The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-18
Wards probe Resolution"
Is Expected to Be Adopted
by Commission Tomorrow
INVESTIGATION MAY
BE MADE IN PRIVATE
Commissioners Will Probably Confer
Today on Method to Employ in
Looking Into Record
of Policemen

There was decided lull at the city hall
yesterday In the, police department
drama there was not a single develop
ment which could be called much out OF
the ordinary.
City Commissioner A. o. Lane an
nounced that the charges filed with him
against Lieutenant of Detectives Streit
had been dropped.
Fifteen additional patrolmen, in accord
ance with the resolution passed by the
commissioners Tuesday, were added to
the force, the strength of which now
totals 1870 men.
Members of the commission stated that
beyond e doubt President Wards probe
resolution" would be adopted at the meet
ing tomorrow and the police investigation
will then begin. Judge Lane stated that
the fact that he had found no substantial
ton of the charges against Lieutenant
Streit would not affect his position in
regard to the probe and that he was
still in favor of 1t, providing the wording
was changed so that it would not read
that Charges are being privately pressed
before the commissioner of public JUS
tice," which Judge Lane states is not
the fact of the case.
Nature of Investigation
The nature of the investigation is now
attracting the attention of the commls-
sioners. Tuesday they were inclined to
favor a public investigation. Yesterday
they were inclined to favor a private in
vestigation on the grounds that results
from a private investigation would pe
greater on account of the lack of re-
straint that witnesses might have. Asked
exactly where the line might be drawn.
whether or not newspaper men would be
admitted if the investigation is not pub
lie, the commissioners stated they were
in favor of either a totally private or a
totally public investigation.
Judge Lane stated that he was in favor
of a public investigation by all means,
but no conference between the commits
sioners has been held on the subject,
and it is probable that all three will agree
either to make the probe wholely public
of wholely private.
The commissioners feel that the public
might misunderstood their motive If they
hold the investigation in private, they
state in that reports might be started
to the effect that they were trying to hide
something. IL they decide, however, thai
the advantage to be gained in better re-
suits from a private investigation on ac-
count of witnesses feeling a greater lib
erty to talk is too great a sacrifice for
the sake of reports that they are trying
to "whitewash' something, they no doubt
will make the investigation private.
Magnitude of Task
The ma gnitude of the task which they
are about to impose upon themselves is
fully realized by the commissioners. The
attempt to investigate the records and
character of some 10 or lis men COM
posing the police and detective depart
ments, is no small under taking, but they
state that they feel the investigations is
demanded by existing conditions and that
therefore it will be held.
1t was stated that the exoneration of
Lieutenant STREET. by Judge Lane yester-
day does not make him immune from
the general probe which is to be held If
Mr.. Wards resolution is adopted. Mr..
Streit's exoneration came about yester-
day through a letter from d. d. Overton
of Huntsville, clerk of the circuit court
of Madison county. in which Mr.. Over
ton stated there was no indictment in
that court against Mr.. STREET and that
as far as he knew Mr.. Streit was an able
and reputable man. Upon receipt of the
letter, Judge Lane summoned Mr.. STREET
and Immediately informed him that the
charges against him had been dropped.
Saturday at u o'clock the trial of Pa
trolman Stokes on the charge of inhuman
treatment to a prisoner will be held be-
fore Commissioner Lane Charges against
Stokes were preferred yesterday by Prof
F. ID. Losey of the University of Ala
bama, who alleges that the patrolmali
beat a prisoner with a club. Judge Lane
stated yesterday that the officer says he