The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-25
SHAPIRO ARRESTED
 BY OFFICER bURKETT
Question of Blocking Traf- fife on Second Avenue.
 Former Indignant

1sadore Shapiro. a member of the Ala bama legislature and a well known law yer of this city, was arrested yesteday aft ernoon by Officer George BurlSett on the charge of blockadlng the sidewalk on Second avenue, between Nineteenth and Twentieth streets, directly across from the scene of the Stee1e-Smith disaster. At headquarters MT Shapiro was allowed to make his own bond, which was s25
 When seen by a reporter of the Bir- mingham Age Herald, MT. Shapiro seemed very indignant over his arrest and sub sequent treatment at the hands of the of fieer making the arrest. T was standing in the stairway of the entrance to a pie ture gallery. which is located directly op posite the wrecked building of the At lantic and Pacific Tea company, and next door to the Trianon theatre. I had no idea of being arrested and was looking al the wrecked buildings across the street. was not on the sidewalk, neither was blocking he traffic.
 In few minutes a hurley looking individual, who proved to be an officer, approached me and said: Get away from here What for l demanded. Move on or 1 will show you what for said the officer But. said I. attempting to ex plain to the officer that l was not violat- ing the law. I am doing nothing that is wrong. l can't see what you can arrest me for.
 "Without further ado the policeman grabbed me roughly by the arm and pro- ceeded almost to drag me to the Jail. 1 remonstrated with him. but of no avail. I am not able to walk very fast, neverthe- less l was dragged ahead.
 As I passed the alley on Nineteenth street, 1 saw a friend of mine whom I asked to be a witness to the disgraceful affair. This person and another attempt cd to follow the officer and myself, but the policeman was so enraged that he would not slacken his pace, despite my repeated efforts to have him slow up and give me a chance to al least walk instead of being dragged. Instead, he merely frightened his grip upon my arm and pulled me after him. I did not intend to run.
 Tt seems to me if the officer had any discretion whatsoever he could certainly see that l was not the kind of man who could run very much, even though l had cared to. He was just so important and sWelled up over the idea of making trivial arrest that he could not think. 1 am indignant over the treatment I re- ceiVed at the hands of this man.
 T shall certainly prefer charges against Officer Burkett Monday morning. l shall endeavor to lay my case fairly before the commissioners. I doubt if they can see eny reason Tor my exceedingly rough treatment, at the hands of a man who is possibly several times my physical SUI. peror I shall never rest until I hay 6 seen to this man being dismissed from the force
 Officer Burkett said: "I arrested Mir Shapiro and if it was necessary I would do it again. l was ordered to keep the traffic moving on Second avenue. and l was doing so to the best of my ability when l arrested Mr. Shapiro l approach cd two men who were standing close a the spot where Shapiro stood and tcld them they would have to move on. They did so. Then | told Shapiro he would have to do thessame. He said. By what r.ght have you to arrest me I told him if he "'d not move on l would have to show him.
 "Shapro told me I couldn't arrest him. l had to show him. and proceeded to dc so. Then he told me I was too d. inn portant any way. l didn't think so. but did not stop for argument.
 He didn't seem 10 make up his mind to move on so l put him under arrest and brought him down to the station. He made iiis own bond. If Shapiro says I dragged him through the streets he IS mistaken. did no such thing. I merely arrested him because he refused to obey my com irand to move on. I will arrest any citi- zen who in my opinion Is violating the law regardless of who he is or where is from fs
 The case of Mr. Shapiro will be tried before Judge Perry Turner tomorrow morning. Immediately thereafter Mir Shapiro will prefer charges against the officer who made the arrest The com missiohers will probably take the matteS up as soon as the charges are filed