The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-10
NORVELL RESENTS INVASION IF HOME BY TWO DEPUTIES
  Denounces As False the Charge That There Was Gambling
 In His House
SCAvENGERiNG FOR FEES
 WAS CAUSE OF INTRUSION
Thinks Residence of pr. Staeg outra- geousy Used to Disturb Sanctity of Residence for Benefit of
 Fee System.
To the Editor of The Age-Herald.

1o lne Edltor Of The Age Herald.
 Your issue of Monday contains an article from Dr. Stagg with reference to Deputies Curl and Dean making use Of his home as a lookout, or place of observation in aiding them in making Fourth avenue, this city, on the even- ing of the 7th. and I ask space in your columns to express the natural indig- nation one must feel at having his home invaded without warrant or ex- cuse and with the evident purpose of stamping ones castle" as a joint where the law is disregarded by in- mates, and the further purpose of scavengering for such fees as might be useful to the fee getter." That the residence of pr. Stagg was outrage ously used to disturb the sancity of my home for the benefit of the fee system by Deputy Sheriffs Louis K. Dean and J. N. Curl is the unanimous
 
 people of Birmingham, and that the furor created was one to cause just indignation all will agree That Louis R. Dean and J. M Curl did enter my residence without permission from me or any one else is a fact, and one which I can prove and of which I am willing to swear by my sacred word of honor. Deputy Deans statement about gamb- ling having been reported at my resi- dence was no doubt made with as much sincerity and truth as his statement in yesterdays Age Herald that he did not remember saying anything about the jail to the members of Dr. Stagg's family when he asked for permission to go on their upstairs porch.
 I am man with a family and make an honest living in the life insurance business, and like all true men I want my children to grow up in the straight and narrow path, and that I would per init gambling in my residepce in any shape, form or fashion Is preposte erous Whether this statement about gambling having been reported at my residence
 
 any one else I wish to say it is the blackest and most infamous lie that has ever been my duty to denounce.
 The young men who were appre- hended at game of cards were In their own private room, playing mere- ly for pastime. They are all young men of industry, good positions and oh, a ra Cta ars hu bai in tances and by all who know them. None of them is a gambler or bettor in any sense of the term. They were easily inspected, though they had no intention of wounding the moral sen sibility of the deputy sheriffs by not taking the precautions of secrecy usually observed by those who violate the law. That these four young men were in their private room playing social game of seven up is a fact and is a pleasure which they enjoy almost every evening. Is this not more com mendable in them than it would be to spend their evenings around the many pool rooms or questionable places of amusement in Birmingham? If we lived in darkest Russia, such conduct on the part of paid spies would be a condition to which one would yield, but in Bir- mingham, never. I think 1t is time for public denunciation of the system which is so apparently in vogue here and which shows such utter disregard of the sacredness of the home and the constitutional rights of those who occupy 1t; system whose voracity stops short of nothing and is satisfied with nothing but fees. Respectfully,
 B. E. NORVELL.
 Birmingham, March g, 1908.