The age-herald., 1900-07-13
INTERFERENCE
 BY THE POLICE Said to Have Caused Closing of
 Stock Exchange. BUSINESS IS SUSPENDED
By the Queen City Stock and Grain Company G. Hewlett Discusses the Action of the
 Birmingham Police

The Queen City Stock and Grain Com pany of which Thomas G. Hewlett is the head, suspended business yesterday on ac- count of what is charged improper inter- ference by the police; and ffty-three per- sons are said to be thrown out of employ ment.
 An Age-Herald reporter interviewed MT. T. G. Hewlett. and among other things MT. Hewlett said
 'The Queen City Stock and Grain Com pany closed it's doors this morning for the purpose of suspending business. You may say to the public that all outstanding debts of the concern will be promptly paid. The Queen City Stock and Grain Company has been doing legitimate business in the city of Birmingham since the 9th day of De- cember, 1897, at all times being duly licensed by the State and County and the city of Birmingham. Many of Birming- hams leading merchants and business men, honored and respected in this community, were regular patrons of the stock change and many other business men, honored and respected in this community frequented themselves there for the pur- pose of noting the condition of the mar
 
 officer had been directed to station himself near the entrance to the stairway leading to the stock exchange for the purpose of making a written memorandum of the names of all who entered said place of business, together with the times of their entrance and exit Such conduct was such an unlawful invasion of property rights, and seemed to me to be so contrary to the letter and spirit of the form of government under which we live that the Queen City Stock and Grain Company asked and was granted an injunction in the chancery court restraining and enjoining the police officers from so interfering with its busi- ness.
 And in answering said Injunction those officers stated under oath on the 22d day of May, 1900, that the business engaged in by the Queen City Stock and Grain Company lis legalized and licensed, and so far as respondents are informed, the businesses are carried on in a lawful man. ner.' However, disregarding and dlsobey- ing the writ of injunction, which is still in force one of the respondents placed private detective in citizens clothes in the Stock Exchange room, who states that
 
 ness hours, and while there took down the names of the persons he found in the Stock Exchange, and was paid for that very purpose. There is not line of busi- ness known to the commercial world in any place that could continue in business if it's customers thought that by trading there their names would be recorded by an officer a detective, and in some fu- ture day they might be harassed by at tending court on that account. Since the officers were first stationed there these business men have refrained from patron- izing the Stock Exchange, and the receipts from the business since that time have been less than the expenses of carrying on the same. And as the Stock Exchange does not care, and cannot afford to run at a loss, it's doors were closed this morning. As the Stock Exchange has been greatly damaged by the unlawful interference of the officers of the city, it will look to the city for all losses growing out of such in- reference"
 Upon being asked by the reporter about the charge against MT. Charles Graham, MT. Hewlett stated that if there were violation of the law, the Stock Exchange was not responsible for the same, nor is it in any way liable therefor And that he did not think that MT. Graham had vio lated the law. That, inasmuch as the case was pending a decision in the courts, he hoped the public would suspend judg ment in the matter until the case was finally decided by that tribunal"