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

has discharged persons as Justlhea m taking human life whom the grand jury has subsequently, indicted for murder and manslaughter Fortunately. the sher- if was able to make arrests before the guilty parties got wind of true bills be- ing found.
 Public Nuisances-Nagranc
 From the testimony before the grand iurv and the records of the inferior crim- inal courts, 1t is manifest that the large number of vagrants, or loafing leeches upon the community, are responsible for A multitude of the misdemeanors that crowd the dockets, and in many in- stances are perpetrators of burglary. grand larceny, and assault with intent to murder.
 ..If these non producers should be sen tenced to penal servitude it would have a most saiutary effect We understand that our police court has such disere- ton. and we urge the police department to inaugurate a ruthless campaign against the warrants. and that Judge Black i'm nose a sentence of hard labor instead of a fine. which is tantamount to license to carry on their nefarious practices.
 Gaming
 eve have had many instances before Us of vagrant negro women who, accord ing to the police officers testimony, never do any work but entice men into their resorts and rob them of money and jew elrv. It is supposed that the tenderloin district is confined to a restricted area in the Sixth ward south of the rail roads. but the testimony before us shows that many of these resorts exist on the Northside, near the business district, and with full knowledge of the police offi- cers.
 We have had a number of eases Of gaming by negroes and have found true bills. but no case was submitted for our consideration charging white men with this offense. This would indicate that the sheriff's deputies and the police depart ment have been long good (?) work In exterminating this vice. We leave it to the public to judge how this compares with common report regarding the oper- ation of gambling dens in the heart of the business district.
 Automobile Speeding
 Notwithstanding charges from the judges and recommendations of former grand iuries this perncious practice con tinues. and only recently resulted in the death of one man and serious in jury of another.
 '1f the owners of automobiles would refuse to pay fines or make nohus TOT reckless and careless drivers II would have a restraining influence on al'
 Concealed Weapons
 Prompt and severe punishment or every one guilty of carrying concealed weapons and recklessly discharging ire arms would tend to greatly reduce the number of homicdes In nearly every case of murder and assault with intent 10 murder true billed by us the testimony 4l.#s Tod very handy means of committing the crime.
 "The deplorable death of a bright, inno- cent lad was a costly tribute to be levied by the thoughtless and reckless celebra- ton of Christmas. We condemn most strenuously our national war department for the practice of indiscrmfnate sale, es- pecially to negroes of old army rifles. Fully as much money and far more good could haze been realized by sending them to the melting pot and converting them into 'plow shares and pruning hooks
 "In this connection we wish to urge upon officers of the law to refrain from the nasty or impulsive use of firearms, es- pecially in making arrests for misdemean- ors 1t is far better that the state should lose the fine imposed in such cases rather than forfeit human life in attempting an arrest At the same time the grand jury app1ecldIeS ludt an Ollitfi lS diipNed io protect his own life from being taken at the hands of sU felon.
 Bloody Beat 22
 "The preceding grand jury laid bare the awful state of affairs in this locality and it is not necessary for us to repeat Their clarion call, assisted by that of the press and clergy, has made it possible for us to deve close to the facts, and we feel hat bat aH anp no chief cause of the spirit of anarchy prevailing al Lewisburg.
 There appears to have been a collision between Justice of the Peace Dement, and others in the interest of the fee grab that made him absolutely suDservfent to the gang of law defiers Many witnesses have testified that it was. common talk that a conspiracy existed out there. but fear of personal harm has prevented them from disclosing the names.
 "The docket of Justice Dement, shows a most shameless abuse of the fee system, and points so unmstakably to fraud that we recommend his impeachment. It ap- pears from a letter signed by the gov ernor's secretary that request was made upon the governor to have Justice De- ment's books audited last fall, but the state examiner was too busily engaged elsewhere, and up 10 this date no audit
 
 With faithful and honest officers of the law there is no reason why Lewisburg should not redeem itself in the future,
 HOmicides
 "This grand jury has disposed of 9. cases of murder and manslaughter, and has made II indictments for same; we have disposed of 40 cases of assault with intent to murder, and have made 20 in dietments for same
 "In this connection we beg to call at tention to the fact that of the II murder cases indicted, the testimony in eight cases revealed the fact that either the rarty killed or his assailant was under the influence of whisky. and the same WAS true of 20 cases cs the 29 indictments for assault with intent to murder
 Since the grand jury began it's sessions January ?, 1912, there have been b homl- cdes investigated by the coroner, which indicates that the carnival of the man. slayer continues unabated. In aid of tic efforts Of our good citizenship to cope with this spirit of anarchy, we think 1t is high time that the governor of our state should taks some action to better the in- tolerable conditions. Though requested by the last grand jury to do so, we have no evidence of the governor offering re ward for the arrest of any of these assas- sns.
 I've have indicted several white men for murder who had been placed under bond by the preliminary trial. The no- rs-