The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-31
AUSTIN ON STAND
TELLS OF HIS WORK
TO STOP GAMBLING
tContinued from Page Five,

from rage E1ve1
professional gamblers, when their houses
were closed. did not go to "wild-catting"
IN the hotels that the gambling squad
mad visited the Morris and Florence
hotels; that he thought they We're going
to catch one of them pretty soon; he
pelleved that the present gambling squad
visited gambling houses three or four
times day, that to break up gambling
II the houses opened up again, the houses
would have to be visited every fifteen
minutes; that he believed Captain Eagan
ana witness and partner, the present
gambling squad. could visit houses every
hfteen minutes; that he thought Bodeker
and his captains were doing their best
to break up gambling and tigers; that
he did not believe all officers caught as
many tigers in prohibition times as they
could; witness identified a written order
from Bodeker to the police force urging
them to arrest gamblers and tigers; that
the order was made March Z 1908.
CASTOR Objects
Judge CASTOR objected to reading fur
ther such orders. Captain White stated
he objected to just admitting the orders
as evidence: that he wanted the public to
know about them; that Judge Castor
had brought out all kinds of evidence
against Bodeker which went to the pub
lie: that he wanted these orders to go to
the public; that Bodeker was on trial as
much If not more before the public than
before the commission.
Judge CASTOR still objected
Commissioner Weatherly stated conf
mission wanted to be fair to both sides
and that orders should be read. Witness
McGill identified orders as ones he had
heard read. The orders covered the
period from early in 1908 until last
month or two.
Not Tried Before Public
Judge Castor stated he was willing
for all these orders to be admitted as
evidence and that he was not trying
Bodeker before the crowd present or
the public. Captain White again re-
ferred TO hearsay and opinions and all
kinds of evidence introduced by CASTOR,
and said that now he had a right to
Fsake these letters public. Commissioner
Weatherly tried to stop controversy be-
tween lawyers. Captain White refused
to desist from answering Judge Gas
ton. Reading of orders was resumed
Judge CASTOR went to window and
looked across street. Mr.. Austin smiled
broadly as Captain White continued
reading. Captain White protested
against Judge CASTOR and newspaper
men talking aloud at window. After
awhile some objections We're made
again. Commissioner Weatherly stated
he "reckoned we'd save time by letting
him go on At conclusion OF reading
of orders Mr.. Ward asked where was
order about September Morn"
Chief Bodeker stated he'd say for
Mr.. Wards information that he had
September Morn" order and every 9TH
er order he had written since he was
chief, and he'd submit them all If they
were wanted; that he had nothing to
hide.
Breaking Down Doors
Judge CASTOR again took witness,
who stated that with exception of two
or three places he had never heard Of
doors to gambling houses here being
broken open; that several days after
he had been removed from Edmundson's
place, he was ordered back on gamb-
ling squad by Judge Lane: that Ed
mundson and other gamblers had
threatened his life seriously enough
that Bodeker was afraid witness would
be killed; that after he was brought
back by Judge Lane he had not been
killed; that he had heard Bodeker told
Schoppert at Undine that he (Schop-
pert would have been justified in
shooting witness when he (witness)
rushed into Undine to find "buzz"
Captain White took witness again,
and witness stated Bodeker had never
given MIN any oruers not TO break
down doors on any gambling house;
that chief had not told witness to re-
lease Edmondson; that three men and
a child had been killed in Edmundson's
place; that Bodeker had said for wit
ness to stay there might provoke kill
ings, and therefore some other Of
fcers should be placed at Undine; that
Captain EaganN had warned him of
same thing before Bodeker had men
toned it; that he had raided f. H.
Hickman at st. Nicholas many times
and arrested him: that he had heard
Bodeker say Hickman was a friend of
his (Bodekers) but he wanted him
raided just as much as anyone else
Adjournment was taken until o'clock
Ben Cooley on Stand
Ben Cooley of Electric City Loan and
Pledge company, was first witness at aft