The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-30
OPPOSE REMOVAL
 0F DEPUTY SHERIFF
Short Creek Citizens Peti- tiOn Sheriff-COle Has
 Helped Community

l That an officer of the law is able to endear himself to the hearts of the peo- pie among whom he works is strongly evidenced by petitions which have been directed to Sheriff McAdory and Pres- ident Woodward of the Woodward Iron company. The purpose of the petitions is to induce Sheriff McAdory and MT. | Woodward to retain c. IT. Cole as deputy sheriff at Short Creek, in the western | part of the county, and it is signed by | both colored and white citizens of that community
 To Mr. Cole they attribute the now Jaw abiding nature of the vicinity of Short Creek. In their petition the white people picture the condition of their town tefore his advent into the community, and set forth the present conditions. The petition of the white people follows: "Short Creek, November 24, 1911. 'J. Ii. Woodward, President of the Wood
 ward Iron Company, and Walker K. McAdory, Sheriff of Jefferson County, Birmingham, Ala. H
 "Gentlemen: We the undersigned citi- zens of Short Creek. Ala, respectfully petition you to keep c, H. Cole, your deputy sheriff, here.
 Our reasons for making this earnest request are as follows: When Mir. Cole came here about two years ago, we had blind tigers in Short Creek and wildcat stills nearby, selling their rotten booze illegally to all alike. He put them out of business.
 t,t1 Ilrf sN,. streets and public roads both day and night and on Sundays shooting and CUTS ing and using of all kinds of obscene language. He put stop to all of this. We had intoxicated men and boys dis turbing our schools and religious worship and drunk at the depot and on the trains coming and going from Short Creek, making it dangerous for our women and children and men as well. He arrested tue most prominent men in the neigh borhood for some of these offenses, show ing us that he was not here to oppress the poor and let the rich go unpunished, but to serve all alike.
 We had no churches; now we have regularly organized Baptist and Metho- dist churches and good Sunday school.
 We are afraid that if MT. Cole leaves here we would not be able to hold these better conditions, but would drift back into conditions existing prior to his com ing here.
 We feel sure that 95 per cent of the colored people here would indorse and sign this petition if presented to them"
 To this are signed the names of 91 white men and 50 white women. The negroes, not to be outdone then circu- lated among themselves a petition to which are attached the names of 66 col cred citizens, begging for the retention of the man whom they believe is their friend and protector.
 "Short Creek, November 24 1911. ITO the Woodward Iron Company and
 the Sheriff of Jefferson County:
 "Gentlemen: We, the undersigned col ored people of Short Creek, Ala, most respectfully petition you to keep MT. Henry Cole as deputy sheriff here.
 Before Mr. Cole came we were kicked and cuffed around and a good many of our color were killed and nothing ever said about it, but since he has been here it has not been so and we have had friend in him.
 MT Cole has been fair and kind to us and we feel and know that as long as he stays here we will get justice. But should he leave here we feel that we would lose a friend and protector. Should MT. Cole leave here, in oui opinion, it would be best for some of us to leave here and we believe that num- Der of us would leave
 Any consideration shown us by you will be appreciated by us.'
 Just what disposition will be made in tEe case by Sheriff McAdory cannot be learned. as Chief Clerk Walter Metcalfe stated last night that the sheriff had not made up his mind. He has under con- s.deration the advisability of moving Dep- uty Cole from Short Creek to Arcadia.