The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

selves with the investigation. None of
them made an appearances yesterday
on the scene of the inquisition. None
of them were present to shout, like the
greaser at bull fight. bravo" when
ever the flashing steel reached its
mark
What Actuates Austin?
As a result. nothing was left for those
who speculated but the fact that Mr.
Austin preferred the charges and declared
himself to be represented by attorneys.
No solution of the cause of Austin's
attack, oft-repeated, could be agreed
upon. There were those who declared
that he was actuated by personal ami
mus. There We're those who declared that
he was the representative of powerful
factors behind the throne of the munich
pal government, rich men who famished
for the blood of Bodelxer and employed
another man to draw that gore. And.
thirdly, it was said that Austin was a
patriot one who was thoroughly con-
WINGED that Birmingham was a Bedlam
In which all forms of crime and corrup-
ton existed, a city whose yisage was
daubed with the smoke of h-ll: and that,
as result of his restlessness in the pres
ence of diseased conditions, he had, sim
gle-handed, undertaken to free this Co
morrah of a seourge
Speculation is not satisfied But moth
ing tangible was developed throughout
the day. If there is a silent, moving fin
ger behind the scene writing, like destiny
which plays with men for pieces, that
finger will, in all probability. be brought
to light before the conclusion of the in
quiry
Big Developments Expected
The inquisition. as a matter of fact is
destined to be interesting. 1t is antici-
pated that one of the witnesses will be
a member of the commission. Judge Lane
is in position to know more of the de-
fendant's efficiency inefficiency than
any other man. He has guided the po-
lice department for two years, and has,
himself, investigated in a previous hear
Ing all the charges which are now await
ing solution. Concerning the alleged ex-
istence of gambling, he is in position to
speak, because, through Captain Eagan,
he has ferreted out the loathsome nests
of the worlds incompetents. Concernirg
the alleged free movements of vicious
Migrants, he is in position to speak, be-
cause he knows how many of these para
sites have been confined within any spe-
cific period of time
And additional feasts for the morbid are
to be spread For the investigation will
not be completed when the Bodeker YER |
dict is rendered. Charges have been pre- |
ferred against others high in police au-
thority, and others in mental positions in |
the department. AS a matter of fact, If |
all the witnesses summoned in the pres
ent case. and to be summoned to give tes-
timony in all the cases that will in all |
probability be developed many moons
will rise. become full, wane and disap- !
pear before the end occurs.
Hope of Commission
Out of it all the commissioners are hope |
ful that better police department will
be developed.
1t is their intention to weed out the
CRATER. the crook the extortioner. the
lewd the lecherous the unfaithfuI, the
traitor, the designing and interruptions
the lying and thieving and murderous
1t is their intention to build a force of |
strong, upright men, vigorous in body
and mind and soul and spirit, modern
Galahads in search of a modern Grail
each armed with dread Excalibur which
can and will do deadly execution in the
lurid fields of the ubiquitous.
The force will consist of $50 men, and
each will be paid a salary on which he
can live. And then will come day and
a night through which the citizens can
move or sleep without a chronic terror
gnawing perpetually at their vitals in re-
gard to the safety of their goods and
their lives