The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-02
Wants No MoreP Publications of RObberies and Pick
 pocket Work in City
ARE DETRIMENTAL
 TO THE DEPARTMENT
Lane Says Monthly Report Will Show Much More Stolen Property Re- covered by Police Than
 by Detectives

The Teak sin the detective departmen, was plugged" yesterday.
 At least this was the statement of Steve Wiggins. who is the head of the detec- tive department The cause of the furor was the exclusive story in Sunday morn ing's Age-Herald about the mysterious diamond robbery in Herzog- Thompson jewelry store and other robberles and activities of pickpockets during the past week.
 That story hurt" said S. Wiggins, and l have issued orders to all my men not to give out any more informa- ton to an Age-Herald reporter. One of these young men is prejudiced against me and my department and seeks to put me and my department in a bad light whenever he can.
 AS to the leak in my department, I have lacked up Detective Harry Gold stein about it, because>I think that he Is the officer that has been giving out in- formation Any other detective giving out information or allowing the private detective file to be seen will be sus- pended. These stories Of robberies must not be made public. They are detrimen- tai to the detective department and to me-"
 Judge Lanes Comment
 When the robberies were called to his attention Judge A. o. Lane, commits sioner of public justice. stated that so many robberies presented deplorable condition, but that he did not consider ina D11hlipitu did he reiterated that he was the head of the detective and police departments He said:
 "As to Wiggins keeping The Age-Her- aid reporter from the files of the detec- tive department, that is all tommyrot. Wiggins is under my orders and must report to me. He must also consult me before he suspends any of his men on suspicion that they gave out any infor- nation to the newspapers.
 Tt is best at times that news of rob berries should be kept secret so that clews may be worked out. However as I un- derstand that this diamond robbery hap pened last Friday afternoon and the other robberies previously, I see no par tcular harm in their being printed Sun day morning. Certainly. as the truth of the article is not denied there is no reason for any action to be taken against the reporter. He is paid to get the news.
 Better Showing by Police Depart ment
 As to the work of the detective de- partment. it does not compare very fa- vorably with the police department in the past month. I understand that the police monhly report will show that the police have recovered a much greater amount of stolen property than the de- tective department. The police depart ment at the present time is in the best possible condition and under Chief Mar tn Eagan is doing great work and get tlng more efficient every day.
 Another point is that detectives are supposed to attend to cases of murders, felonies forgeries and such matters. However, good work on such cases can not be had if a detective department is used to watch gamblers, blind tigers and disorderly houses. That is police work and not detective work
 T am going to investigate these nu- merous complaints of robberies and find out what is the matter. You understand 1 am still the head of the detective and police departments and what is more I am going to remain in control, despite rumorS to the contrary