The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-09

and Chief Bodeker under the cireum-
stances was little short of wonderful
With the exception of the statement
by Col. p. G. Bowman at the afternoon
session there was nothing sensational
about the probe yesterday. At the close
of the session last night Commissioner
Weatherly made the emphatic state
ment that he wanted 1t understood he
was going to make a motion to close
the hearing by Saturday noon or even
ing. Captain White stated he had 500
witnesses yet, but that he might get 1t
down to 100 by this evening and con.
clude Saturday evening
Weatherly Makes Statement
Mr.. Weatherly's statements, accord
ing to the stenographic report by Jack
Stallings of Brazelton & Stallings.
court reporters, follows:
Commissioner Weatherly: Captain
more witnesses you have?
Captain White: About 500.
Commissioner Weatherly: How many
do YOU expect to put on the witness
stand?
Captain White: 1 can put that
many on.
Commissioner Weatherly: I am talk.
ing about something within reason. l
have had in mind all the time to try to
get through by Saturday at noon.
Captain White: We have got two
more days yet. | can thin that down to-
morrow; probably | can get it down to
a hundred by tomorrow night; I viii
try to.
Commissioner Weatherly: Do you
mean 100 more witnesses?
Captain White: Yes. sir. They are
not lengthy.
Commissioner Weatherly; Are you
speaking seriously?
Captain White: Yes, sir; / can bring
them and they will testify, too. We
have to cover a great deal of territory.
We have gone over Ensley, but have
not touched East Lake, Woodlawn,
West End and North Birmingham
Commissioner Weatherly: That Is all
right, but l will give you notice right
now. l will make a notion don't
know whether | will be voted down
but | am not going to stay here indefi-
nitely on this thing | am willing to
give you the fullest opportunity to
pick out typical witnesses of standing
in the community that would be sup
posed to represent the general opinion
OF the community, about this depart
ment. | know 1t can be done with "a
great many fewer men than that
Captain White: Possibly it can be; we
don't want to put on any except what
we really think ought to be put on.
but still we want a large enough num-
ber to make 1t thoroughly representa-
tive.
Officer Simmons Called
Chicer d. c. Simmons was placed on
the stand to open the morning session,
and stated he had been on police force
seven years; that chief had told him he
wanted special attention paid to blind
tigers run by e. II. Rickman as Hickman
was a friend of mis- and people might
think he was showing partiality; that con-
diticns under Bodeker are as good as
under Chief Wier; that Bodeker never
save him orders or in any way insinuated
that witness should favor or protect any
act of lawlessness or any vioator of the
lay that he believed Bodelxer a good
chief: that the present beat witness was
covering really needed three men; that
convicts were dumped into this dictrict
and they increased crime of county
Judge Castor here produced two en-
graved invitations addressed to Ed Ball
and one to Carl Ray. members of police
de partment inviting them to the annual
Thanksgiving dinner" of Earnest B..
Johnston, proprietor of the Suburban ho-
tel Witness stated he had never re-
coived any such invitation. Captain White
dubbed the invitation incident another
''grandstand play" After Judge Castor
had asked witness about "the yellow af-
fdavit'' and certain state laws under
which police might operate, Captain
White asked witness If the city had ever
sent him to law school. IL he had ever
drafted a bill in equity, ard If the COM
missioners had ever aided him in reading
law Witness answered NO" Witness
stated he knew of no police graft, and
did not believe there was any; that some
evidence as near as possible was produced
in higher courts on appealed police court
cases. but convictions were hard to get
Brannon Again on Stand
Officer Brannon was recalled and stated
that Carrie Woods instead of Mrs. Bar
field had been arrested for harboring
young girl in house of i'll repute, and
when she was tried Bodeker told judge
that she had never given police any
Il ouble before. that he (witness) did not
know the man Hickson who had pre-
viously testified that this was Mrs. Bar
field, and did not know why Hickson
should have been In court room.
Officer De Remus Testifies
had arrested some 300 or 400 blind tigers;
that most of them were convicted in po-
lice court and appealed; that large num-
bel of appealed cases were dismissed and
some he never heard of again. not receiv-
ing any subpoena to testify in them
after they were appealed to higher courts;
that chartered clubs gave police much
trouble in catching gambling houses; that
he believed Bodeker as 6ood chief police
as city ever had; that police force is far
too small.
Linnehan on Stand
F. II. Lnnehan. prominent Birming-
ham jeweler. stated much property was
constantly being stolen from jewelry
stores; that under Bodeker's term he had
recovered nearly everything lost by theft:
that he believed Bodeker mad given best
poiice protection under circumstances OF
any chief he knew; that he believed bar
a association and courts as much respon-
ssble for bad criminal conditions here as
their policy was to make bond for their
clients and then proceed to wear case
out" by continuing 1t from time to time;
lContinued ON Page Seven)