The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-15

for protection"
Exum and Weatherly Speak
Here Commissioners Exum and Wealth
erly entered upon a somewhat spirited
discussion as to the nature of the
charges. Mr.. Exum stated the comnlis-
sion was not a police court. that If there
/ We're any charges to be made the poiee
| department should take them arrest the
! parties complained of and the case come
! up in regular court. Mr.. N eathefR
stated that not only the commissioners
/ but every citizen was peace OFFICER ana
isthat whether they were on the street
or anywhere else and a complaint like
this was made, it was their duty to give
\ 1t their attention. The hearing pro-
ceeded.
4 man who stated he was a Pinkerton
detective agent and stated he was in the
| employ of the Birmingham Railway, Light
| and Power company. said he had gone
| with Mr.. Welch to the train; that ne
had not threatened him, but that ne had
/ heard threats against him and that as
| man to man he went to him and warned
/ him as he would have wished anyone
to do for him He stated he told Weleh
| that If he wanted to leave he would
! help him and that he did accompany nm
| to the Terminal depot. saw him buy a
ticket for $2.S and take the loio train
south over the Ala bama Great Southern
| last night. He believed Welch had gone
| to Tuscaloosa. He repeated that he had
acted as friend and not as an employe
or sympathizer of the Birmingham Rail
way, Light and Power company
Bitter Against Detectives
| The labor men present were very bitter
| against the street car companys detec-
tives. whom they called many uncompli-
mentary names and whom they state
cause all the trouble that ever arises
| from unionisn. Judge Lane and Chief
| of Police Bodeker both stated here that
they did not know up until this time
that there was a Pinkerton detective
| in the city.
| Mr.. Hurry. connected with the traffic
| department of the street car company.
| stated that with one or two other men
he had gone to the Empire last night
| to ask Welch to leave. He stated he
did not know there was to be anyone else
there. II am radically opposed to the
cause Mr.. Welch represents" he said.
''and as man to man ! informed him OF
| the trouble and that it might be good
for him to leave town. | did not act
as "A representative of the street car
company and / have nothing personally
| against Mr.. WEIGH l told him If he
wanted to leave / would assist him in
any way | could. / did accompany him
to the Terminal station. he bought
through the gates to the Alabama Great
Southern 1915 train he shook hands with
me and thanked me for the interest
had taken in him.
In spite of the fact that this man and
the Pinkerton detective both testified that
they had accompanied Mr.. WEIGH to the
train and saw him buy a ticket and had
warned him merely as man to man." they
stated they did not know each other, have
never seen each other before and did not
know they were working for the same
corporation. sa4
The Pinkerton detective said that after
Welch had left ne had heard threats
against President Gam and that as man
to man he had informed him. Mr.. Gam
was then taken out of town for the night
| by Mr.. Davis.
Made No Threats
In fairness to this man., said Mr..
Gam. indicating the Pinkerton detective,
Il wish to say that he made no threats
against me. but merely informed me of
my danger. But gentlemen, 7 am tired OF
being bounded every day of the week and
every minute of the night and day by
detectives Of the Birmingham Railway.
Light and Power company. I'm not afraid
of them, but they have gotten on my
nerves. There has been somebody follow
ing me every minute for the last couple
of weeks. They occupy the next room
IL
i sight. | don't know what minute they
are going to slug me and I have heard
many threats against me. l don't know
what minute they are going to take me
| where they have taken Mr.. WEIGH
Mr. Welch is as good a man and as
good a citizen there is In this state.
He is first vice president of the street
car mems union and known throughout
| the union He has a family and thou
sands of friends. Today we don't know
where he is Mr.. Welch has addressed
the men in this city and he has taught
%llem good citizenship and to do what
is right left him at o'clock last night
and never saw him afterwards.
1.-The street car men in this city are
ready to strike. gentlemen, but we have
kept them from it, We have told them
what strike means to them and to
| their wives and children and to the COM
munity. The purpose of organizing them
| is not to strike. it is to keep them from
striking. -
Hotel Proprietor Heard
| Dir. Prtchett. proprietor of the Empire
, hotel, stated he had heard the men make
no threats against any one. The first
| thing / knew of any trouble was when
Mr.. Welch who has always conducted
| himself as perfect gentleman, came up
| to the desk very much distressed and
said the crowd of men outside were 60
| ing to aSSaSSinate him. l then noticed
that the lobby was fun of strange men
and that many were standing outside.
| The men inside were well dressed, like
| office men and the men outside wore
laboring mems clothes, but not the uni
| form of the street car company.
| II could not say that any OF them were
| employees sf the street car company.
| heard them make no threats but they
looked at him in a way that said you
better leave They were not boisterous.
smiled when Mr.. Welch came up to
the desk and told him we didn't do such
things in Birmingham. minute or
two later [ saw him talking to one or
two of the strange men. All the time
every one of the strangers in the lobby
kept rubbering at him and ] confess
if had been in his place | would have
left town mighty quick"
Welch Takes Elevator
"Ar. Welch got in the elevator to &C
up to his room and two of the strang-
ers got in with him. They got QUE at the
next floor after Mr.. Welch did ane
started to walk down the stairway
saw them go up and had sent up after
them as we never allow strangers tt
go up in the elevator unless we know
where they are going. The men weis
met coming back. Shortly after that Mr.
,o1 int n a "a n.