The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-26
PROBE OF BESSEMER POLICE DEPARTMENT. ID BEGIN TOMORROW Will Be Open to the Public. In Council Chamber
 of City Hall SOLICITOR BLACK
 WILL TAKE A HAND
Announcement Made by Dr. Winters, Chairman of Police Com inittee-NO Whitewash in Preparation-Facts
 About Conditions in Besscmer
ny RICHARD F. LussIER

 E Bessemer is about to initiate probe into the police department.
 It will be an open inquiry and will begin tomorrow in the council chamber of the Bessemer city hall. Solicitor Hugo L. Black of Jefferson county will rep resent the public at the hearing, which is expected to consume several days.
 The above announcement was made last night by Dr. J. S. Winters, chairman of the Bessemer police commission.
 We will have a thorough and open investigation" said Chairman Winters, "and all citizens will be free to par ticipate. It Is the present idea that Solic- itor Hugo l.. Black shall represent the public at the hearing, which will be- gin on Monday"
 The announcement of Dr. Winters comes as a refutation of the rumor that the police committee instended to "whitewash" the police department after a perfunctory investigation.
 Ever since the September grand jury issued a partial report devoted to con ditions in the Bessemer police depart ment the citizens have been slowly digesting the contents of the indictment brought by the jurors. At first there was much indignation expressed that the fair name of the city of Bessemer should be besmirched, and there were many hints of spite" work. In fact the leading city officials in a council meet Ing few nights ago took turns at ex- coriating the September grand jury and the newspapers for giving such unwar- ranted publicity to the Bessemer police.
 Sentiment of People Changes
 However, the sentiment has changed. It appears that the citizens of Besse- have made themselves heard to such an extent that the police commission announces that an investigation will be held-publicly and immediately.
 On Friday afternoon Mayor I. A. Lew is of Bessemer and City Attorney George Bumgardner appeared before Solicitor Black. In the conference that followed Mayor Lewis was shown several news paper clippings purporting to be excepts of his remarks in criticising the grand jury and the solicitor. Mayor Lewis was visibly embarrassed and stated to the solicitor that he had been badly mis- quoted by all the papers.
 In his conference with Solicitor Black, Attorney George Bumgardner admitted that the police conditions of Bessemer warranted a thorough inquiry and that the best citizens of Bessemer demanded public investigation apart from the aldermanic board.
 In his reply to Mayor Lewis and the city attorney Solicitor Black stated that he would not participate in any police investigation at Bessemer unless it was an open inquiry conducted by the citi- zens and where the witnesses would be protected from any bulldozing by the police. This was agreed to.
 Maddox Was Indicted
 1t became known yesterday that A. D. Maddox, a Bessemer city detective. whom the grand jury recommended should be dismissed, was also indicted for as- sault and battery on Henry Dixon. a negro.
 T met Maddox few days ago." said Dr.. Winters, "and he told me that the grand jury had found a bill against him and that he was under bond.'
 Maddox was indicted because of al- legged third degree practices. He is sti,l a member of the Bessemer police depart ment.
 Prior to the publication of the grand jury report very little could be heard of criticism of the Bessemer officers. but after its publication various Dessemer citizens who had suffered came forward in droves to inform Solicitor Black of the injustices that had been practiced on them.
 Others also came to warn Solicitor Black not to go too far.
 Still others came and stated that unless something was done very quickly to pro- tect the persons who had testified before the grand jury their homes would be burned and they would be publicly horse. whipped.
 It was also told how all the trouble in Bessemer started.
 How the Trouble Started
 It appears that about year ago the grand jury indicted several of the of Iicers in Bessemer for graft. This was known to all the members of the police commission and city officials of Besse- mer. The indicted officers were not even suspended.
 In the indictment 1t was charged that tho officers had exorted $10 from ne- gro. The indictment came as a surprise but 1t did not baffle the indicted ofri- cers. All they did was to request a change of venue and transfer the indictment to be tried in Bessemer. In the meanwhile t;iey arranged that no publicity be given the indictment They then interviewed
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