The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-11


Johnston: that to handle conditions in
Birmingham the force should be as
large as 200 men,
He said he believed one captain and
six or eight men could keep down
gambling if they had nothing else
to do.
Il defy any man to show that l ever
made dishonest dollar was one of
his characteristic statements.
Captain Whites Protests
Captain White protested vigorously
several times during the evening over
the fact that his side of the case was
being cut off by the limtations placed
upon his time. As midnight drew near
the crowd became disorderly 1t was
plain the large majority were Bodel er
sympathizers as they frequently ap-
plauded some statement favoring the
defense.
When the debate over whether to
close the case finally or allow Bodeler
some time TO finish his testimony Mon
day was at its warmest point, Presi-
dent Ward himself appeared In the role
of peacemaker. He satisfied all fac
tions by moving that Mr.. Bodeker be
allowed to finish his story.
For practically three weeks the citizers
have saturated themselves with the a.
mosphere of the police investigation. In its
rumors, reports. opinions, prognostica-
uons and sensations they have literally
swan. The probe has furnished much
entertainment. At no time since it be-
gan has the chamber where the tri-
bunal sat in judgment been empty of
one man less than its capacity.
The very foundation of the city at
times has rocked with the excitement
of incidents to the hearing. Men have
faced each other in human anger.
blows have been struck, sharp words
have been said and the echoes have
even reached to the courts of the land.
Outruns Original Boundaries
The police probe has far outrun it's
original boundaries. 1t has occupied the
entire time of the three city commits
sioners for the past three weeks
1t has envoloped in its scope every
thing from politics to pinocle 1t has
included personalities, generalities and
legalities. 1t has touched financiers and
takers, grocerymen and gamblers,
thieves and theosophists engineers and
everybody.
But the principal point is that it is
over. Indications are that it will be
pronounced. In the meantime the pub
lie will wait with interest and, as it is
worn out with patience.
BOdeker's Fate in Balance
Upon the verdict of the tribunal rests
the fate of Bodel1er as chief of police
Upon the verdict will depend many flu
ture events.
Yesterday was featured only by the
tense interest that arose out of the
crisis of the trial The
hearing was marked with the haste of
both sides rushing through affairs that
had been left till the last moment
One incident alone outside of this
that attracted attention was the thread
of events by which President George
Ward was drawn more closely into the
controversy. Several witnesses testified
to reports that during his campaign he
had said he would or would not dis
charge Bodeker, if elected. This phase
of the last days session came to a
climax when Mr. Ward spoke of the
mystery which Capt. Frank White
threw about this matter and Captain
Whites answer in a speech that dealt
dramatically with Mr.. Wards PERSONAL
1ty, ability and features of the case.
The stenographic report of this speech
by Jack Stalllngs. court reporter, is as
follows.
Captain White: II wish to make this
statement. I think [ should make it in
justice to myself. He thought there was
mysterious about my questions
with reference to what he had said be-
fore the election with reference to re-
moving Mr.. Bodel1er. l don't mean to
say that would have been wrong if he had
said it; I don't know but what it would
have been the proper thing to have said
so If those We're his convictions. 1 think
man has a right to speak ont and say
so II he believes that, and I admire him
for his speaking out.
Only Friend and Admirer
II have esteemed him always as an Of
ficer. | have always been his friend as
such and his adnsrer. l was his sup
porter in the last race and would have
voted for him If l had been at home but
was out of the city. | would vote for
him again. / think his election Is a
distinct advantage to the city. 1t adds
something of the aggressive business ele-
ment that lawyers do not carry along. l
want to say that and I say it meaning
just what L say.
What [ wanted to do was to show how
little weight we ought to give to hearsay
testimony. 1 had to carry it over my pro-
test against my client. l wanted the real
conditions, whatever they were, to come
out. If Mr.. Ward had made up his mind
that way, thought it was due my client
that his position be known, SO the public
would not say he was convicted on the
evidence. but it was Mr.. Wards conviction
before he heard the evidence and I do
not mean to reflect upon him in the least.
think 1T was a good days work, when
he was elected"
Henry Uhl
Henry Uhl was the first witness
placed on the stand at the opening of
the morning session and stated he had
lived at Rising station for about 20
years; that conditions as regards crime
were better in last few years than any
time previous; that Bodeker stands very
high as man and an official; that he
Is without a peer as police official.
that Bodeker was man of honor and
integrity; that he did not believe Bode-
ker was a CRATER or dishonest; that
Bodeker and his foce had broken up
Sallie Higgins house of ill repute in
witnesses neighborhood; that he
thought Bodeker best chief city had
ever had.
John Rosenstihl
John Rosenstihl stated he had been a
residence of this city since 1881; that
he thought criminal conditions here
better than In some time past; that
Bodeker's official services were salts
factory to all the public except some
who always had been opposed
to Bodeker; that he esteemed Bodeker
very highly as man. that he did not
believe Bodeker got any graft and that
he would not believe a gambler or a
woman on oath; that he
had never seen a chief in Birmingham
who kept theieves, thugs, pickpockets
and general criminals out of Birming-
ham as Bodeker has with a small force
that while Austin was a patrolman on
CT