The age-herald., 1900-05-01
COMMISSIONERS
 DEFER HEARING Complaint Against Chief Austin and Officer Cunningham. TO BE TAKEN UP ON MAY l7 Special Meeting of Police Board Held 
Special Meeting of Police Board Held Last Night to Investigate Charges Regular Meeting Tonight
 Election of Patrolmen

A special meeting of the board of police commissioners was held last night to hear the complaint of T. G. Hewlett against Chief Austin and Officer Cunningham, whom he charges with interfering with his business, and after wranging over the matter for almost an hour, the hearing was postponed until a special meeting to be held on May F.
 The meeting was called to order by Chair man Chiles, with the following members present.: Commissioners Parker Stradford, Mobley and Bridges.
 The complainant was also present with his attorney, Hugh Morrow. Quite a num- Der of spectators were in attendance. The complaint. which is directed against the chief especially, was as follows;
 ITO the Chairman of Board of Police Com
 missioners of the City of Birmingham,
 and to the Board of Police Commission
 CTS of Said City
 "Gentlemen: Complaint is hereby made by the undersigned, T. G. Hewlett, against Police Officer Joseph H. Cunningham and Chief of Police C. w. Austin, officers of the city of Birmingham, for that the un- dersigned states that he is engaged in the retail business of selling spirituous, vnous and malt liquors, and also in the stock, grain and brokerage business on the north east corner of Second avenue and Nine teenth street, under and by virtue of li- censes issued to him by said city confer ring upon him the right to so engage in said business; and notwithstanding said facts, said Joseph H. Cunningham, in obe- dience to the orders of said C. W. Austin, has stationed himseelf during his hours of duty as such officer from Saturday, the Fist of April. until the 27th day of April 1900, near the stairway which leads up to
  near to the side door which opens into pe- titioner's saloon. and has written down during said time the names of those per sons entering into said door and up said stairway, together with the time of the en- trance and the time of the exit.
 And your petitioner complains and charges that such conduct on the part of said Cunningham in doing said act and the conduct of part of said Austin in order ing said act to be done have seriously and irreparably injured your petitioners trade, and has driven away from his places of business various persons, who were ready and anxious to patronize the same in lawful way for lawful purposes. And your petitioner. says that such conduct is illegal, unjust and is in violation of the fundamen- tai laws of the state of Alabama.
 "Wherefore, in consideration of the pre- mises, the undersigned respectfully peti- tons your honorable body to call a meet
  CTS to investigate the complaint of your petitioner, and on final hearing to prohibit the said Cunningham and Austin from fur ther unla wful interference with petition CTS business as aforesaid,
 "T. G. HEWLETT"
 When the matter was taken up Chief Austin announced that he was not ready for trial, the complaint being in the nature of a charge against him. There was con- siderable discussion in which the delay and further injury to complainant was put for ward as a reason against a postponement, and when Chief Austin agreed to proceed with the hearing. the other side asked for a continuance.
 After considerable discussion the entire matter went over until a special meeting of the board, to be held on May IT,
 The regular meeting of the board will take place tonight, when patrolmen will be elected for the year, and there is much anxiety among the members of the force, although few changes are expected to be made.