The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-27
HUDSON STATEMENT
ON RECENT SEARCH
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

~ tAiO Ioittt "a AAo ASS-11oEdlu-
If his honor, the Mayor of Birming-
ham, had contented himself for his own
private satisfaction with the long-range
investigation made by him relative to the
search of my store, and had refrained
from giving publicity thereto, neither
he nor the public would have heard from
me, as I would have passed the whole
matter by as indifferently as 1 do the
Idle wind which I regard not; but he
seems to take encouragement from my
indifference, and even to make capital
thereof, justifying the outrage because,
forsooth. have not lifted up my voice
to demand vindfcation when perfectly
conscious of innocence.
His honor's explanation demands re-
ply on my part. The statements of the
officers should have been characterized
by the most ingenious franhness. and
had the Mayor visited my place of bus
mess on Morris avenue he could have
seen very readily that the reports made
to him were not entirely colorless and
fair. His confidence in the officers Is ad-
mirable, but the occasion Is one of mo-
ment and this Is one instance In which
it would have dignifed his office had
he verified the reports made to him as
the facts are patent. 1t Is most true
as the officers reported to him that tnefe
is a painted window In front of my es-
tablishment, but he would have found
that the paint extends no higher than
the lower sash; that that sash is right
at my desk where my books OF account
are kept, and where my money Is count
ed: right at the sanctum Of my place or
business, which should be protected from
public gaze. But the Mayor would nave
seen that the remaining spaces OF the
front of my establishment are pro.ect-
ed against Intrusion by wire screens
only. there being no glass in the doors
SO screened, and It would be most
thoughtisss piece Of business on the part
Of a fish and oyster dealer TO make
his place air tight. The very plainest
principles Of sanitation sand ventilation
demand that these openings should not
be otherwise protected than by heavy
wire screening. His honor would have
my place of business, and that ! have
had experience with hre In the Morris
avenue district, which would suggest to
any man Of ordinary prudence the ad-
visibility Of having an electric alarm
within reach Of the patrolmen and watoh-
men in the district by which. upon occa-
sion, a proper warning might be given
Of impending danger
When the garage on First avenue, Just
in the rear Of my place of business. was
burned out a short time past, the patrol
man, OFFICER OBryant, aroused me with
this electric alarm. On another occa-
sion / had left one Of the doors OF my
establishment unlocked and the patrol
man on the beat, Mr.. Holman, aroused
me- and I locked the door.
AS to the alleged two barrels OF empty
bottles observed by the patrolman, ! beg
leave to suggest that It might not be
bad idea for the entire city administra-
ton to rehearse until learned by heart
the old adags relative to feathers on q
fence. The bottles may have been there
in fact, so far as 1 know. but they were
not mine, and tho facts relative to the
painted glass in front of my store have
been 80 unfairly given as to give rise
to grave suspicious relative to these bot
ties in my mind Certainly 1t would be
a bold, blind, foolish tiger that would
set out barrels of empty bottles In front
of his den, proclaiming to the world
thereby his presence. Mayor O'Brien, the
police commission and the public In gen
eral are invited to inspect the front OF
my esta blishment and verify the facts REL
alive to the painted glass and II In joint
stock company they are willing to be-
lieve that blind tiger would put out
barrels Of empty bottles In front OF his
den. then they will be best answered 40
cordfne to their folly.
For my part I do not indulge In intox-
icating beverages Of any sort. ana there