The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
NO SENSATIONS IN
GRAND Jury REPORT
Follows Out All Suggestions
Made by Judge Fort
WAR ON GAMBLERS
Too Long a Time Elapses Between
the Arrest of Offenders and
Their Conviction in
the Courts

| There was nothing sensational in the
report of the grand jury for the jan
uary term made yesterday before Judge
w. E. Fort of the criminal court. yet
it was clear and concise and followed
every line of investigation as suggest
ed by Judge Fort both in his written
and oral charges.
| Urging that the present incessant
war against gamblers and vagrants be
continued and that vigorous prose-
cation of this class of offenders be
waged, the grand jury stated that
gambling houses can, by these meth
DDS, be kept closed.
The social evil in Birmingham is no
worse than in other cities, the jury
declares, but they recommend a police
supervision over all places where the
social evil exists.
Carrying Concealed Weapons
The crime of carrying concealed
weapons is accredited with being the
most fruitful source of murders and
| of assaults with intent to kill. Anoth-
er cause for crime is suggested that of
the length of time between the COM
mission of a crime and the punish
ment of the offender The jury report
states there is little respect for the
law because punishment lags far be-
hind and that the deterrent effects OF
punishment are lost.
That the speed law was being vio-
lated was asserted but the difficulty
to get witnesses to testify was a bar
to Indictment.
All the public institutions were found
to be in good condition. but it was
added that the county Jail was too
crowded for proper human comfort.
An addition to the criminal court is
recommended.
The report in full follows:
ITO the Honorable William f. Fort
Senior Judge of the Criminal Court:
We the grand jury impaneled by
your honor on January s. 1914, beg to
submit the following report of our
labors
eve have devoted four weeks to the
duties assigned us, following the line
of investigation laid down by your
honor in the written and oral charge
given us.
1--WE have been in session 20 days
have considered 393 cases; have ex-
amined $50 witnesses; have found 252
true bills and so no bills, and have
continued SO cases for the consider
alton of the next grand jury.
Gambling
| Among the first matters consid-
cred by us was the condition of gamb-
ling in the city and county Meeting
SO soon after the probe into gambling
conditions by the city commissioners
We lad the benefit of the revelations
| then made as to gambling houses and
persons suspected of connection there
| with. After the probe conditions
| cleared. A large number of witnesses
| testified under oath that the gambling
! houses are closed and have been for
TWO months, and that there are no
| regular gambling rooms in operation.
! Policemen, their chief. the sheriff and
| his deputies, all concur in this state
| ment. The result of a vigorous inves-
tiSation shows that gambling houses
cannot exist without the consent of,
or negligence of. officials. 1t is not
necessary to make actual cases in or
| der to suppress gambling rooms, for
| they cannot exist without considerable
publicity; other men than gamblers
must know of them and visit them to
| Nitlu Up money TO make the rooms ana
| tables profitable. In fact, each officer
examined could and did name the To-
cation of nearly all the former gam
| Fling rooms they were not hidden or
| unknown. They are now closed and
vigilance can keep them closed.s
| Crimes Against Women
| Very few crimes against women
were reported. Only five cases We're laid
before us.
Social Evil
| Cases of the social evil were be-
| fore us in sufficient numbers to in
dicate that red light women driven
from their old quarters are scattered
over the city, in the residence districts
in rooming houses, and in some hotels
These women can be driven from the
| hotels that cater to them by con-
stant publicity of police supervision
| The solution of this evil is not in
sight.
| evidence was laid before the grand
| jury that far too many girls and young
women frequent the streets at night
| without proper escorts, indicating
lack of parental supervision that is dis
| tressing, and many downfalls naturally
following. There should be law regu-
lating this evil Birmingham is no
| worse than cities of like size over all
the world, but it is necessary to pro-
tect foolish girls and young women
who do not have proper home dis
cipline.
Murder and Assaults
Crimes against the person are far too
frequent Testimony in dozens of cases
indicate that the most brutal murders
are committed for trivial causes. Pis-
tolls and knives are used on men and
women with cruel recklessness. and