The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-09
POLICE OFFICERS
ARE REELECTED
Police Commission Held Meet
ing Yesterday
NEW MEMBERS SWORN IN
Everybody From Chief of Police Down
Is Re-eleeted-chlef Wler Makes
His Annual Report-Meet-
ing Was Harmonious.
NEW MEMBERS SWORN IN

yesterday afternoon at o'clock and re-
elected all the old police officials and pa
trolmen.
The newly elected members were pres
ent and were sworn in. The members of
the old board present We're as follows:
Parker, Jones, Donahue, McCary, Phil
lips and Flies
The meeting of the board was called to
order by Chairman 7. f. Parker and the
minutes of the last meeting read by Sec
rotary Eugene Flies.
Two cases coming up for trial were con-
tinued to the next meeting Of the board.
Chief of Police W. E. Wier submitted
his report for the past year, which was
accepted and ordered filed. Embodied in
the report was a request for an increase
of force and three shifts of men. This
was refused by the board.
j. II. McCary, on retiring from the board
made a short speech thanking the men,
beers for their countesies and referring
to the harmony that had prevailed among
the members.
Chairman Parker replied in a happy
speech, thanking him for the faithful
work he had performed during his term
as commissioner.
The newly elected members of the COM
mission-Sid p. JONES' Ed Warren, Jr.,
and Lucian Brown-were present and af-
ter taking the oath of office were seated
as members of the board.
Parker Reelected Chairman.
7. f. Parker was unanimously re-elect-
ed chairman of the board and Sid p
Jones was elected secretary to succeed
Eugene Flies, who had expressed desire
to retire.
Mr.. Parker thanked the commissioners
for the honor they had bestowed upon
him in calling him to the chair for the
third term and pledged the continuance
of his best efforts in the service of the
people,
The election of police officials and pa
trolmen was next in order. w. L. Wier
was placed in nomination by Commission
er Brown and was seconded by Secretary
Flies. There being no other nomination
Wier was declared elected by the full
vote of the board The following subor-
dinate officials were then elected without
opposition:
Captain, ]. S. johnson, first lieutenant,
T. q, Hagood; second lieutenant, Martin
Eagan; desk sergeant, r. j. Shirley; assis-
tant desk sergeant, A. II. Mullen.
All of the old patrolmen were re-elect-
ed without opposition.
Letter From the Mayor.
A letter from Mayor Ward asking that
no supernumerary policemen be elected
at this time was read. The Mayors rea-
son for making the request was. as he ex-
planned, to cut the expenses of the depart
ment as much as possible. 1t was explain
ed by the chairman ON information given
by Chief Wier that the supernumeraries
caused no additional expense to the city
since they were never on duty except to
relefe the regular patrolmen when off
duty. But the board expressed a desire
to enter heartily into cooperation with
the Mayor and for present needs elected
the regular six supernumeraries only for
this month In the meantime a commit
tee will call upon the Mayor to explain
the situation and discuss with him the
needs of the department.
u. a. locnillt uuilidbt blllttIt WAS given
renewed police power to make arrests
without pay.
Commissioner Donahue offered a reso-
luton regulating the service of the cap.
tain and leutenants which was adopted
This resolution provides that these of
ficials shall arrange their shifts so as to
alternate once a month, relieving each
from night duty alternately,
Chief Wier's Report.
Following is the text of Chief Wiers
annual report:
Birmingham, Ala, May l, 1905.
The Honorable Board of Police Commis-
soners, Birmingham, Ala:
Gentlemen herewith submit for your
consideration and approval my second an
nual report as chief of police of the city
of Birmingham, for the year ending May
/, 1905, together with tabulated state
ment showing the work done by the po-
lice department.
The order in our city for the past year
has been exceptionally good. There has
been no riots or public disturbances of
any kind during the year The wholesome
influence Of the Boys club Is being real
lied by this department, as out of men,
bersbip of 100 boys only 3 have been ar
rested in year, and only l in the last
six months. We are glad to note that
crime among the young negro bos Is be-
ing much reduced also.
There has been quite a number of cases
of highway robbery burglary and theft
In the city of late, but ! take pleasure
in stating that the department has sue
ceeded in breaking up several bad gangs
of organized criminals committing these
offenses and recovering a great deal Of
stolen property.
When you note that 46j arrests for fell
onies and 123 fugitives from justice. who
were wanted for crimes committed in
other places, you will see that the DEPART
ment has been very diligent III capturing
these graver criminals who are continual
ly fiocking to this cosmopolitan city, the
great commercial and industrial center of
the south
You will also note that the total num-
Der of arrests for the year was 9l44 as
against II .0i5 for the previous year. show
ing a decrease of 1901, or about II per
cent.
The police force Is continually discour-
aging arrests for frivolous and malicious
cases preferred by irresponsible persons.
There are yet too many cases of this
kind brought into the police court. 1t is
my instructions to eliminate such or
to have parties taxed with costs who in
sist on such arrests.
There have been a great many cases of
highway robbery reported to this depart
ment which occurred outside of the po-
lice jurisdiction of Birmingham. These
highway robberies were committed In our
suburbs, viz. West End. East Thomas
Owenton. Woodlawn, and other places
he al xr 81 avt1 fv.er