The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-23
CRITICISMS OF THE POLICE BY AUSTIN
 BOLDLY RECEIVED Little Enthusiasm Manifest ed By Audience Which
 Fills Orpheum AUSTIN MENTIONS
 BUT FOUR NAMES Says Eagan Is Incompetent and Re- fers to Interviews Printed in The Age-Herald-Appeals For
 Funds on Deaf Ears
By JACK BETHEA

 c. W. Austin yesterday afternoon at tackled two members of the Birmingham detective department, said he did not think much of Chief Eagan as an official and charged by inference that Judge Lane was incompetent also.
 Despite MT. Austins intention as an- nounced by him in an afternoon paper that he was going to ''call names and give faotSi and places'' in the course of his discussion of his subject of ''viee, Crime and Corruption Among Officials in Bir- mingham." he mentioned the names of but four members of the police depart ment The greater part of his speech devoted to the police department was confined to an attack upon two detectives whom he called by name.
 In many instances Mir. Austin gave cases in which he alleged he knew there was collision between the police and denizens of the underworld. but he did not grow more specific and failed to mention the officers names as had been expected.
 Much of MT. Austin's speech dealt with matters which were before the public ad nausea during the famous police probe of last winter.
 The interviews with Chief Eagan and Judge Lane printed in yesterday morn- fng's Age-Herald aroused MT. Austin's s ire. Mr Austin evidently thought the chief was referring to him in some of the statements he made He quoted from the interview of Chief Eagan as follows:
 I yelled charges of "graft'' are aimed. but do think that the charges were inspired by the gambling fraternity, who. angered at continued suppression, are now hiring paid agitators to attempt to break up the efficiency of the police department
 To Chief Eagan
 Mir. Austin observed that before he be- gan he wanted to pay his respects to Chief Eagan and then made the following state ment:
 IT Chief Eagan means to say that this meeting was inspired by gamblers 1t is an infamous lie"
 MT. Austin then said that at first he had no intention of criticizing the chief, but that he felt called upon to reply to the interview published in The Age-Herald.
 T do not question Martin Eagan's honesty" he said, "but I think he is thoroughly incompetent for the high position which he holds. He has no more to say about how the department is run than you have. The police de- partment Is run by four men" And MT Austin called the names of Detective Sergeant Darnell, Desk Sergeant James B Donaldson and Detectives Daily and Warren. These were the only names mentioned during the meeting
 After further criticism of Chief EaFan MT. Austin took up the expres- sions of Judge Lane. He quoted from Judge Lanes remarks In The Age-fIer- ald as follows: "I repeat that We are capable of Investigating ourselves and are doing so constantly"
 "Who ever heard of Judge Lane con victfng anyone in these star chamber hearings of his?" he said Now. I have always admired and supported Judge Lane. but he is not the man he was 20 years ago. I admire the way George Ward and James Weatherly stood up for the right during the other probe, but think they are slow now In do- ing what they ought in remedying con- citfons. I am told that they do not act on account of Judge Lane's i'll health. think they ought not to punish the citizens because of a commissioner i'll health but that Judge Lane ought to be overridden and every grating off cial removed from the police depart ment."
 Audience Is Cold
 MT. Austin spoke before an audience that comfortably filled the Orphcum heatre but it was an audience that was not in sympathy with him. It was composed entirely of men. the greater part of whom came to the theatre out .of curiosity pure and simple. MT. Aus tin when he arose to speak was greet ed with applause, but there was noth- ing In the least approaching a demon stration. At no time during his speech was there any enthusiastic manifesto tion of approval of what he said and l when he finished there were barely hundred men remaining in the thea | tre.
 The moment MT. Austin indicated that he was approaching the end of