The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-19
MORE PETITIONS
SENT To LANE IN
BODEKER'S BEHALF.
One Signed by Over 200 Mer-
chants and Business Men
Received Yesterday
LANE IMPRESSED
BY EXPRESSIONS
Says, However, That He Will Be In No
Hurry About Reaching Decision
on Final Disposition
of Case

Attesting to the popularity of Chief
Bodeker, and expressive of the confidence
which the people of Birmingham have
in him as man and an officer, a man.
moth petition, signed by practically every
merchant and many other prominent peo-
pie of the city reached the desk OF
Judge A. o. Lane, commissioner of pub
lie justice, yesterday morning.
The petition was brief 1t stated SIM
ply that in the opinion of those who
had signed Chief Bodeker is an excellent
man TO be retained at the head of the
police department. and the additional
having reinstated officers who had been
suspended the suspension of 80 days
which he will suffer will be sufficient.
About 200 names are attached to the
petition, and practically every firm in
Birmingham is represented. No greater
compliment has as yet been shown Chief
Bodeker
Judge Lane was n6ticeably impressed
with the petition. lie could reach no
other opinion than that the people OF
Birmingham seemed to be in favor of
the retention of Chief Bodeker because
the majority of people have confidence
in his ability and his integrity.
Petition of Machinists
The petition of the merchants was not
the only petition which reached Judge
Lane yesterday There came another
from the International Association OF
Machinsts This petition set forth the
belief of the members of that associa-
ton of skilled mechanics that Chief Bod
eker is an excellent police officer. that
he has given the city fine service. that
he could not be defeated before the
people. and that he is man of dignity.
integrity and ability. The machinists,
also, pointed to the fact that his offensa
was minor. in a comparative sense. and
that a suspension of 30 days would be
punishment sufficient. The petition was
presented by a delegation of three, tho
chairman of which was b. w. King
The suspension of Chief Bodeker has
certainly brought his friends to the fore,
proving that there is some consolation
to be found in every trouble, and sill
yer lining to every cloud. During the
week Just closed, Tor instance, men vi
all walks of life have appealed to the
commissioners In his behalf There were
the men of strength in the business
world, the scholars, the doctors and
teachers; then came the delegation OF
printers There followed the delegation OF
citizens from Ensley. at the head OF
which was DR.. Russell NJ. Cunningham.
former lieutenant governor. Then fol-
lowed the delegation from the machinists.
And last came the petition of the mer-
chants.
Another Doubtful Week
Judge Lane will not make known his
purpose in reference to the final dis
position of the case this week. Yes
terday he said as much.
II have been impressed. indeed" he
said, with the fact that Bodeker mum
bers his friends In all walks of life. in
all political parties and factions. the
good and mean, the high and the low.
the rich and the poor. the man who rolls
along in a limousine and the man who
tolls In the shop and earns his bread in
the sweat of his brow
'To every man who has come l have
made identical statements | will be
governed entirely by my sense of duty
and my idea of justice. will not be
swayed from a course which | think the
proper course by anything.
THE clamor of those who are on the
death hunt, who have not stopped TO
weigh the merits and demerits of the
situation. the chatter of those who cry
| for blood simply because they love the
sight of blood, will have no weight"
! Judge Lane, thereupon, stated that he
would not render his verdict before an
i