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9 A TTEARST’R SUNDAY AMERICAN, ATLANTA, C,A., SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 1013. BRAM TELLS OF 17-YEAR LIVING DEATH llflNGIU TO S •J*#*l* ^•4- 4 , #4 Sailor-Convict’s Heart Is Not Embittered ■!•••!• +•+ +•+ 4...*. 4...J. ‘I Leave Vengeance to the Almighty,' He Says FBI FIT TIME MU. NEBS Paroled From Federal Prison, He Declares He Will Devote Life to Clearing Himself of Charge He Murdered Three on High Seas. Seventeen years spent in prison, seventeen years when his only hope was that by some kind stroke of Providence he would not have to die there, seventeen years when every second of the time he says he knew he was receiving the punishment that another had earned, ail this has been the lot of Thomas M. C. Bram, re cently released from the Atlanta Federal penitentiary and Bram to-day declares that he has bitterness in his heart for no man. The vengeance, which another man would seek, he declares he is willing to leave to the Almighty. His only purpose in life now is to earn an honorable livelihood and to so conduct himself that the Attorney General of the ynited States will see that the President issues him full pardon, in stead of the parole he now enjoys, and restore his civil rights. He cares little whether the real criminal in the famous “Herbert Fuller" mystery is brought to justice. He cares only that his name be cleared of the black crime of the slaying of three persons on the high seas and endeavoring to fix the blame on another. Looks Picture of Health. Bram is 47 years old. Though he looks the picture of health, his years in prison have told on him. The lit tle hair he has on his head is as white *u§ snow. His mustache is white, but the healthy outdoor life he led until the jail key turned on him and his life in the Atlanta prison have served him in good stead. The tan of the sea sun and the wind-lashed face of a mariner are now his. His skin is as ruddy as that of a healthy baby. His eye is as bright as that of an ambitious boy. His broad shoulders are held well thrown back. His build denotes tre mendous strength which the prison could not rob him of. There is little of the old salt about him. In appearance he is a well- dressed, sturdy business man. In conversation he could be anything from a banker to a clergyman. He declares he does not drink, smoke, nor swear. He is at peace with the world. Sees Auto First Time. Wednesday when he walked out of the Avails a free man, he entered the first automobile he had ever seen. The first money that he had spent in seventeen years was spent to buy a bouuuet of flowers for Warden Moyer if the penitentiary, who has been his staunch friend in his fight for freedom. Six years ago he came to the At lanta penitentiary from the Massa chusetts State Prison, where he had served eight years. He had once been sentenced to die. He had fought against death on the gallows, and he had won this light, even though he was doomed to spend the rest of his days behind prison bars. But life meant opportunity for hifi to continue his struggle for ultimate exoneration, and he fought on. ills first real opportunity came when he entered the Atlanta prison. Warden Moyer, ever the friend of the pris oners, became peculiarly interested in the case of Bram. He made a model prisoner. He boasts of the fact that during his fourteen years of penal servitude, no harsh word has been spoken to him. No mark of bad conduct has been placed against his name. Moyer became convinced of this seaman's innocence. He introduced Bram to George Freeman and Harry Perkerson, Peachtree street tailors, who became interested in his case and immediately started out to ob tain his release. At that time the parole law did not extend to life prisoners. Only absolute pardon could free him. Through the efforts of Bram's new found friends, Congressman William Schley Howard of Georgia introduced a bill and fought it to a passage pro viding that life prisoners could be pa roled after fifteen years of servitude. This opened the way for P.ram’s parole. Another powerful ally for him appeared in Colonel Daniel W. Rountree, Atlanta attorney, who took up the fight. The prisoner was eligi ble for parole July 12 and at that time the papers in his dtse were filed with the parole board in Washington. After Vacation Peel Your Discolored Skin (From Broadway Weekly.) Women returning from the seaside with browned, reddened or freckled com plexions will be wise in immediately taking up the mercolized wax treatment. Weatherbeaten skin had best come off, for no amount of “beautifying” will ever make such skin pretty to look at. The surest, safest, easiest way to shed the despoiled cuticle is with the treatment suggested. Put the wax on before re tiring. as you would cold cream, and rinse it off next morning with warm wa ter. Minute particles of scarf skin will peel off day by day, gradually showing the healthy, youthful skin beneath. One ounce of mercolized wax, obtainable at any drug store, is enough to make any discolored or spotted complexion clear, white and satiny soft. Its action is so gentle no injury is caused and the face shows no trace of its use. Bif* 4 ng heat, irritating winds and dirt are sull wrinkle-makers that the dally use of tne* following astringent-tonic lo tion at this season is highly advisable: Powdered saxolfte, 1 ounce, dissolved in witch hazel, fe pint. Used as a face bath this is a splendid wrinkle remover and preventive.— (Adv.) First Act Is to Buy, With Part of Scanty Store, Flowers for Man Who Aided Him, Warden Moyer. Anxiously Seeking Employment. dence was absolutely uncorroborated. Brown was not Indicted, but I faced the awful charge of mxrder. Then? was prejudice against me, I guess. In Boston. Anyhow, after my indictment I was speedily brought to trial, de clared guilty and sentenced to death My attorney fought gallantly for me. He obtained a new trial. Again I faced a Jury and again I heard the hideous words “guilty as charged," but this time the penalty was fixed at life Imprisonment. I did not despair. I knew that come day, as sure as there is a God in heaven, I would be vindicated, and I feel that they day Is drawing close at hand now'. Has Big Task Before Him. From the moment I surrendered to the bark's crew until last Wednesday I have never known freedom. And now that I am free I have a big work before me. I will not cease working until I have a full pardon from the President and my good name and civil rights re stored. Why do I want these things? Why am I not satisfied in this glorious freedom my friends have obtained for me? Don’t think for a second I am not intensely grateful to them; that I am not enjoying every moment of this blessed life in the open air. When I awoke Thursday morning I thought that I still dreamt. I waited for that rising gong that I had heard for six long years in the prison here and for longer, more bitter years in the Massachusetts State prison. Then I realized that I was indeed free and I actually sang a song of joy and were turned over to the American authorities and it was decided that we be tried in the United States Court in Boston, from which port we had cleared. Sentenced To Be Hanged. In the preliminary investigation Brown repeated his accusation against me, and for some reason he was believed. Any circumstantial ev idence they had against me was of the flimsiest sort, and r . own’s direct evi- r I 'IIOMAS M. C. BRAM, just paroled from the Atlanta Fed- eral prison, where he served six of the seventeen years he has spent in a cell after being sentenced to life for slaying three persons on the bark Herbert Fuller, July 13, 1896, on the high seas, of which crime he declares he is innocent, assert ing further that he will devote his life to clearing his name. Bram’s Own Story of the Herbert Fuller Mystery By THOMAS M. C. BRAM. I w’us born on the Island of St. Kitts, a British possession in the Car ibbean Sea, 47 years ago. Mv father was a Dutchman, mv mother an Eng lishwoman. Mv boyhood days being spent on this out-of-the-way island, my ambition naturally centered on a sea career. First I served before the mast, but I was an apt sailor and at the age of 24 I was master of my own vessel, a brig, called the Twilight. Later I was master of the schooner China. After attaining my majority I was naturalized as an American citizen and made my shore home in New York, where my family is now. As an American citizen I shipped in June of 1896 as first mate of the bark Herbert Fuller, carrying a cargo of lumber and a few passengers from Boston to Rio de le Platte, in South America. She was a trim ship with a capable master and crew and I was well satisfied with my berth. Tells of Triple Slaying. On the night of July 18 I took the deck watch at midnight. In the after house the captain, his wife, the sec ond mate and a passenger named Monks were sleeping. William Brown, a seaman, was at the wheel. It Was a fair night with little sea running and I paced the deck with no thought that this peaceful calm was to be broken by as horrible a crime as was ever committed. I went into the waist of the ship, passing among the lumber which was piled waist high, to see that all was well. My first hint of the tragedy came when I heard what I thought to be a cry. I rushed back on deck and met the passenger Monks. He excitedly 1 told me that he had just discovered ! the dead bodies of the captain, his j wife and a passenger. With him I ran aft to the cabin and found out his entire statement was ; true save that the third dead person was the second mate. Three Slain With Ax. All three had been killed with some | heavy, sharp weapon. The discovery of a blood-stained ax proved that this was the weapon that had been used. With the death of the Captain and the second mate, I, as first and only officer aboard, took immediate com mand. I refused to permit the bodies to be buried at sea, thinking perhaps that If they were brought into port they would furnish the police with some clew to the mystery which was completely baffling to me. However, as we had no embalming Instruments and fluids and no one aboard knew anything of this art, I realized that the health of all hands demanded that they could not be kept aboard. The only solution as I could see It was to make the Jolly boat fast with a long tow line, place the bodies in this craft and in this way make the nearest port. Accused by the Sailor. This I did, and with this ghastly convoy bobbing in our wake, we made Halifax, Nova Scotia. In the mean time, however, I had the sailor Brown placed In irons as a suspect. I had no particular evidence against him, except that he was to my knowl edge the only man awake in the after part of the bark. Soon after I did this Brown startled the entire ship by making u state ment declaring that, from his post at the wheel, he had seen me enter the aft cabin, take the ax and slay the captain, his wife and the second mate. He gave no motive. He simply de clared that I did it. Though I was the only officer aboard, I promptly sur rendered to the crew as soon as I heard the charge, and I was Brown's fellow- prisoner when we reached port. We were surrendered to the Cana dian authorities, but inasmuch as Brown and myself were both Ameri can citizens and thi crime had be°n committed on the high seas in a ves sel flying the United States flag, we praise. But under the parole law I may not leave the State of Georgia. The Geor gia people have been gloriously good to me, but I would like to see my family, from whom I have been sep arated for so long. Tney are in New York and have kept in constant com munication with me, but that is not seeing them. Right now I can’t bring them ^wn here to m», for I am absolutely with out money. The $5 note which the Government gives each released pris oner was the first money I have seen since a few months after my incar ceration. Must Find Work to Live. I haven’t needed money here in At. lanta. The prison authorities gave us' everything a temperate man wants, but now that I am out I need money i desperately. I must find work, find it right now. I have never done any thing ashore, but I guess I can le^rn something. I am strong, earnest and willing. That ought to be enough. Under the parole law I have to re port to Warden Moyer once eacn month. The warden has been among my best friends, but it is hard on an innocent man to have to make an accounting to somebody like a truant schoolboy or a prohationed drunkard In f*«eeking the pardon I h<^|e no thought of trying to fix the blajaie for the crime on another. I don’yknow whether Brown is living <>r d*u<i. ] don’t even accuse him of committing the deed. “Vengeance Is jnine," .^ays the Lord I am willing that it be His. He is far wiser, far more Just, far more forgiv ing than I possibly could be. And 1 know that He will repay me for the suffering I have undergone, just as sure as He will punish those who have made an innocent man suffer. My only wish is for my name to bj cleared, so that I can look every man in the eye and demand the respect of all men. BEAUTIFUL BUNGALOW FOR SALE This beautiful six-room bungalow for sale by owner. Lot 50xl32 1 / a - All improvements, excepting cherted street. All conveniences. Market value $4,200. Will accept reasonable offer. R. J. SLEAR, 328 Peachtree St., I. 5717. Closed Business Houses and Fifty Picnickers Are All That Mark Occasion. For the first time in fifteen years, Atlanta will celebrate Labor Day Monday without show or display. In stead of tramping the hot streets in a parade, or gathering by the thousands at a great central meeting, most of the 6,000 union men in the city will spend the day quietly at the parks and in the country. More than 50 private picnic parties have been arranged by the various lo cal unions, at which the men of one trade will meet and celebrate the day, and there will also be numerous fam ily outing parties at the park* and picnic grounds near Atlanta. Elab orate speeches will be taboo at these gatherings, though there will prob ably be a few impromptu addresses on labor topics. The decision of the local labor lead ers to do away with the parades and mass meetings of former years is in line with the action of union men all over the country, especially in the West, Several of the prominent labor leaders will speak at labor gather ings at other cities and towns in Georgia. Among.them is S. B. Marks, president of the Georgia Federation of Labor, who will speak at Cedar- towm. For the first time in fifteen years, Jerome Jones, editor of The Journal of Labor and Georgia's most noted labor leader, will spend the day quietly, without making any of the speeches for which he has become fa mous. Mr. Jones has but recently re covered from an attack of nervous exhaustion, and his physicians have advised against taking part In any celebration. Wcant South Pryor Widened in October Seventy-five Per Cent of Property Owners Agree to Waive Their Damage Claims. Plans for the widening of South Pryor otreet from Georgia avenue to Ridge avenue will be discussed at a meeting of the South Side Improve ment Club at the South Pryor street schoolhouse Thursday night. A committee will report that 75 per cent of the owners have agreed to waive claims for damages in the event the project goes through. Mayor Woodward and several Councilmen have promised to attend, and some of the County Commission ers are expected. Efforts will be made to get the project before the Council at the October meeting, so that an appropriation for the improvement can be put on the October financial .sheet. ATLANTA ENGINEERS TO ATTEND NATIONAL MEET J. C. Henderson and I* H. Fenn, members of the Atlanta local of the Stationary Engineers’ Union, will leave Thursday for Springfield, Mass., to at tend the annual meeting of the na tional association on September 8 Henderson will represent No. 3 and Fenn No. 2. There Is No Possible Chance of Them Being Operated Again in Atlanta. Whatever victory the gambling in terests claim to have won In the Court of Appeals decision annulling an old city anti-gaming device law is a w’holly empty victory, according to an interpretation placed on the opin ion by City Attorney James L. May- son. There is no possible chnnce of bringing back the chewing gum slot machines, which were barred as a result of a recent campaign by The Georgian, because of this decision. When The Georgian began its cam paign against the machines widen were robbing deluded patrons of thousands of dollars, the case that Has Just been decided was then pending before the Court of Appeals. Coun cil passed a new law barring all slot machines from use in Atlanta. Within three days after the passage of this law Chief Beavers had every one of the crooked slot machines removed from the near-beer saloons. City Attorney Mayson’n opinion is tfiat the Court of Appeals decision does not affect this Atlanta law. He says the dicision annuls only such laws as apply to “gaming devices.’’ The slot machine ordinance does not mention “gaming devices." The decision against T. C. Alexan der, which has Just betjn reversed by the Court of Appeals, was made under an anti-gaming device ordinance. Re corder Broyles held that the shot ma chines were gaming devices and should be stopped. Alexander ap pealed his case and Judge Bell sus tained Judge Broyles. He then took it to the Court, of Appeals. The court holds that the machines nr* 1 gaming devices, but that their op eration is covered by State laws, and that city laws dealing with gamtng devices are therefore null and void. However, if there were no city or dinances touching on the subject, Chief Beavers, under the court's de cision, could prosecute anyone who would venture to operate a gambling slot machine under authority of the State law. Greek Consul’s Aide Robbed by Negro Girl Over $1,000 In Jewelry Systematical ly Removed From Home of Demetre Vaflades. Katherine Williams, a negress, 19 years old, was arrested by Detectives Sturdevant and Chewnlng Saturday night, charged with stealing $1,000 worth of jewelry from the home of Demetre Vaflades, No. 606 Highland avenue, an attache of the Greek Con sulate, where she is employed as a cook. More than $150 worth of the stolen jewelry was found by detec tives who searched her home at No. 22 Cooks alley. Mr. Vaflades has been missing val uable articles from his home for sev eral weeks, and when he notified the detective department last w’eek more than $1,000 worth of diamond rings, bracelets and other Jewelry had been stolen. Officers working on the case suspected the Williams woman, and she was shadowed constantly, result ing in her arrest. Stop That Whooping Cough WITH THE McFAUL Whooping Cough Powders Instant Relief In Use Over 30 Years For young babies, children or adults. Contains no dangerous or habit-forming drugs. When given to ohlldren under two years of age it is almost a specific, rendering the disease so mild that the whoop is not heard. Prepared by a physician for physicians and physicians prescribe and recommend It By Mail 25 Cents, or at Druggists. The McFaul Medicine Company 431 Marietta Street Atlanta. Uearrla NATIONAL CONSERVATION EXPOSITION Sept. 1st to Nov. 1st Knoxville, Tenn. - Only 5 l /2 Hours' Ride VERY LOW RATES NO CHANGE OF CARS City Ticket Office, 4 Peachtree Street Union Passenger Station ‘Ad’ Men Feasted at ’Cue by Louis Magid Sales Boosters Spend Enjoyable Day With Their Families at Tallulah Park. Members of the Atlanta Ad Men’s I Club, their relatives and friends ar- j rived home from Tallulah Park Sat urday night shortly after 8 o’clock, tired but hapny. They had spent the day at a barbecue given in their honor by Louis B. Magid. Mr. Magid went to considerable ex pense and lots of pains to make the ’cue one of the best the Ad Men have ever attended, and the usual menu was elaborated until there was everything the most exacting of epi cures could desire. Th- trip was made in a special train, which left Atlanta Saturday morning at 6:55 o’clock. MATOR INSISTS HE'LL HAVE NO PRIMARY TICKET! Woodward Denies Rumor That Ha Is Boosting Certain Candi dates in Race. » Rumors of a solid Woodward ticket*, in the coming primary have no foun dation, according to Mayor Wood-H ward, who denies'that he is in anv* Tax Equalization Effective iu 1914 Boards of County Assessors To Be Named After January 1—Books Open February 1. State Tax Commissioner John C. Hart said Saturday afternoon that no effort will be made this year to put into effect the workings of the tax equalization law recentlv passed jy the Legislature. In 1914, howeve'*, the work of the State Board of As sessors and the Tax Commissioner will actively begin. The boards of county assessors will be named in each county as soon as possible after January 1. The Tax Receivers, under the new law. will open their books on February 1 and close them May 1. Within twenty days after the books are closed the county boards will meet to go over the tax returns, and the digests will then be forwarded to the State Tax Commissioner for equalization. way boosting the candidacy of any-i one in the race for Alderman or* 1 Councilman In the primary of Sep tember 30. “I have advised a number of my friends in the different wards that! they ought to get busy and see that ’real men’ are elected to represent] them; that they should get men who are honest at heart and who will look, after the city’s affairs as they should be looked after,” said the M’ayor.j 'T will do all I can to prevent the* adoption of the new charter whichrj certain men are .^tempting to for. o! upon the city. While I agTee that wo need a new charter, we should get the* right kind of a charter while we arH at it. The one proposed gives th‘»| Council more power, and the Council! has too much as It is. “The charter is not at all like what the people advocated in their mass meetings, and I shall work hard to defeat its adoption. In the next few days I will make a detailed state ment showing my reasons for oppos ing It. But as for my fining up any group of men on a ticket, such ru mors are not exactly correct. I wilt work for the election of any YeaL men’ who may be nominated, how ever.** There Are atLeast 1000 Men in Atlanta Earning Perhaps $1500 Per Year Who can easily make $5,000 or more soliciting life insurance. If you are an intelligent, high grade man and not satisfied with your present position, It is your duty to inquire In regard to our propositions by letter or in person. Anyone rending this ad who can suggest to me the name of a man whom he Ixdieves will make a good solicitor will do a serv ice, and 1 will be glad to investigate. R. F. SIIEDDEN, Mgr. The Mutual Life insurance Company of New York Assets Over $600,000,000.00 Grant Building Atlanta, Georgia Get Out Your Fall Garments <1 Look them over carefully. If you find any of them soiled or wrinkled send them to the Trio Laundry and have them TRIOCLEANSED. <1 Don’t Wait until the rush be gins—-let us have them N-O-W when we can give them extra care and attention. (I We know you will be perfectly delighted with the result. ^ Ask us about the splendid work we can do for you on your Gowns, Suits, Dresses, Etc. QUICK SERVICE BRANCH Trio Laundry and Cleaning Co. 213 Peachtree St. Ivy 2469