Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
CAR OFFICIALS
HELD To COURT
IN BIRMINGHAM
President, Superintendent and
Three Employees Must Face
Grand Jury for Kidnapping,
UNION MEN PUSHING CASES
Alleged Dynamiter Arrested as
Result of the Street Railway
Strike Disturbance.

BIRMINGHAM July 5.-A. H.
Ford, president; George H Harris,
superintendent Of transportation, and
three other employees of the Blr-
mingham Railway. Light and Power
Company were to-day bound over
to the Grand Jury under bonds Of
$500 each on charges growing out of
the alleged KIDNAPPING about three
weeks ago of William F. Welch. vice
president and national organizer OF
the Amalgamated Association Of
Electric and StresI Railway En-
ployees. The defendants waived the
preliminary hearing before Judge
Abernethy, Of the Court of Common
Pleas, and made bond readily.
A warrant was sworn out to-day
against f. T. stanheld. charging him
with placing dynamite on the tracks
during the street car strike. Bond
was fixed at $1,000. which has not
been made.
The latest developments growing
out of the street car strike, caused
a sensation in Birmingham. as the
waving of preliminary hearing by the
high officials Of the street car COM
pany was entirely unexpected.
Further sensations are promised
when the Grand Jury begins its
probe within the next few weeks.
Deportation Caused Arrests.
The arrest of President Ford SUI
perintendent Harris, who has been
connected with the street car COM
pany for more than fifteen years, and
others was the direct result of the al
legged deportation of National Organ
izer Welch. who came to Birmingham
about four weeks ago, when the street
car strike was threatened. Mr. WEIGH.
it is alleged. was visited at his ho-
tel by a delegation OF car men, in
Guiding some street car officials, and
advised to leave the city. The union
organizer took the hint. 1t is said, and
was forthwith escorted to the rail-
road station. where he boarded a
train for parts unknown.
When the alleged deportation was
noised abroad. local union leaders anG
their lawyers raised a protest that
eventually was carried to the City
Commission, which called a confer
ence on the matter. In the course of
the conference, which was quite heat
ed at times, President Ford admitted.
it is alleged, that while he had no
hand in the actual deportation of
WEIGH. 1t was done with his knowl-
edge and for what he though the best
interests OF the community. Imme-
diately following this statement, the
union attorneys demanded the arrest
Of Mr.. Ford on the charge of con-
spiracy. Commissioner Lane needed
the request and had Chief Bodeker
arrest Mr.. Ford on the charge of dis
orderly conduct.
Union Leaders Push Cases.
The case was set to be tried in the
Recorders Court but here it was mol
pressed by the union leaders, who
proceeded to swear out warrants for
the arrest Of Mr.. Ford and Superin-
tendent Harris and other minor OFF,
cials Of the company to be tried before
Judge Abernethy, Of the Court Of
Common Pleas. Il is this court in
which the defendants have waived
preliminary hearing, pending the ac-
ton of the Grand Jury Should Mr..
Ford and the other defendants be con-
victed they are liable to a jail sem
tence Of two years, lawyers say.
Although dynamiting and missile
throwing were INDUCED in quite freely
when the strike was at its height, only
one arrest, that of E. T. Stanfield,
has been made. Stanheld, a carpen-
ter, Is charged with placing dynamite
under an East Lake car more than a
week ago He denies the accusation.
The strike is believed to be prac-
tically over. as no recent disorder
has been reported and all the spe-
cial deputies have been withdrawn
from the service Union men claim,
however, they are still in the fight
and not absolutely beaten,