The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-14
Enforcement of Law

"The real, undisputed evidence furnished
by great number of the best and most
influential citizens of Birmingham showed
that the laws were as well enforced in
birmingham. If not better. than in any
other city of the country, notwithstanding
our city and its surroundings present
more difficult problems to the police than
any other city of it's size, and that Bir
ming hams police force was far less nu-
merous than any other city Of its size
and wholly inadequate in numbers to
cope with the situation.
THE resolution was doubly false, in
that 1t was intended to lead the public
to believe that my case was decided on
the evidence. when in fact the evidence
was never considered by these two COM
missioners, the decision of the case being
made in accordance with prediction
promises made by Commissioner Ward,
and to meet political exigencies in Com
missioner Weatherly's race to succeed
himself. That this is true was apparent
from the conduct OF these two commits
sioners throughout the trial, In the man
ner in which they aided the prosecution
instituted by Connie Austin. and inspired
by themselves. They knew that they
could produce no legitimate evidence to
show that ! had been inefficient, incom-
petent or corrupt in the administration of
the office, but in order to shield them
selves and lay n predicate upon which
to justify their decision before the pub
lie. they violated one of the fundamental
and plainest rules of evidence in admit
ting hearsay. thinking, that u great many
people would not be able to discriminate
between hearsay and legitimate testi-
mony.
Shown to Be False
The statement in the resolution that
the undisputed testimony and my own
testimony shows that the Is ws of the
city could not be enforced under my di-
rection is shown to be false by the state
ment of each of these commissioners
themselves. Commissioner Weatherly, in
his statement places the necessity for
my removal upon what he term my de-
hant and insubordnate attitude toward
the commission, exhibited during the trial
and in the newspapers. Commissioner
Ward puts it on the ground that Detec-
tive Murphy's conduct showed that l
could bring about anarchy in my own
department, and the underworld with its
sympathizers and defy the elective au-
thorities who were trying my case whea
he knew that Detective Murphy was not
IN my department and not under my con-
troll, but was in the department of and
under the control Of his political hench-
men, Steve Virgins and 7. r.. STREET..
and that this man Virgins whom he
made chief of detectives, as a political
reward, had lived openly with woman
of the lower world for years, and tina.
Strelt, another potica, heeler of his.
whom he has rewarded by making him
lieutenant, was plastered with an indict-
ment for forgery. and was not deemed
worthy of belief in court of justice.
As to Confidence of People
Commissioner Weatherly says that it
had been especially olain to him since
the filing of the charges against me tina,
did not possess the confidence of the
people of Birmingham to that degree
which is essential to the smco 9th and eff
ficient working out of the criminal prob
lens of the city. VIII he tell the pub
lie where he got that information VIII
he dare put his finger upon one particle
of testimony that showed that? VIII
he even insinuate that the vast number
of the best and purest men CT this city
who testified to my honesty, competency
and efficiency. were not telling the truth?
In the face of this false assertion /
hurl the testimony of such men as w.
w. Crawford j. T.. Shelby, G. B. Nc
Cormack, w. A. Porter, f.. G. Chandler.
Herman Beck. Herman Saks. Al. II. Ne
Dowell Judge Allgood, judge John H.
Miller, w. +. McCrossin, J. Q. Smith,
Hugh McGeever, Robert McIcster, w S.
Moughon Tow Bowron and "a host al
others.
Commissioners Weatherly further
says that for years | have been bone
OF contention between the warning fac
tions as to my efficiency as chief of
police. If he believed this, why has he
not taken steps to remove me sooner?
Why has he waited until he can con-
ceive it is necessary to slaughter me-
in order that he may unite to his sup