The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-28
MONTGOMERY GRAND JURY
SCORES COUNTY OFFICIALS

Montgomery, July 27.-(special.) der
claring that a defiant spirit to difre-
gard the law obtains on the part of those
operating blind tigers and ,sambling
dens, that the city of Montgomery Is
ficreycombed with houseerof ill reputc,
and that the lives of INNOCENT and disin-
terested citizens are 4Apardized because
men, in their defianass of law, carry guns
'lss. ,aIssnfgoniery county grand jury to.
day submitted to Judge Armistead Brown
of the city court a full report of theil
investigations.
The grand jury reported that 1t had
docketed 1874 cases. examined 64S witnesses
and found 222 true bills.
Regarding the lawlessness which OBJ
tans in the city, and the operation of
gambling dens and other i'll resorts, the
grand jury was most explicit in its re-
port According to the inquisitorial
body, "a great number of assaults and
murders which are committed would be
avoided were the law as to carrying con-
cealed weapons more yisidly enforced.
Little regard seems to be held for human
life"
In reference to the gambling which OBJ
tains in the city, the grand jury says:
''Our investigations SHOW further that
the city of Montgomery Is infested with
gambling places. which are apparently
conducted without fear of moestation,
that the clientele of these places is made
up largely of young men and boys who
work for moderate salaries, and who are
despoied of their meagre wages in these
resorts"
The grand jury declares that this con-
dtion, in their opinion, is largely due to
the inactivity of officials in enforcing the
law, and 1.-THE Indifference and apathy of
the police department and sheriffs office
in ferretng out those guilty OF law vio-
lations and bringing them TO justice; that
the petit juries in the past have not shown
disposition to mete out punishment to
the guilty, but have been prone to acquit
or impose only the lightest sentence"
The grand jury expressed its emphatic
disapproval of tho excise commission of
Montgomery in issuing liquor licenses to
so-called social clubs. The grand jury
charges that these resorss are in the main
covert gambling institutions, and that
they are blind tigers for retailing liquors
after legal hours of sale. The inquisi-
torial body recommended that the excise
commission promptly cancel these clubs.
Sydna Jones of Montgomery. father OF
c. Walter Jones. and J. II. Fielder of Ben
ton we're arrested this afternoon on joint
Indictment returned by the Montgomery
county grand jury today. accusing then
of completely In the murder OF Sloan Row
an, a Benton merchant, which occurred
at the railway station here the evening
OF July 1G. Upon being arraigned In court
within an hour after arrest, their attor.
ney, Frank S. Stone of Bay Minette. de-
manded severance OF the cases, which
was granted.
Old man Jones and Fielder. the former
about IS years old, and the latter about
35 years, stood speechless when Solicit
tor Seibels read them the indictment
and asked them for a plea. The defend
ants refused to plead and. under ths
law, the court entered plea of not
guilty for them, setting their case;
for trial the week of August 5.
The joint Indictment against Jones