The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-26
Two Homes Entered FOrcibly
 to Look for Liquor
DONE UNDER FULLER LAW
Affair Occurred Over Two Weeks Ago But Came to Light Yesterday. Bodeker Makes Statement
 About the Search.

1t happened nearly three weeks ago The search in question was made upon a mans house while he was away from home and only his wife and children there. while part of a neighbours house was also looked through by the officers without the knowledge of the sleeping family within. The officers allege that number of complaints were made to the effect that the two residences were being used as blind tigers. The officers failed to find anything in the houses which could be confiscated.
 The residence mentioned is that of Jo- seph SchumcS of 2307 Avenue I, and the other that of his next door neighbor, I. Grafton of 2309 Avenue l. Schumck is of German nationality and is carpenter. Grafton is employed at local railroad shop but drove a wagon for the Schil- finger Brewing Co. for long number of years up to the time prohibition went into effect He came to Birmingham from Cullman county. where his father was clerk of the circuit court for years
 Officers making the search were Plain olothesmen Turner, Hickman and Fay Tor. To an Age-Herald reporter last night they stated:
 Complaints had been made to police headquarters of both residences. We were told to look out for them and on the night of the search-we had been on the lookout for several days-we stopped woman who had just come out of the place with bottle of whisky. We took it. went to the house, were admitted by thnrp11ph1V No whisky was found by us but there were a few bottles of beer in the re- frigerator. However, we found about two wagon-loads of empty beer bottles, which gave a strong appearance of the law having been violated. We had evidence enough in the bottle of whisky, but did not make any arrest as Mrs. Schumck was alone at home with her children. We did not force our way into the house."
 Chief Bodeker when questioned about the matter stated last night to re- porter:
 This matter was unknown to me un- til today. and l haven't had the oppor- tunity to investigate it. We have re- i ceived about dozen complaints, however, about these two places and I instructed the officers to look out for them. l have also instructed all members of the police department to be extremely care- ful a bout residences and not to search any of them unless they had positive proof that the law was being violated.
 'So long as man does not violate the law he may rest assured that no at- tempt will be made to bother him. When he turns his home into a blind tiger, however, lie loses the protection which the law gives him. I will back up my of- fcers so long they 6o their duty. 1t is possible that they may err, though. AS for the(aw it is not for me to say whether it Is right or not. l am a public servant, sworn to enforce the laws as they appear upon the statutes, and I will do my duty to the best of my ability"
 Mrs. Schumck's account of the affair differs from that of the officers.
 Tt was shortly after 8 o'clock Thurs day night, two weeks ago." she said. MT. Schumck had gone to a meeting and I was at home with my young children. We were sitting on the front porch when we heard some one trying to get in the back way I told my little girl to look, but the noise had stopped and we dis covered nothing A few minutes after- wards three men came out of the alley on the other side of MT. Tomppart's house, next door, and came into the yard. One of the men walked on over to the door and started into the house. I asked. What do you want?' and they replied that they wanted to search the house.
 T asked them what for and one said, We've got a bottle of whisky which was just bought here.'- 1 said, That's a lie.' and he replied. We'll prove it. and was at the back end of the hall before I could get to the door. I asked Have you got search warrants? and one of the men pulled back his coat, showed his badge and said, We're officers and don't need one."
 T asked them to let me put my baby on the bed in my room. and did so Then they proceeded to go through everything in the house. They went to the wardrobe in my room and started to break it open I told them not to do that; that 1 would unlock it and anything else in the house they wanted to look at. They went through all of the trunks and actually
 
 floor. They went into the attic and looked through the lookout windows over the front porch, and also searched under the house and in the coal and chicken house.
 After looking through everything on my place they went next door to Mr. Graf tons place and climbed up a ladder to an attic, with outside opening, over his dining room and kitchen and searched ,t
 There were eight bottles of beer in my refrigerator and a few empty fasks. but not drop of whisky. Even the labels on the bottle they had did not compare with those on the empty flapks. We nearly al- ways have a little whisky in the house but didn't have any at this time and the few empty fasks which they found were all that had been in the house. l was afraid they were robbers and sent my lit. tie girl for one of our neighbors.'
 Mr. Schumck stated that he was treas urer of the Workingmen's Sick Benefit and Death Fund, and left home about 7:3o clock on the night of the search to ai- tend the meeting. He returned about 10 O clock, arriving there just after the off cers had left. Its q good thing wasn't here" he grimly said. This was all he said relative to the officers, but it was very evident from the grimness of his tone trouble would have, occurred had he been there