The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-13

Acting upon the written instructions of
the Mayor, Chief of Police William L.
Wier yesterday had two of his men close
up temporarily at least, three saloons
doing business in Birmingham, upon the
grounds that the proprietors of these
places have violated the Sunday liquor
selling laws of the city of Birmingham.
The following proprietors of saloons,
with their locations. were named in the
communication of the Mayor to the head
of the police department, which was
somewhat in the form of a proclamation:
Pat O'Hear, First avenue between Eigh-
tenth and Nineteenth streets.
I. II. Harris Second avenue and Twen-
second street
Joe Marsleano, Second alley and Eigh-
tenth street
Police Secure Keys.
Immediately after receiving the COM
munication from the Mayor, the chief of
police ordered Patrolmen Nix and Parker
TO carry out the instructions. These Of
fcers have been working in plain clothes
for several weeks. They did not have
any trouble in closing the three places,
and after locking the doors they went to
police headquarters and turned the keys
over to their chief.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. O'Hear and
several others called upon the Mayor and
urged him to rescind his orders. but the
chief executive was firm with them and
refused absolutely every request made
upon him by the saloon keepers. 1t is
believed that nothing will be done in the
matter further until the next regular
semi-monthly meeting of the City Council
which will be held on the night of
March p.
The following is the letter of the Mayor
closing up the saloons:
w. e. Wier, Chief of Police, City.
Sir-By virtue of authority vested in me
by our charter you are hereby instructed
to close Immediately the saloons named
below:
Pat O'Hear, First avenue, between Eigh-
tenth and Nineteenth streets; T. II. Har-
ris, Second avenue and Twenty-second
street; Joe Marsicano, Second alley and
Eighteenth street. on account of viola
ting the Sunday laws of the city of Bir-
mingham,
You are further instructed to keep pos
session of said saloons pending action of
the City Council ON March 21st inst. Re-
spectfully, G. b. WARD, Mayor
The three saloons are closed on the
same grounds that the rabbit Foot"
saloon was closed last summer Other
saloons have been closed by the munich
pal authorities since then, and a number
of warnings to saloon keepers have been
given and obeyed. The City Council has
the absolute right, ii Is commended, to
regulate the operation of saloons within
the limits of Birmingham.
Letter From Chief Wier.
Previous to receiving the order from the
Mayor the chief of police addressed the
following communication to the chief ex-
ecutive:
G. b. Ward, City.
Dear Sir-Officers on the beats where
the following named saloons are located
report that traffic In liquor was conducted
In and around each one on Sunday, March
ii, viz:
Pat OHear, First avenue between Eigh-
tenth and Nineteenth streets; T. II. Har-
rs, corner Second avenue and Twenty
second street; Joe Marsicano, Eighteenth
street and Second alley. This report is
made in accordance with request of coun.
ell that we inform them of such violations
of the law and to assist in breaking same
up. Respectfully,
w. r. WEIR, Chief.
The closing up order of the Mayor Is
the direct results of certain arrests made
by the police Sunday. Mr.. O'Hear was
arrested by Patrolman Benson, the bar
tender In the Harris saloon Charles Body,
c.