The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
HEARING TO BEGIN
THIS AFTERNOON If
DEFENSE IS READY
Charges Are Preferred Against C. C,
Hancock, Hundley Reid and Detec-
tive McGill by julius Milbrait.
Entire Commission Will
Investigate at Judge
Lanes Request

Il welcome the investigation" said
Chief of Police George H. Bodeker last
night when asked If he desired to make
any public statement in regard to the
charges of misconduct and inefficiency
filed against him yesterday by c. w
Austin.
II have nothing to fear" said Chief
Bodeker Coming from Mr.. Austin, the
charges made today are nothing new"
He stated he did not desire to further
publicly discuss the question.
Austin Files Charges
The probe of the police department
was launched yesterday afternoon at 8
o'clock when Judge Zell CASTOR, coun-
sci for Connie Austin, filed charges
against Chief Bodeker alleging that
during the chiefs administration as
chief of police. gambling houses and
gamblers had been allowed to operate,
houses of i'll repute, blind tigers, pick
pockets and other lawlessness had been
protected by the police department and
other allegations. making In all II
counts.
Charges of misconduct were also filed
yesterday with City Commissioners A.
o. Lane in charge of the police depart
ment, against Patrolmen C. C. Han
cock and Hundley Reid and Detectives
Moore and McGill and these charges
will be investigated by the commission
as a whole at Judge Lanes request in
the investigation which is now under
way. The charges are made by julius
Milbrait and are given below. Detective
j. A. Moore is deceased.
Frank S. White &, Sons, attorneys for
Chief Bodelser and the police depart
filed yesterday and the hearing on the
merits of the case will begin at 8
o'clock this afternoon. providing coun-
sci for the defense is ready. Captain
White stated that he knew nothing
whatever about the case and whether
he could prepare the defense and sum
mon witnesses in "a hours remained to
be seen. He stated he would try his
best and if he was not ready at 3
o. clock this afternoon, he would ask for
further delay
All Are Silent
None of the commissioners or parties
concerned in the investigation would
consent to be interviewed yesterday.
Judge CASTOR stated that he would fur
nish the commissioners with a list of
witnesses he desired to have summoned
and asked that Patrolman Rush Given
be detained to serve the summons
Given, however, is out of town and
Judge CASTOR failed to send the list
to the city hall last night It is be-
lieved that both parties will not serve
witnesses until this morning
.,,t,.. -. 49,
still not decided as to just who will be
allowed to be present at the investiga-
ton. They state, however, that news
paper men will be admitted. The gem
eral meeting yesterday afternoon lasted
but 10 or 10 minutes and was open to
the general public. A crowd of some 20
or 80 men witnessed the reading of the
charges, being mostly members of the
police and detective force. including
Chief Bodeker.
The exact plan of procedure also has
not yet ben revealed by the commits
sioners. They state they do not know
whether they will hear evidence in the
cases of Just those men against whom
formal charges are preferred, as in
Chief Bodeker's case, yesterday, or
whether they themselves will prefer
charges against any or every member
of the two departments and hear evil
dence.
Mr. Austin, who filed the charges
against Chief Bodeker yesterday, is well
known in Birmingham as former chief
of police and a strong political opponent
OF the present chief. Mr. Bodeker and
Mr.. Austin have taken issue in several
local political campaigns.
Austin's Charges
Mr.. Austin's charges in full are as
follows:
ITO Honorable George B. Ward, A. o.
Lane mad James Weatherly, Commits
sioners of the City of Birmingham,
Ala, Constituting the Governing Body
of Said City:
1.-THE undersigned, C. w. Austin, a citi-
zen of said city of Birmingham, Ala.
hereby prefers in writing the following
charges against George H. Bodeker as
the chief of police for said city:
81. That during the term of office of
said George H. Bodeker, as chief of po-
lice of said city, gambling houses have