The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-22
ALDERMAN GOT $4OO IN A DEAL Committee Reports on
 Simon Klotz. MORE BIRMINGHAM AFFAIRS Call Made on a City Father to Get
 Out. Probe VIII Be Used on Land Trade In Which Alderman Forney Is Said To Have Been
 Interested.

Birmingham, Nov. 21-(Special. )- Arguments by attorneys representing the defense and the prosecution in the charges brought against Alderman Si- mon Klotz. of the Second Ward. before the City Council, were listened to to- day by the investigation committee, which Is headed by Alderman B. H. Cooper.
 It was admitted during the investiga- tion that A. l.. Fulenwider, former pres ident of the Birmingham Realty Com pany, sent Alderman Klotz a check for $400 after the deal had been closed by the city for the property on Avenue D to be used for crematory purposes.
 It was stated by Mir. Klotz that he had made no arrangements for any commission before the deal was con sunnmated and was surprised when the check came to hand, and made inquiry as to why 1t was sent.
 MT. Fulenwider stated that he had sent the check after the deal was closed because 1t was the custom of the com pany to give real estate agents a two and one-haif per cent commission and as Mr. Klotz was in the real estate bus mess the commission was sent him..
 The committee appointed to make in- vestigation into the land deal whereby the city was to purchase property in
 
 ing grounds purposes, 1t being charged that Alderman Forney had an option on the property and was to have something like s4,000 had the city paid the s20.- 900 for the property. will have a. sitting a little later.
 Considerable comment was made throughout the city today in regard to the testimony brought out in the Klotz investigation.
 nno @e th-- A4.rnoor ,.a,nrw s,,1.ast. that the Alderman be dropped from the Council and calls on the grand jury, which is now in session, to investigate alleged violations of provisions of the code by the Aldermen.
 Late this afternoon the Council in- vestigation committee completed It's labors and turned over~Uo the City Clerk the following report to the Coun- ell to be read at the next meeting:
 ''We, the committee appointed to in- vestigaIe the charge against Alderman Klotz. to the effect that he had a concealed financial interest In the sale of the cremstory lot by the Birming- ham Realty Company to the city of Birmingham in June, 1908, beg leave to report as follows:
 we have made full, fair and im- partial investigation of said charge and md from the evidence submitted to us:
 'First-That Aldermen rKlotz after the consummation of the sale of the orematory lot by the Birmingham Realty Company to the city. did re- eeive and accept commission of s400' from the Birmingham Realty Company. .''Second--That, Alderman Klotz did not have any understanding or agree ment with the Birmingham Realty Company or It's President at the time of or before aforesaid sale was con- summGted that he was to receive a for the sale of said lot. ''Third-That in receiving and ac- cepting the commission from the Bir- mingham Realty Company after the sale of the crematory lot was consum- mated, Alderman Klotz was guilty of conduct unbecoming an Alderman and public official.
 "Fourth-The committee furthe or re- ports that in it's opinion such trans actions should be disapproved by the City Council.
 Respectfully submitted,
 "B. H. Cooper, Chairman.
 R. R. Copeland,
 J. R. Copeland,
 H. L. Martin,
 W. Barnes Morgan.