assisted her.
 The Pallbearers
 Gov. Alfred k. Smith, an old-time friend of the leader, headed the honor ary pallbearers. The governor plainly showed his grief. He was flanked by Mayor John F. Hylan. Other honor ary bearers included United States Sen ator Royal s. Copeland. Normand E, Mack, democratic national committees man; George F. Brennan, democratic leader of Illinois; James W. Gerard former ambassador to Germany Der nard NJ. Baruch, Samuel S. KOenig, re- publican county chairman; Herbert Bayard SwOpe of the New York World and close political associates of Mir Murphy.
 Among others who attended the serv- ices were Joseph r. Tumulty, Senator Harrison of Mississippi. Edward Hur- ley, former head of the shipping board George K. Mara, vice chairman of the democratic national committee John k Voorhees,, "A years old, grand sachem of Tammany; State Senator James J Walker, John w. Davis, former ambas. sador to Great Britain; members of the democratic executive committees from all the boroughs. delegation of the National Democratic club, members of the Knights of Columbus and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
TAMPA CONCERN
 TOBUHD BRANCH
 AFTARRANTCTTY
Head Of shipbuilding Company Expected
 Here May g

d.
 Ernest Kreher, president of the Tam pa shipbuilding and Engineering com pany. will arrive in Birmingham May q sa liseusk details of shs proposal to
 kHB s.l6Iit s fAe s6zl s # TaTfsnt Ciss.
 pr, Felix I. Tarrant Monday received q letter from Mir. Kreher assuring that his company would erect pl mt on the g acre tract purchased three years ago at a cost approximating $32,000. No details of the proposa, were divulged, according to Dr. Tarrant. but it is un- derstood the branch plant will rnanu. facture tractors, beside a number of other products.
 Business organizations of Tarrant City will get strongly :.,hind this pro- position with view to putting the deal over in short order," Dr. Tarrant said, We expect definite announce ment from Mir. Kreher when he visits here on May 9.
 Other interested concerns have tried to purchase the site in question, but the Tampa people have flatly refused a handsom profit on their investment, 1t is stated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
RELATIVES WORRY ABOUT BERGDOLL
Draft Evader's Whereabouts Un. known Since Leaving Eberback

EBERBACH, Baden. April 2S.-The relatives of Grover Cleveland Bergdoll are somewhat anxious regarding the whereabouts of the American draft evader. who left here April c for an automobile trip, without giving a hint to anyone where he was going, Berg doll was accompanied by several armed companions. but no member of the party has, sent any word back since it's depar- ture.
 tells them his plans before starting on trips and they assume he possibly went to Switzerland. They say all his per sonal effects were still here and they do not believe he has started for America
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
FORD ADVOCATES GATHER FORCES FOR OPEN FIGHT Abandon Intention of Saying Nothing Before
 Committee
 FARM BUREAU MEN TO ENTER CAMPAIGN Will Maintain That Agri- cultural Classes Demand
 Detroit Plan
Washington Bureau)

WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The ad- herents of the Henry Ford offer for Muscle Shoals have abandoned their original intention of saying nothing be fore the Senate committee on agricul ture considering Muscle Shoals.
 W. B. Mayo, chief engineer in the service of Mir. Ford, came to Washing ton today, and at the first opportunity will subject himself to the cross-exami. nation of the opponents of that offer
 Today there came to Washington a delegation of prominent citizens of Nashville. headed by Maj. K. B. Stahl- man, editor of the Nashville Banner for the purpose of giving testimony ia vorable to the Ford offer.
 Farmers To Speak
 Representative B. E. Almon of tht Eighth district of Alabama. in converse .tion with this bureau, said this after noon that before the end of the week Gray Silver and other spokesmen of the American Fer Bureau federation, would inform the committee that the farmers of the United States expect the deliy. cry to Ford of Muscle Shoals in that they might obtain cheap fertilizer.
 That the Ford adherents have changed thei- minds has given great satisfaction to those Alabamians in Washington who have regretted what appeared to be 8 willingness that Ford adherents permit the anti-Ford crowd to run away with the proceedings.
 The feature of the session today was the endeav0r of Senator Norris to play republican politics at the expense of the Ford policy of quick and sure action NoEris interpolated telegram zs dis, patcIIed to the private seefetary of Ford by the former representative in Wash ington of Fordss Deafborn Independent James Martin Miller. in which the President was quoted as having said that he hoped Ford would say or do nothing
 (C0utinuad on Para TwO)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
POLITICAL FIGHT
 ON IN MISSISSIPPI
Delegation Likely to Be For Underwood Or Uninstructed

JACKSON, Miss. April 2S.-The fight for control of the Mississippi delegation to the democratic national convention opened in earnest today when Chairman Robert Powell called meeting of the state committee for May to fix a date for the state con vention.
 The committee is expected to select the first week in June for the conven- tion and it is regarded as inevitable that the event will be marked by bat tie royal between the forces supporting Senator Oscar Underwood for the presi- dential nomination led by Chairman Powell and the advocates of an unin- structed delegation led by Senator Pat Harrison. Senator Harrison is em- phatically opposed to sending to New York a delegation pledged to support any individual.
 Compromise Proposed
 There is being discussed among politi- cal leaders a proposal to harmonize the differences through adoption of a reso- lution complimentary to Senator Un- derwood and protesting against South ern isolation in the matter of picking party candidates for president, but not specifically pledging the delegates to the Alabama senator.
 If the time honored custom is fol lowed three of the delegates at large from the state will be Senators Pat Harrison and Hubert Stephens and Governor Henry l.. Whitfield. The fourth member of the "big four" will be former Senator John Sharp Williams. From authentic. sources it has been been learned that some of the national party leaders have been urged to assist in writing the blanks in the platform relating to foreign policies.
 Underwood Active
 Reports from Chicago state that Judge Rockwell, campaign manager for William G. McAdoo may come to Mis- sissippi several days before the conven. tion in behalf of Mr. McAdoo. Under. wood workers have been active, having established Headquarters here in Feb ruary and an earnest effort is being made to have sent to the state conven' tion delegates favorable to him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
NICKELS GIVEN
 DEATH PENALTY
South Carolina Man Convicted
 In Florida Of Attack

!. DELAND. Fla, April 2S.-The death sentence was imposed upon Au- brey Lee Nickels of Greenville. S. C., here tonight by Judge J, J. Dickinson in Volusia county circuit court. The sheriff was ordered to deliver Nickels to the state farm at Raiford, where he will await issuance by Governor Hardee of thedeath warrant.
 Nickels received the sentence calmly, after he had pleaded earnestly before the court for mercy. He was convicted this afternoon of criminal assault upon a white woman. This was his second trial.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
AGED EDITOR DIES
 AT BATON ROUGE
John McGrath, S9, Oldest News.
 Paperman In Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. April 2S.- John McGrath, oldest newspaper man in Louisiana anG veteran of the Wal ker Nicaragaran expedition and of the Civil war, died at his home early today. He would have been S9 years Tod next month. Mir. McGrath, who had resided in Baton Rouge since child began his newspaper career at the afe of ten years when he entered the office of the Baton Rouge Gazette. th efirst news paper published in this city. At the time of his death he was member of the state board of pensions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
TO TRANSFER PATIENTS
Removal From Veterans Hospital A
 Camp SeVier Is Ordered

GREENVILLE. &. C., April 2S.- Orders for the transfer of all patients at United States Veterans hospital No. 26. at Camp Sevier, near here. have been received. it was stated today by Dr. H. NJ. Stewart. the commanding officer The transfer is to be completed by June 1. he said, with patients being sent to Oteen, near Asheville. N. C.; Ker- vile, Tex, and Alexandria, La.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
SCHOFIELD FACES
 CHARGE OF BIGAMY
Football Man Held In N. c. On
 Complaint of First Wife

GREENSBORO, \. C., April 2s.- James Schofield, alias John Eastword, former secretary of the United States Football association, will go on trial in superior court here late today charged with bigamy. He was arrested here early in April upon a warrant issued at the instigation of the woman he mar ried in Bristol, Conn.,, in 1920. On December %, last, he married a Greens boro woman. Whe narraiEned in municipal court for the preliminary hearing, he pleaded guilty.