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* L HEARST’S SUNDAY AMERICAN, ATLANTA. C,A„ SUNDAY, AUGUST 31. I'D3. f 4" ” 1 SERVED 17 YEARS, ALTHOUGH INNOCENT’ •!•••!• *•+ +#+ +*+ 4<*4. *••>. *•.*. +#4. Sailor Paroled From Atlanta Federal Prison +•+ 4-«4* ^.#4. *!*•*« 4-«+ 4-*4- ■!•••!• +•+ +•+ +•+ Thomas Bram’s Heart Is Not Embittered 200,000 Mummies In Aztec Catacombs Niches in Great Wall Surrounding Cemetery Rented for Any Number of Years. Leaves Vengeance to Almighty,but Declares He Will Devote Life to Clearing Himself of Charge He Murdered Three on High Seas. Seventeen year* 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, all 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 United 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 as 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. It is impossible to view him and connect Bram as the principal of this mystery of the deep, sea, this prob lem that his freedom makes more in tricate instead of clearing. Sees Auto First Time. Wednesday when he walked out of the walls 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 bouquet of flowers for Warden Moyer of the penitentiary, who has been his staunch friend in his fight for freedom. This struggle for parole has been hardly less dramatic than the crime which, justly or unjustly, he served so long. Never for one second since he passed into, a cell has he ceased to struggle, not only to enjoy the air that free men breathe, but to en joy every privilege of a man who has never felt the brand of crime. Six years ago h e 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 fight, even though he was doomed to spend the rest of his days behind prison bars. But life meant opportunity for him to continue his struggle for ultimate exoneration, and he fought on. His 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 I’erkerson, 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 Bram’s parole. Another powerful ally for him appeared in Colonel Daniel W. Rountree, Atlanta attorney, who took up the tight. The prisoner was eligi ble for parole July 12, and at that time the papers in his case were filed with the parole board in Washington. Pigeonholed Order Pound. Bram’s attorney, who had fought his case in Boston, never has ques tioned his innocence. Since that time, according to Bram, this attor ney has been made District Attor ney, and his assistance in the mat ter’of obtaining the parole was of the greatest weight. As soon as their showing was sub mitted, the parole board decided to act favorably and so reported, but in some way the recommendation found its way to a Washington depart mental pigeonhole, and the parole or der was not forthcoming. Bram’s hopes had been raised high, and when days and weeks passed without the expected order giving him freedom, this hope turned Ao the blackest despair, but his friends didn't quit for a minute. They put power ful influences to work. The pigeon holed report was discovered. and Wednesday the order came for Bram’s Bram takes his freedom as he took his imprisonment, calmly, dispassion ately He is now seeking only com- Dlete exoneration and work. He talks freelv of his trouble and his victory. He believes that full publicity will aid him in his fight. Here is his own storv of himself, the crime of which he was convicted, his struggle for lib erty and his hopes for the future. T HOMAS 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. First Act Is to Buy, With Part of Scanty Store, Flowers for Man Who Aided Him, Warden Moyer. Anxiously Seeking Employment, Bram’s 0 Herbert i wn S Fullei tory of 1 • Alystt the ;ry By THOMAS M. C. BRAM. I was born on the Island of St. Kitts,.a British possession In the Car ibbean Sea, 47 years ago. Mv father was a Dutchman, my mother an Eng lishwoman. My 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 wim a capable master and crew r and I was well satisfied ^ith my berth. Tells of Triple Slaying. On the night of July 13 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 w T as 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 told me that he had just discovered the dead bodies of the captain, his 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 officer aboard, took immediate com mand. I refused to perrpit the bodies to be buried at sea, thinking perhaps that if they were brought into port they would furnish the police with sotne 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 T 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. Boon after I did this Brown startled the entire ship by making a 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 tho crime had been committed on the high seas in a ves sel flying the United States flag, we were turned over to the American authorities and it was decided that we be tried in the United States Court <n 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 ne was believed. Any circumstantial ev idence they had against me was of the dence was absolutely uncorroborated Brown was not indicted, but I fsuced the awful charge of murder. There 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 waa fixed at life imprisonment. I did not dcspa«r. I knew that rome day, as sure as there Is a God In heaven, I would be vindicated, and I feel that they day Is drawing cloae 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. W r hy 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 her€ 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 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. They 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 down 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 desperately. I must find work, find it right now. I have never done any thing ashore, but I guess I can learn 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 each 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 proha tioned drunkard. In sieeking the pardon I have no thought of trying to fix the blame for the crime on another. I don’t know whether Brown is living or dead. 1 don’t even accuse him of committing the deed. “Vengeance is mine,” says 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 I 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 be cleared, so that I can look every man in the eye and demand the respect of all men. GUANAJUATO. MEXICO, Aug. 30. In the catacombs and cemetery at Guanajuato, within an inclosure em bracing about six acres, rest the ashes and bones of over 200,000 hu man beings. It contains mummies of Aztecs who had their life and be ing centuries ago. Surrounding the spot is a wall built of masonry, twelve feet high and twelve feet thick. The wall is honey combed on the inside with holes about eighteen inches square, some of which are open, while others are sealed with cement. It is said that there are about 5,000 of these niches. They are used to stow away dead bodies and are rented for that pur pose for periods ranging from one year to five years. When the period of rent expires the remains are removed and the bones cast into an underground chamber. The municipal authorities of Gua najuato charge eighteen cents for a burial permit. ‘Age Curable Disease,' Says Teacher at Summer School of Perpetual Life—Eats Nuts. Better Meals For Farmers Assured Two Hundred Ohio County House wives to Compete in Cooking for Family. CLEVELAND, Aug. 30.—Better meals for the hard working farmer is the object of Ohio’s newest farm or ganization, composed of Geauga County housewives. Mrs. J. K. Tur ner discovered a short time ago the high-cost-of-living problem exists in the farm sections as well as in the city. The proper w’ay to deal with prob lems being through organization, the Woman’s Auxiliary to the Geauga County Farm Improvement Associa tion was formed. A prize will be given to the wo man who prepares the best meals for her family in August. It is expected that nearly 200 women will enter the contest. Baby’s Cry an Index To Future in Life Alligator Puts Hotel Patrons to Flight Society Woman Declares She Can Read Child's Disposition in His Wails. WASHINGTON. Aug. 30.—Mrs. L. B. Bishop, a society iea’der, of Chi cago, now in Washington, can tell' from a baby’s cry the kind of a man or woman it will make when grown. She said: "The baby that cries with a whine or snarl note will make a discontent ed, fretful adult. The Infant whose cry is a series of wails will have a chip on its shoulder always, while the youngster with a strong, lusty cry, with a laugh and smile at the clone, makes the world leaders, de termined to succeed.” Steals Tombstone Weighing 2,000 Lbs. Robber Sought by Owner to Ex pain, $50 Reward Up. CHICAGO, Aug. 30.—Some thief who may wish to be forehanded in event of a violent termination of his career stole a tombstone at night from the show yard of the monument works of Joseph F. Gastat at No. 4806 North Clark street. It is a polished granite block weigh ing 2,000 pounds and is not inscribed. The yard is in a lonely neighborhood and the thief was free to take his time at the task. “I have offered a reward of $50 for the arrest of the robber,” said Mr. Gast, "and I am curious to know what motive provoked the theft.” Greeted by Snores, Uses Fists on Wife Paterson Man Resents Drowsy Wei come, and Lands in Court—Pa roled in Mate’s Custody. PATERSON, N. J., Aug. 30.—After James Ruddy, of No. 326 Grand street, was released from the Isolation Hos pital, he entered his home in anticipa tion of a warm reception. He found Mrs. Ruddy asleep. "How are you, dear?”.he asked. "Zzzz," from Mrs. Ruddy. “Then I couldn’t keep In,” said Rud dy to the Recorder when arraigned The appearance of his wife's face was proof of what he said. The court paroled Ruddy in the cus tody of his wife. He promised to be good. BERKELEY, CAL.. Aug. 30.—Four hundred years ago Ponce DeLeon grew old and died searching for the fountain of eternal youth. To-day comes a man from London acclaim ing that he has found it. His name is Harry Gaze, a young man—In ap pearance at least—who has forgotten his birthday and expects to live for ever. He has a considerable following in a summer school of perpetual life at the Firs?* Unitarian Church and as serts that he has a theory based on scientific knowledge and sound com mon sense. Gaze never says die. “Age is a curable disease,” he said, at his apartments at Bancroft way and College avenue. "I have forgot ten how old I am and I never expect to die. I believe 1,000 years of life will only whet my appetite for liv ing.” The cool enunciation of such a doc trine takes faith, and it is Just such faith that is essential to perpetual life, according to Gaze. His phil osophy in a nutshell is this: To Build Better Bodies. "Every eleven months, according to science, we build an entirely new body. The secret of perpetual youth is the building of a better body each succeeding year. We don't grow old; we become old by not growing. There is no limit to a man’s age except the one he fixes himself. Banish the idea of maturity. Make war on the ‘prime of life^’ Co-operate with nature, don’t defeat her. Cheer up; the best is yet to come.” Gaze himself is the picture of youth, muscular, alert and vital. There seems to be nothing of the poser or freak about him. "People call me an Englishman, but really I am a native son. I have been here a year and my body has been entirely rebuilt out of your California fruit, nuts* olives and sunshine,” he said. While Gaze believes he has found the fount of youth in the human mind, he regards the physical as an im portant factor. Water and Sun Baths. "Take brisk walks every morning. Take water and sun baths. Eat spar ingly and only when hungry. Eat meat If you can not enjoy other foods, but nuts and fruits are the best diet. Eat as much uncooked food as pos sible, for heat breaks up the vital composition of food. Fruit contains elements that do not odsify the body. "Eat at least one apple every day in the year. Chew thoroughly. The ripe olive is an excellent rejuvenating food, but the green olive has no food value. Olive oil is a solvent for lime deposits and should be used internal ly and externally. Do not drink water with your meals, but drink about one-hatf gallon of distilled wa ter a day. Do not drink coffee, tea or alcoholic beverages. "The mental attitude toward eating is more important, however, than the food. A feast of pork and pickles eaten in harmony is better than ap ples and figs in strife.” Hen Gives First Aid To Choking Rooster Seizes Straw Projecting From Chan ticleer's Bill and Pulls It Out. Fortunes in Coal Oil Sought in Calgary Experts Believe Western Canada Will Become One of Greatest Fields in World. CALGARY. ALBERTA, Aug. 30.—If the expectations of experts who have been conducting drilling operations to the southwest of this city for nine months are realized, Calgary will be come the center of the world’s new est and one of its greatest oil fields. Although the members of the two syndicates which are drilling will say hut little about their operations, there have been rumors of late that oil has been struck in small quantities. "We are finding that the geological formation is much broken.” said A. W. Dingham, of the Calgary Pe troleum Products Company, “and as a consequence the oil field, if there is any, i« broken and distributed. This may mean that the oil, If struck, will not be in paying quantities.” Belleville, III., Farmer Sends to Germany for Woman and Seven Children. Pays $40 Alimony to Another Man’s Wife Detroiter Grows Tired of Contribut ing Further to Support of Former Spouse. ANN ARBOR. MICH., Aug. 30.— Henry' Hubbard, a meat dealer of De troit. has filed a petition in the Circuit Court here, praying that the divorce suit, tried here in 1911, by which nis wife was granted her freedom and alimony of $40 per month, be re opened. He declares that his wife has since married a man who was posing as a hoarder in her home, and that the fact has been kept secret in order that she might collect her alimony. He asks to be relieved from paying further alimony, and petitions for tho custody of two children of his for mer marriage. He Is also remarried. Women Start War On Horse Nose Bags Hard-Working Equlnes Lose Oats When Campaign Is Started In San Francisco. BRLLEVILLE, FLU Aug. 30.—The brothers Grass. Alois and Otto, back were Inseparable, twenty years ago, were lnsparable. "What one has the other shall have; share and share alike,” w r as the principle they ob served. But little towns in Germany do not present many opportunities for strong young men, and it was decided that Alois, the older, could better contrib ute to the support of the Grass par ents by seeking his fortune in the New World. When Alois Grass left, he and his brother agreed that affection and the old compact should exist unchanged. Should either one be beset by bad luck or illness, all the other had waa to be his as he needed. In particu lar, after they had married and got families, should one die, the other was to give assistance and keep wid ow and children from want. Alois reached the wonderful New World and after several years of knocking about settled near Belleville. He married and managed to buy a little farm. Six children were born. Brother Otto also married and sev en little ones added glory to the name of Grass. Two months ago word came from Otto’s widow that he had died sud denly. Then, six weeks ago, Alois was made a widower. Shortly after ward a matronly German woman, accompanied by sev^n stalwart chil dren, arrived here. Alois Grass met them at the station. Mrs. Otto Grass became Mrs. Alois Grass, and now there are thirteen Grass cousins to heln till the Grass farm. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 30.—A taste of feminine militancy was given to the people of San Francisco when four women started a crusade against nosebags for horses. Invading the business district, they hunted out horses that were feeding from the customary canvas bags, and, Without ceremony or apology, and de spite protests from teamsters, hurled all the feedbags they could find Into the gutter. The crusaders w ere members of the Animals’ Friend Society, which is op posed to nosebags. 17 DAYS’ VIGIL WINS $14,000. WINNIPEG, MAN., Aug. 80.—Afte* standing at the door of a land office for seventeen days and nights, Har vey Davis, of Lincoln, Neb., yesterday filed on a homestead near Winifred which is valued at $14,000. LAST Woman on Rampage With ‘Perfume Jag’ Rancher’s Wife Drinks Cologne and Starts Fighting Stranger on Street Corner. VISALIA. Aug 30.—Mrs. Dave Rivers, wife of a rancher at Goshen, imbibed a quantity of cologne which which she blames for an exhibition of exuberance in Main street. She stood at the curb and dealt right swings and left hooks at male passersby until a rlet call was sent for the sheriff and two deputies. ST. LOUIS. Aug. 30.—Charles Stewart, of Marissa, the only dry town In St. Clair County, Illinois, owns a fiock of chickens presided over by two roosters. One of the collec tion, a rooster, partook of a breakfast food, consisting of a long wheat alraw. When one-half of the food was down that part of the chicken that sometimes is warmed over for sup*- per, the straw stuck. The rooster tried the usual chicken method of ex tracting the straw—that of putting one foot on the straw and pulling back his head. This did not work. His temper became ruffled and he began to run around the yard. One of the hens noticed his plight and coyly approached him, reached up, grabbed the unswallowed end of the straw and pulled it forth. The rooster crowed his praise and then turned around and whipped the other rooster. Send Your Roll To Me FOR Free Developing and 8 Hour Finishing Service Send roll for trial. Don’t send any money. Pay if 0. K. Write SHELLEY IVEY, Manager, The College “Co-Op,” 119 Peachtree St., Candler Bldg., Atlanta, Ga. Escapes From Cage and Chases Guests and Waiters From Din ing Room in Panic. ST. LOUIS, MO., Aug. 30 —An alliga tor that was on exhibition at the Plant ers Hotel at the convention of the Na tional Commissary Managers’ Associa tion escaped from its cage during the dinner hour and invaded the dining room, sending the New Yorkers scam pering to cover. One man jumped over two tables in his haste to escape. The alligator turned his attention to the negro waiters, who dropped their trays and tied. The house detective shot It. Robbed Four Times By Same Three Men TREES ALL FED TO CATTLE. PLEASANT HILL, MO., Aug. 30.— So dry are pastures around here that farmers are feeding their trees to their cows. In some instances farm ers who are short of feed have re sorted to cutting limbs from oak trees and tossing them to their stock. Victim of Persistent Footpads Loses Patience and Finally Com plains to Police. the second mate, I, as first and only flimsiest sort, and I own’s direct evi- CHICAGO, Aug. 30.—For the fourth time in a month Emil Magee, 8849 Esca- naba avenue, was robbed by the same three men in the same neighborhood, according to his own story to the South Chicago police. He was a short dis tance from his home w r hen the men accosted him and robbed him of $8.50. He told the police he was robbed by the same men three times before in the last month, but did not rej prt to the police because the amounts taken were small. “You’re Safe” so lon^ as you keep the Stomach, Liver and Bowels working regularly and when th.e first sign of weak ness appears be sure to take HOSTETTER’S STOMACH BITTERS promptly. It will help you keep the appetite normal, digestion per fect and liver and bowels active. Try it. ALL DENTAL WORK GUARANTEED AT DR. t C. GRIFFIN’S GATE CITY DENTAL ROOMS 24 1-2 Whitehall St. PhoiM M. 1708 Over Brown & Allen’s Hours: S-8| Sundays 9-1 Mads Santa Day OUR PRICES: Bridge Work.... $4 Gold Crown $4 Gold Filling .... $1 Amalgam Fillinj .. 50c Up Teeth Cleaned . $1 Up Our guarantee means something. It Is f a ked by our absolute responsi bility and by 23 years of successful j practice. CHANCE MONDAY ^TUESDAY Will Positively Be THE LAST TWO DAYS You Can Get Choice of : t ANY SUIT IN THE HOUSE FOR: =That Were: UP TO $50 Made to your individual measure with the game fine Fordon workmanship embod ied in every Fordon suit, whether sold at the regular price or at this remarkable Clearance Price Remember this extraordi nary offer positively expires Tuesday night, so Act Quickly! FORDON The Tailor, Inc. TWO STORES 8-10 North Pryor. 5 Auburn Ave.