The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-06
LAW BREAKERS ARE
DIGGING THE GRAVE
Sunday Violations Mean Strict
Laws in Future
CONVICTION DIFFICULT NOW
Policeman Must Sec Liquor Sold and
Money Passed In Order to Make
Successful Prosecution
of Offenders.

-Four saloons have been closed for SELL
ing liquor ON Sunday during the last
month. Four convictions have been Sc
cured in the police court. In the opinion
of many around the city hall. the reell-
less barkeepers are bringing upon all of
the saloon proprietors rigid laws that
may be of Inconvenience to those who are
law abiding.
Should the same ratio of Sunday VIOLA
tors be captured during the next month,
it is probable that in the April council
meetings an ordinance will be passed en-
tirely prohibiting any person. whether
owner, porter or outsider from entering
a saloon ON Sunday.
This is already law in Atlanta and
many other cities, and is being consid-
cred by a number of the Birmingham
aldermen. Where half dozen Sunday
vlolators run open every Sunday it re-
quires skillful detective work to secure
evidence that will convict under the pres
ent city code.
Must Witness Transaction.
To see a person enter the saloon, and
come out with a flask is not sufficient.
The transaction must be witnessed When
guards are placed to give the alarm it
is almost impossible to get on the in
side and see the whisky exchanged for
money. Although the policemen see the
business is being conducted, many viola
tors escape them on this techniealty.
Should the ordinance mentioned be
away with. The mere presence of per-
son on the interior would be sufficient
to convict. Instead of slipping around
slyly and hiding, the law could be en-
forced in the open.
Under present conditions the proprietor
amt porter are allowed to go 10 their
places of business ON the pretense OF
cleaning up and attending to matters that
cannot wait. Those who favor the ordi-
nance argue that a provision for urgent
matters could be made by allowing him
to enter on Sunday accompanied by a
policeman. OF course in case of fire. the
ordinance would not hold good.
Bringing 1t on Themselves.
In conversation yesterday afternoon,
-AlutTllfdu iODtldi.i sidltu lildt II SttulS
as if the saloon keepers are bringing
such a law upon themselves by their con-
tinual Sunday violations. "If there is not
a moral upheaval among them it will not
be long before they will be excluded en-
tirely from their saloons on Sunday
he said
"The saloons are giving us a great deal
of trouble, and 1t is time they be curbed.
l am In favor of a redistricting, and of
keeping everybody out from II o'clock
Saturday night. until o'clock Monday
morning. However do not believe the
redistricting resolution of Alderman
Moore will be passed for some time"
As an example of the need of the legis-
laton just mentioned, is pointed out the
trouble to which Policemen Street and
Smith had to go in capturing the two
violators who were closed up Monday
Notwithstanding this c. S. Hurt and
Ed Hatcher were convicted before Judge
Feagil yesterday morning on three
counts: First, selling liquor on Sunday;
keeping open doors, and third, selling
liquor without a license.
Attorney Allen for the defense argued
that lis clients were not guilty in the
slightest. but the policemen's words We're
believed by the Judge. Both Mr.. Hurt and
the negro barleeper were fined s25.