The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-22
Orders Arrest of Joe Vim Who Was Posing As Deputy
 Sheriff
CHIEF BENOUMCES PLAN OF
 GIVING NEGRO AUTHORITY
Sheriff Hiedon Says spotters Are Sim ply Employed to Accompany Depu- ties and to Assist Them
 In Their Work.

Joe Winn, a negro spotter sometimes employed by the sherif's office, is again in trouble. He was arrested last night in the vicinity of Twenty y-sixth street and Eighth avenue by Police Officers Propst and Dougherty on a charge of carrying concealed weapons. When the negro was arrested he had in his possession, con- cealed, 1t is stated, fl calibre Colts re- volver and a pair of handcuffs.
 Last night shortly after o'clock it was reported to Chief Bodeker that there was an armed negro selling whisky in the vi- cinity previously mentioned and his ar- rest was requested. Chief Bodeker im- mediately sent two patrolmen out to at- tend to the complaint and they soon found Winn.
 The officers state that when they ar- rested Winn they found the revolver upon him, and that when they asked him what he was doing with it he replied that he was working for the sheriff." However, the patrol wagon was sent for and the negro was locked up in the city jail.
 Report was immediately made to Chief
 
 and a pair of handcuffs, taken from the person of the negro, were laid down be- fore him his remarks were not wholly of a complimentary nature Two deputy sheriffs soon applied for Wlnn's release on bail, presenting a bond signed by themsel' es. They stated that they had prope outside of the city, but Chief tba Ora nd ofa fad that he would release the negro on an absolutely "gilt edge" bond only, and in- structed the warden of the city jail not to release the negro unless the bond bore the signature and the approval of the chief of police himself.
 Chief Bodeker in commenting on the ne- gsos arrest said:
 Bodeker's Statement.
 q gave orders some time ago to the police department not to recognize any negro spotter posing as a deputy sheriff, and instructed my men to arrest such ne- groes if they found pistols upon them, for had reason to believe that they were walking around with revolvers in their pockets.
 T have been an officer in the city oi Birmingham for 19 years, and I have never yet given negro a pistol to stick into his pocket to go around and spot anything for me. I think it is a disgrace to any community for an officer to stoop to such methods as armng worthless ne- groes such as have been arrested by this department, who claimed they were work ing for the sheriff's office.
 "As long as I am chief of police I am going to arrest every negro whom I have reason to believe Is prowling around the streets with pistol upon him, whether he is an officer or not. I cannot approve of a negro walking about in a democrati7 community, such as Jefferson county is, bearing a fl caibre Colts pistol stuck in his hip pocket and a pair of handcuffs swinging to his belt, representing himself as deputy sheriff.
 "Winn's arrest was brought about through a report which I received to- night. A citizen called me by telephone and told me that there was big buck negro, carrying a revolver, selling whisky in the vicinity of Twenty-sxtt street and Eighth avenue. I instructed Officers Propst and Dougherty to go out and get him, which they did, and I find that he was armed as 1t was reported.
 T am informed that this is not the this charge
 T will gladly recognize any white of ficer of the law, but will state positively that I do not intend to recognize any ne- gro officers. If any member of the police department were to place in the hands of a negro a pair of handcuffs and pistol such as were found on Vim tonight, and send him out to do police work. I should certainly ask for his resignation at once.''
 Sheriff Higdon Discusses Matter.
 Sheriff Hfgdon was asked for state ment relative to the affair, and com menting on the matter he said.
 'Neither Vim nor any of the oth CT spotters are officers of the law and under no circumstances are they al- lowed to make an arrest. They are spotters only and are only employed under the deputy sheriffs to ferret out blind tigers, craps games and the like. Very frequently occasions arise where a negro can get in among violators of the law where such would be practical ly impossible for a white man., and it is for this reason that the negro spot ters are employed.
 T cannot say whether or not Vim was working for any of my men to- night. He often goes out with the deputies to assist them when I know nothing of it. Therefore he may have been working or he may not have been.
 "As far as arming the negroes goes, I will state that have repeatedly told the spotters that under no circum- stances will they be permitted to carry pistols except when they are out with my deputies. I have told my deputies that when they send the spotters into dark places where they may be att tackled 1t Is permissible to let them have a revolver until they return to the officers or until the officers go to them.
 "The negroes are not deputized for never have issued to any one of them a commission or a badge, because such is illegal under the laws of the state of Alabama. The sheriff's office Is just at present working hard trying to catch the blind tigers which have become so prevalent. I am sorry that I do not know more of the circumstances of Winn's arrest He may have been as- sisting some of my men in their eff forts to catch some one, or he might have gone out of his own accord. If