The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-14
Warrants Sworn Out.

sworn out by John A. Lynch of the Law and Order league. They read that it was suspected that there was reason to believe that intoxicants were being sold in the places named and ordered the sheriff to arrest every person caught in the place. In case of conviction the fine must be not less than s200 nor more than $1000.
 While the raids had been planned for some time no one besides a few of the officials of the league and the sheriff aud one or two of his men knew about it. The deputies were called to the office shortly before the time set for the raids but aid not know what they were wanted for un- til they reached there.
 Nine minutes of ten was the time set for each squad to advance on the va rious entrances of the two places and they all started on time. Sheriff Higdon led the raid on the rooms next to the Morris hotel and routed a full-1edged gambling game while doing so.
 Doors Broken Down.
 Seven doors were broken down by the deputies in this particular raid. One en- trance going up from Morris avenue was graced by three doors, while the Morris hotel entrance had four doors. The hotel entrance was on the third floor. an open ing having been cut in the wall between the hotel and Allen buildings. A large iron gate is at this opening, but was not shut.
 First there was a heavy door with an exceedingly thick piece of plate glass with heavy wire screen behind it. The glass and screen in it were broken with a hatchet, and a heavy piece of wood which was used as a bar, removed, aftel which the door was knocked open. Tn, next door was a heavy panel door ant was battered down by the wooden bar ] which was used as a battering ram. Th' i next door had a glass in it, while th' ] last one was thick panel door, both O which were battered down.
 i This squad was led by Sheriff Higdon ] who had with him Deputies Sid Cowan Lee Higdon, Jr., E. H. Wilson and Alel | Wilson.
 Chief Deputy Sheriff Lucien Brown witt Deputies Newt Curl and Chew made th' l entrance from Morris avenue, smashing l three doors. Deputy Louis Blair was sen up to the roof of the adjoining building to prevent anybody from getting out tha | way and climbing down a ladder to thu next roof, while Deputies George Courson 1 McCarty and Kennemar guarded the sec ond floor of the hotel which could b
 reached from the third floor by means o a trap door in one of the club rooms.
 Gambling ParaphernaIia.
 roulette wheel, two field covers one field table, poker chips and othe 1 gambling paraphernalia were found Il the place. One man is said to hav' 1 nearly broken the bank when the rai' was made. Cards poker chips ant 1 pool chips were scattered all over tn
 place. The rooms raided are said | have been leased from the hotel b. some shoe company.
 The raid on the Hermitage club wa led by Deputy Sheriff Dean with Depu
 ties Calhoun, McCombs, Childress an | Lynch. A squad started from the bacl door and front door at the same tim but no resistance was offered, the door | being opened and everyone quietly sub hitting to arrest.
 Beer and Whisky. A large quantity of beer and wh isk. 1 with ingredients for mixed drinks wa l found in both places. Charges of vio 1 lating the prohibition laws were dock | eted against all while some also ha, gambling charges against them. Botl groups of the men arrested were line' | up and marche to the county jail | their progress through the streets at tracing a great deal of attention, ant l for the next four hours the jail Wal | the busiest place In Blrmlngnam 1 Friends of the men behind the barr l were rushing around getting bonds I signed and by l o'clock this morning | the last man was released.
 l Sheriff Higdon stated that he would l serve any warrant sworn out ant | hoped in the future to have as mucf | success as with these two.
 Shortly after the raid several depu ties returned to the hotel club room | and found employees who were not il 1 the rooms at the time of the raid witt the safe open showing other gambling material. No arrests were made