The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-13
LET PEOPLE BE JUDGES,
EXCLAIMS CAPT. WHITE IN
HIGHLY DRAMATIC SCENE
Throws Papers Table When Weathery Insists Hearsay Tes
tmony Is Admissible -Bodeker on Stand Only Few
Moments When Weatherly Objects to
Question by Captain White

Shaking his fist in the face of the city
commission, Capt. Frank White at
o clock last night defied the commission
ers to discharge George Bodeker and then
''let the public be the judges"
AS Captain White made the statement
he jumped dramatically to his feet, threw
his papers on the table and walked from
the room.
1t was the most dramatic incident of the
exceedingly dramatic police department
investigation, which had been under way
for over three weeks.
The remarkable melodramatic effect that
las characterized the t'olice probe since
it's beginning pursued it until the very
end and the climax of all previous Incl
dents was the close of the case yester-
day in a whirl of confusion.
How Clash Arose
The clash arose between Captain White
and Commissioner James Weatherly As
known the final session OF the commits
sion yesterday afternoon was to give
Chief Bodeker the opportunity to close
his testimony, which had been interrupt
cd by the lack of time when the hearing
Iroper closed Saturday midnight.
Chief Bodeker had been on the stand
but Is or 20 minutes yesterday when Cap
tain White. in an indirect way, asked
Chief Bodeker his opinion of hearsay tes-
timony. Commissioner Weatherly jumped
to his feet and stated he objected to Cap
tain Whites remarks.
Like the flash of a powder cask the
incidents of the scene were touched Oft.
Captain White answered Mr.. Weatherly
by stating he would continue to fight
against the hearsay testimony of the
hearing until they put him in jail.
Crowd Cheers BOisterOusly
The room was packed to it's limit and
the crowd boisterously cheered Captain
Whites defiance All of the commission
ers got into the melee and attempted to
quiet Mr. White. Finally President Ward
stated that Captain White should say
everything he wanted to say and then he
could be answered by anyone who wanted
to answer him.
Then Captain White arose and almost
leaning over the commission bench he
shook his fist in the face of the commits
sion and declared again that by hearsay
testimony he could prove that Mr.. Wealth
erly and another of the commissioners
had Condemned Bodeker before the trial
be gan.
The session had opened by Frank
Moragne, whose testimony and name
has figured much in the probe, max
ing request that he be allowed to
make a statement showing that other
witnesses had corroboated his testi-
-.,1 - - g.. L.
statements of witnesses which had i'm
pugned his testimony.
The commissioners refused to let Mr..
Moragne make his argument and told
him to present it in writing. He still
endeavored to talk but after they had
told him several times that he could
not argue the case, as the hearing was
over except for the remainder of Bod
ekers testimony. and according to the
resolution passed by the board Satur-
day night nothing but Bodeker's testi-
mony could be heard now. Mr.. Moragne
then retreated. stating he would take
the matter to the newspapers and air
it before the public.
Stenographic Report of Tilt
The testimony of Chief Bodelker then
progressed without incident. until Cap
tain White put the following question,
the report being given from hereon
by A. w. Brazelton of Stallings 4
Brazelton, court reporters:
BY Captain White: 4s
@. Mr. Bodeker. you have. been asked
If you taught law school and taught
these policemen the law; IL you were
to set up law school would you tell
them to admit hearsay evidence? A.
No, sir.
@. Your common sense would revolt
at that. wouldn't it? A. Yes, sir.
Cororni ssionar yVaathar1y. Coptai,, I
take exception to that remark. l don't
think 1t is proper for you to- examine
witness. especially the chief, about a
ruling of the commission on the admis-
sion of evidence, we have already de
cided that question.