The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29
"PistoI Toters" the Cause

Judge Russell, in further commenting on
the homicidal figures of the county coro-
ners office of the first six months of this
year said:
Like Coroner C. L. Spain, was unable
with the exception of one case to find tina [
liquor or intoxicatlon entered as a factor
or as an agent the numerous hom-
oides | have investigated in the past sew
eral weeks in the absence of Coroner
Spain. The great factor that entered into
all these deaths was the fact that a ma
jority of people carry pistols in this coun-
ty and are ready to use them on the
slightest provocation
'.rhere are also a great many deaths
that are never reported to the coroner.
For instance, there We're several killings
| in the city and county which | read of in
the newspapers but We're not reported to
me, because all the facts surrounding the
killing were publicly known. When man
shoots another in a downtown street and
everyone around knows all about the
shooting there is no need of notifying
me. OF course, this reduces the figures
of unlawful hcmicides in the coroners Of
flee.
THE limited means furnished the cor
oners Office by the board of revenue fur
nishes great oncoura cement to those with
homicidal intent in this county. There are
very few thorough examinations made ana
nllu tnat III OHly rare HiSldUceS Will tnS
limited means in my power enough evil
dence can he rathered sufficient to order
the arrest IF the cuiprit In the six weeks
have acted as coroner there have been
a score of unlawful homicides and yet |
have issued cnly one warrant for the ar
rest of an alleged murderer.
1.-The dilatory tactics of the solicitor S
office also tend to encourage crime, as it
Is fact that negroes will kill each other
t;noI aivft Of hnit ra-
leased on a light bond to await trial,
which is usually postpon ad and postponed
until everyone has forgotten about the
case, and then if the case is not mol
pressed a very light sentence is imposed.
There should be 70 bond made for any
man where there is reasonable evidence
to show knowledge and completely in any
n. n.urdes.
ALSO I wish to state that in my opinion
as long as Jefferson county continues tc
be the dumping ground of the state con-
victs, the statistics for unlawful homl-
cides and crime will be abnormal. The
state convicts should be placed on the
roads in the various counties where they
belong and not be brought to work in the
| mines about Birmingham"
Bodeker Comments on Figures
Police Chief George H Bodeller, when
apprised of The largo numbers of unlawful
homicides in Jefferson county during she
first six months Of this year said:
"These murders were brought about by
pistol toting.' OF that there is no doubt
in the mind of any police official. At pc
lice headquarters tnere are about dozen
shooting affrays reported every week
some slight and others very serious. FMS
fact and the coroner's figures show the
evils attained from the carrying of con-
cealed weapons. am strongly in favor
of law being passs by the next legsa-
ture making the carrying of pistols and
other dangerous weapons a felony. with
imprisonment upon conviction of from two
to 10 years in the state penitentiary.
Another reform which I would advo-
cate would be the placing at the disposal
oil the county solicitor several detectives
to ferret out the evidence in all crimes
committed. Jefferson county remains per-
haps the only large populous center in
which the solicitor has no detectives at
tached to his office.
In Fulton county. Georgia. where At