The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-31
AS to Number of Homicides

While there have been more homi-
cides in the Birmingham district than
in sections with different social and
industrial conditions, the number OF
murders in Jefferson county is not
as large as some recent statistics
would make it appear.
During the term of B. L. Brasher
as coroner that official investigated
2530 deaths. In 1912 he examined
nearly 900 deaths and his reports show
that from December 20, 1911 to De-
cember 20, 1912, there were 3O6 "un-
lawful homicides.' Technically speak
ing, Coroner Brasher's report was
doubtless correct. Assuming such to
be the case the phrase, unlawful homie
eide, is misleading to those un-
acquainted with technicalities.
A careful investigation of the rec
ords shows these facts: Homicides
committed in Jefferson county in
1912 outside of the city limits of Bir-
mingham, 94; homicides committed in
the city Of Birmingham in 1912, 53.
Total in Jefferson county, lat. And
in this list of lat question might
have been raised as to whether all
the deaths were really the result Of
homicide. But the difference between
BOG and lat is certainly worthy OF
note, for as bad as jefferson county's
murder record has been it was not
half as bad last year asAit appeared.
A large majority of the persons slain
were negroes and the majority of the
murderers were negroes.
Coroner Brasher's report showed
that in most of the homicides he in
vestigated, death was caused by gun
shot. Pistol toting is responsible for
many homicides in and around Bir
mingham. If the law against carry
ing concealed deadly weapons were
strictly enforced there would be fewer
tragedies. And the fee system ac-
counts largely for startling statistics.
New York newspapers and influ
ential newspapers in several northern
cities have stressed the homicide sta
tistics of jefferson county. Birming
ham is the best advertised city in the
United States. 1t gets much adver-
tising that is helpful in large de-
gree, but it is occasionally advertised
in an adverse way. 1t gets few
knocks now and then and just now
some newspapers are making it ap-
pear that the Birmingham district is
little short of a death trap.
For years past Birmingham's repu-
tation has suffered no little from the
fact. that convicts after serving out
their terms in the mines in the Bir-
mingham district are turned loose
here. This has been the convict
dumping ground, but the time is fast
coming when the convict situation will
be entirely changed. Convicts will be
employed in road building and few
if any will be leased to corporations
for mine work. This change will
greatly minimize the number of homi-
cides in Jefferson county.
This is a very large county, it's area
being nearly 1000 square miles. 1t
contains many mining camps and con-
siderable rural territory. It's popula-
ton in 1910 was 100000. It's popu-
lation last year was fully 100000
probably 275,00O. Those critics of
Birmingham who discuss homicide
figures fail to give details in all their
fullness.
1t would be well for the Birming-
ham Chamber of Commerce to make
a statistical investigation and issue a
comprehensive report that would do
something to offset the misleading
figures that have been widely ac-
cepted. One hundred and fifty homi-
cides in round numbers make an ugly
showing, to be sure, but not as ugly
as 306.