The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-04

 cases under the "code of Abernethy." He first endeavors to make them go to work, for the second offense he gives them a substantial fine, for the third offense he makes them little speech, brief but much to the pont-"$500 fine and 12 months extra rlT. It might Jbe said in passing that the
 judge has succeeded in many instances in convincing the accused that it is much
 the better policy to go to work. He puts them on probation on their agreement to go 10 work and amend their ways, Tor eise" They have learned to regard the words Cor else" with much respect. Some times the offender is given second chance. possibly owing to some mitigating circumstances, but the third time there is srrely something doing.
 The court of common pleas went into existence on April 20, 1911. It was created in lieu of the justice of the peace system.
 It's civil jurisdiction is the same as the justice of peace, namely s100, but for some
 reason that has never been satisfactorily explained, its final Jurisdiction in msde- meanor cases has been practically taken away. Cases that can be finally adjudi- cated in justice court have no standing in the court of common pleas, but are made returnable to the criminal court, which is already nearly 5000 cases behind it's docket
 The court of common pleas is 'feeless court" All of it's officials are on sal ary. It has two divisions ably presided over by Judge l. II. Benners and Judge H. B. Abernethy, and since it's inaugura- ton has given pronounced satisfaction to the bar and the Legitimate litigants. The judges have preliminary Jurisdiction in all capital and non-capital cases, and final jurisdiction alone in all charges of vagrancy.
 All fees and fines are turned over to the county treasurer and an itemized report of the fines, fees and costs are turned over to him and the auditor. The court has been self sustaining since it's organi- zation No fees or emouments are all lowed any of it's officials, except the con stable, whose fees are fixed by constitu- tional law.
 In view of the wide interest in the all legged prevalence of crime in this county and it's causes. and the fact that the grand jury was of the opinion that the vagrant class were largely responsible for it, Judge Abernetly, when asked for an expression on the subject, gave the following statement:
 q have gone to a great deal of trouble and made many personal investigations in the endeavor to find the cause of so many violations of the law. As result l have come to the opinion that a large per cent of the people charged with felonies, other
 than murder cases, and misdemeanors of all kinds, are people who do not work, or who habitualy neglect their work if they have any, and are able bodied.
 include in this statement male and female,
 white and black If you get rid of the
 vagrants a large per cent of the crime in this county will cease There is no ex- cuse for them to say they cannot find em- EpIoyment, for every one knows the diff ficuty to keep a servant on one hand,
 and the shortage of labor at the large in dustrial plants on the other. knew of my personal knowledge that the contract ors cf thes various large buildings around the city have had much difficulty in se- curing sufficient help.
 Tn my dealings with the vagrant class
 I find many complex phases to the sitna-
 tion There are the .halt, the lame and
 the blind" which are always difficult to fhandle. The disposition of the dope fiend
 is also a'Sproblem; however, whens they l are not too far gone in the use of the drug fairly long sentence is often bene- I ficial; in fact, I can recall several who
 have been cured by this method. some of them, however. go back to the use of l the drug the moment they are released, and either live by stealing or if the dopist
 is man, on the earnings of his wife or l woman.
 "A have sent nuiassx sS wiAlts sssasa