The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-31
INQUEST HELD AT
 NORTH BIRMINGHAM
JURY INVESTIGATING DEATH OF w. D. JOHNSON WITHHOLD VER- DICT UNTIL CORONER PARIS GAN BE CONFERRED WITH.

The inquest to inquire Into the death of w. D. Johnson, was held at the town hall in North Birmingham yesterday afternoon. but the jury has withheld its verdict until Coroner Paris can be seen-
 The coroner was not at the inquest, be- ing detained on account of illness, and Acting Mayor Green presided. Several witnesses were examined including Mrs Johnson the dead mans widow, and James T. Gaudin, the undertaken who embalmed the body. According to the statement of Mayor T. H. FTiel of North Birmingham it is the general opinion there that Johnson was murdered, and that will probably be the verdict of the jury As soon as the jury has confer ence with the coroner which will prob ably be tomorrow the verdict will be made known The testimony of Mrs. John son was regarded as important. She said her husband appeared in the best of spirits on the night he left his home. and that she would never believe he killed him self. She also said that they had always lived happy and could see no possible reason why he would commit suicide
 It had been expected that evidence of A sensational nature would be offered, but this was not the case. The details of MT. Johnsons death are still fresh in the minds of the public, and much in terest was taken in the inquest yester- day It will be remembered he WAS found dead in a field near his home in North Birmingham about three weeks ago with a bullet hole in his body, and his own pistol was on the ground beside him. He was the principal witness in the D. A. west murder inquest and on the strength of his testimony two men, Harry Scrog- gins and Frank P. Harmon, are now in the county jail, charged with the mur- der.
 >~~~~~~~~-~~~~ ought to be rooted out An incorporate man ought not to be permitted to be on the force.
 'The rule of reporting when going off duty is only nominally complied with It should be vigorously applied to every member of the force
 Military Body.
 "The force is a military body and as such, it needs military discipline. The men should be sent on duty and off duty with some semblance of system and order.
 More Officers Needed.
 ''The force needs more subordinate of ficers It should have at least two more sergeants. and they should bring the men into shape.
 ''Things are in bad way now and are steadily becoming worse.
 When on duty. policeman is forbid den to talk with persons except on busi- ness This rule is fagrantly violated every hour of the day by almost every member of the force.
 Another rule requires that policemen when on duty dress with uniformity. This regulation is frequently disregarded. Untidiness in dress has come to be com mon to members of the force.
 To Take Matters Up.
 sI propose to take these matters up before the commission and urge the neces- sity for reform along these and many other lines.
 Orders Don't Go.
 Things have actually come to such a pass that orders issued by the commission are either held up or side-tracked or op- enly disregarded by the force. 'If the thing can be done, we ought to get rid of the shiftless spirit that now animates the police force and substitute therefor military discipline that will re- ouire the whole force to do it's duty in a business-like way.
 What I have said" added Commis- sioner Brown, "does not apply to Chief Wier He is a good man, and he is try ing to do his duty He Is doing the best he can with the material he has at com mand and the conditions under which he is working. He has my hearty support. The cause of the disorganized and demor alzed police lies not with Chief Wier. but xxrif ofb