The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-11
COUNCIL ADJOURNS
WITHOUT ACTION
Water and Light Franchise Is
Again Held Up
OFFICERS EXoNERATED
Negro Is shot By Administrations
school Board Elects for the Com
ing Year-Martin Calls a
Committee Meeting

Bessemer, June 10.-(Special.)-Owin
TO the Indictment weather a bare quorum
was present at the adjourned meeting of
the council tonight and but few citizens
were visitors The final action on the
ordinances was postponed until a second
adjourned meeting to be held next
Wednesday night The final action was
postponed tonight on account of the small
number attending, as it is desired to have
the entire council present when final steps
are taken. If necessary, the president
OF the council will send the chief of
police after the absent members at the
next meeting. All the aldermen have
been busy during the past few days as
pertaining the sentiment of the people
IN regard to the measure and so far
mot a single one that objected has been
found It was decided tonight that the
Birmingham Water and Light company
should pay for the publication of the
ordinances. which will amount to about
So The council thought that the COM
pany should pay for the publication, as
the plant is not a certainty as yet
In many regards the contract is better
than the present one and the only OBJ
lection that the council has as yet pre-
scented was a fear that it would not be
consummated The time limit set for
the beginning of work on the plant is two
years, a contract let TO a reputable con-
tractor to constitute a beginning The
plant must be completed within five years
or the contract is forfeited. Some of
the aldermen have asked for a bond that
the plant will be built and the Birmns
ham Water and Light company has
agreed to make a $4,000 bond.
The matter of increasing the colored
schools of the city was passed until the
next meeting. An ordinance was in
troduced tonight providing for com
pulsory vaccination. 1t provides that
anyone who has been a resident of the
city for ten days, and who has not
been successfully vaccinated shall be
inoculated. The fine for resistance to
a person having authority to vaccinate
is not more than 800. There is but
little smallpox in the city and the or
dinance was merely introduced to pro
vide for contingencies that might arise.
The unanimous consent of the council
necessary to have 1t passed tonight was
not secured and the ordinance went
over to the next meeting, when it will
probably be passed.
officers ExOnerated
The investigation by the police com
mittee of the conduct of the four Of
ficers on last Sunday night, held this
afternoon, resulted in complete ex-
oneration of the policemen. A number
of witnesses were examined and the
evidence tended to show that there had
been four distinct fights, that the par
Elephants had been promptly arrested
each time and had made bond; that
there had been but one officer at each
mir cd W a
Albert Skies, George Rutledge, Harry
Griggsby. w. s. Minis and W. c. Bellah.
A number of the people who were the
most free in criticising the officers
failed to come to the investigation. The
entire affair is looked upon by the Of
ficers as a tempest In the tea pot
The report of the police commission
was made to the council and was unan-
imously adopted. Their report in full
was as follows:
ITO the Honorable City Council of the
City of Bessemer:
Your undersigned committee charged
with the duty of Investigating
charges of alleged neglect of duty on
Sunday night, June 5, 1910 of Officers
jenkins, Jackson, Fitzgerald and May,
of the city police force, respectfully
report as follows:
al We have examined numerous wit
nesses relative to the facts surround
ing said charges, hereto attached, and
made as thorough investigation of the
same as possible.
49, That while we deplore the repe-
tition of unfortunate disturbances on
said evening, each succeeding occur
renee was, as shown by the evidence,
such as could not reasonably be fore
seen by anyone, and the evidence fur
Their shows that the said officers
promptly arrested all parties each time
and did all they reasonably could to
avoid further disturbances.
"3. The premises considered, your
committee recommends an exoneration
of said officers of said charges and that
the charges against said officers be
dismissed
GEORGE ROSS,
"a. w. DEASON,
LACEY EDMUNDSON."
Mayor Lewis letter to Mr.. Ross
preferring charges against the officers,
George Ross, Chairman Police Com
mittee:
Dear Sir-It has been called to our
attention that four officers, Jenkins
jackson. Fitzgerald and May, were
guilty of neglect of duty on Sunday
night, June 5. We, the mayor and
chief of police. respectfully request that
you investigate the charges as above
and give the above named officers a
chance to be heard in their defense
Respectfully l. A. LEWIS"
investigation to be held without suspen-
sion.
.l Negro Shooting
Harry Foshee shot and probably ia
tally wounded Milton Williams tonight
nm, Dot