The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-28
WEIR HOT AFTER
WHITE MIGRANTS
Fifty-one Arrested in First Raid
Yesterday
PARASITES MUST LEAVE
County and City Officials Join Hands
In Suppression of Lawlessness and
vice-sheriff Hledon
Offers Services.

Il have given the police instructions to
close down upon the vagrant," said Chief
Wier yesterday, land under the direction
OF Captain Hagood. they Will make nu-
merous surprise visits to the district in
which these idlers hang out. The crlmi-
nal vagrant who lives without even a.
stroke OF work upon the labor OF some
woman will have to pack his trunk and
move, for he will be given no mercy.
"A flood of these parasites has swooped
down upon the city recently. and given
us no little trouble. They are not only
Migrants but criminals. lying around,
fighting, robbing and killing each other.
1t is better to arrest them before the
felonies are committed
In line with this decision of Chief Wier,
Judge Feagin placed himself conclusive
ly, Il have cases to come before me daily
in which the defendants are arrested for
disorderly conduct. and the greater ma
jority of them are Migrants from this
very district, where whisky is sold and
men fight in the early hours OF the morn
ing When they are guilty of gross Inn
morality and vice they viii be given
fine that will be memorable lesson
Was Big Raid.
Fifty-one white men were arrested on
these orders yesterday morning. When
the officers swooped down on the sec
ton beyond Avenue A and Twenty second
street, although 1t was only a. m, i've
or six were taken from each house.
During the proceedings many more es-
capped All were white men. Some of
ba,, do h11f twputN-
five failing to do so were hauled to the
city Jail
The policemen who effected the raid
were Captain Hagood, Officers Gvens,
Smith Bragan, Ray Ellege and Parker
They had been detailed TO the duty. and
will continue to make raids when least ex-
pected. When their prisoners appeared
before Judge Feagn yesterday afternoon
fifteen pleaded guilty, and were fined; the
other cases will be called this morning
The faces of the defendants wore
frightened expression: many OF them
were ready to jump town Immediately.
They have been given to understand that
law and order must rule and that the
present administration will push them to
the last ditch. Outgoing tickets will be
the class of passengers will be good
radiance for the city.
Sheriff viii Help.
In this connection Chief Wfer received
communication yesterday from Sheriff
IIigdon, in which he noted with pleasure
that he will receive the hearty support
of county officials, and that city and
county will go hand In hand in the sup
preston of lawlessness and disorder.
Upon the stationery used in his recent
heated campaign the popular sheriff ten
dered his congratulations to the chief on
his late reelection to office
"Chief of Police Wier
Dear Sir-Please accept my congratu-
la tons on your election chief of police
for the next two years. | want to offer
you my services, together with my depn-
ties and also the use of my pack Of
blood hounds at anytime you think nee
essary to catch criminals Of any conse-
quence.
please instruct the policemen that for
any crime that is felony, We will be
glad to send them to be used. day or
night to aid them i'm catching any crimi-
nal, but will ask you to kindly instruct
them to notify me at once, when the
crime is discovered and keep the people
away from the track until we can get on
the spot with the hounds.
also please instruct that we cannot
call out hounds for smaller offenses SUCH
as chicken thieves and all similar calls,
although | want to assure you that | am
anxious to work with you in every way
possible to assist I'm maintaining the law
and order in our great city. Very re-
spectfuly, E. l.. IIIGDON, Sheriff