The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-09-14
NO FEES ARE GIVEN
TO THE POLICEMEN
Chief Wler Says They Receive
Nothing But Pay
EXPLAINS NUMBER ARRESTS
Many Gamblers, Veerants and Negro
Women Were Placed In jail.
Police Have Jurisdiction
over 100000 People.

Chief of Police Wier was asked his
opinion yesterday OF the editorial in The
Age Herald in regard to the number OF
arrests made last month, and the question
If there were any fees paid in the police
department for arrests.
In speaking of the number of arrests
Chief Wier said that ever since he had
been in the department. fifteen years
there had been some months in which
the number of arrests would jump much
over the average. He got the records
contained in the reports of the chiefs for
several years past and showed that this
was true. In some months the number of
arrests would run up as high as 200 over
the average for the year. In explaining
the number of arrests last month, which
was 1899, he said that there mad been
about 100 gamblers arrested and all con-
victed. There were also about fifty
Migrants arrested and fined
In Negro Neiehborhoods.
Besides this the policemen in the negro
neighborhoods were forced to make a
number of arrests of negro women this
past month on charges of vagrancy and
stealing. There were about LOG negro
women arrested in August on a charge of
vagrancy and larceny. They are the
toughest element in the city and were
getting so bold in their work that they
had to be stopped. This, the chief said,
would account for more than 300 Of the
arrests.
The records in the wardens office show
hof hou
disorderly conduct and drunkenness in
August than usual but that there were
an unusually large number Of arrests for
petty larceny. There were also great
many arrests for the police and sheriff5
in out of town places, probably more
than any other month in the history OF
the city These arrests go against Bir-
minghams record, whereas the crime was
committed elsewhere. AS is well known,
all the negro thieves of the adjoining
states.
Misdemeanor Gases.
Another thing which is making it seem
to be more arrests in Birmingham is that
under the new law all misdemeanors have
to be brought into Judge Feagin's court
and he has final jurisdiction. This in
cludes all arrests for misdemeanors with
in the police jurisdiction which is three
miles from the city limits In all directions.
In the records the population Of Brming-
ham is still figured at 10000, where as
the police really make their arrests from
a population of over 100000 which would
reduce the percentage of population ar
rested to about that of other cities.
Formerly deputy constables could carry
cases into justice of the peace courts,
but now misdemeanors have to be brought
before Judge Feagin, thus giving the
one court all the work which was for
merly divided among several courts.
No Fees.
In reference to the question about fees,
Chief Wier said that persons acquainted
with the police department know that
there are no fees, and that such a thing
is impossible In his report, he said, the
expression fines and fees collected is
used. The fees there referred to are those
collected by the court for constabes, who
are paid for serving warrants which are
issued by the justice of peace courts
These cases are always from justice of
the peace courts, and even if a policeman
were to serve one of the papers he would
not receive the fee. There are absolutely
no fees in connection with the police de-
partment Chief Wier states.
The chief also states that he has made
every effort to keep the number of ar
rests down, and has requested Judge Fea-
gin to notify him when policeman makes
frivolous charges against people, in order
that the cases may be investigated.
Floating Population.
The chief also states that Birmingham
is the center of the largest floating popu-
lation in the south, and this brings with
1T many criminals and petty thieves He
says that the system of arrestng all the
Migrants has practically broken up bur-
glaries in the business portion of the city,
and there is less burglary committed
than ever before in the history of the
city. Since the first of May there have
been put three business houses burglarized
in Birmingham, which is an unusual
record, and the chief believes is due to the
arrest of so many Migrants.