The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-28
Repeats That He Has No Intention of Making Any Statement for Public
 on Subject
SAYS REPORTERS
 CANNOT FORCE HIM
 TO TALK ABOUT TT
| Former Chief Bodeker and F. B. Yielding Comment ,on Ethics In- voIved in Preserving Con- fidence Imposed

Commissioner Arlie Barber remains ret icent in regard to the suspension of De- tectives Eubank and Crenshaw from the police department. He reiterates that they were suspended flor cause" He was asked if he would not define the words for cause"
 T can only say that anyone should know the meaning" he said. q have re- peated that that was my explanation sev- eral times. I think it is time for the newspapers to know what that means"
 Are Eubank and Crenshaw definitely suspended from the force?" was asked.
 T repeat I have nothing to say.
 ''NTill the other commissioners act in the suspension of these men?"
 MT Weatherly is out of town. I have nothing more to say"
 Do you not consider this matter one on which the public should be informed?"
 Who ever heard of the police affairs in regard to criminal matters being dis cussed before newspaper reporters?"
 When MT. Barber was informed that a great many affairs of importance had been discussed before the public as well as mere newspaper reporters, he replied, that he did not intend to say any more than he had
 MT. Barber, is 1t not a fact that your main plank in your platform for com missioner was that there should be no secrecy in connection with any depart mert of the government of the city of Birmingham?"
 +aI 1, make everything public that comes up before the commission" MT. Barber em- phasized the fact that he did not say that the people were to have the openness of public meeting on "everything."
 ASKING FOR INFORMATION
 The reporter then told MT. Barber that he was asking for information as a rep resentative of the people
 You are merely the quasi-representa- tive or the people" he replied. 1T am the real representative of the people and l have repeatedly stated that I did not in- tend to express my opinions in regard to the suspension of these men. and I state emphatically that I will not"
 He was then told that if any asser- ton made in the story carried by The Age-Herald yesterday morning was un. warranted, it would be corrected by printing any statement he wished to make public in defense of his &C., tion
 The trouble with you newspaper men is that you think you can make me talk when l have repeatedly told you I would not If you want to suit me, l would much prefer your not pub- fishing anything. That would suit me- ?
 But the people want to know why two such efficient men were suspended they demand it, and we want to pub fish what you have to say in explana- tion of your attitude in the mat ter.'
 q won't say another word to you ir regard to the matter"
 Will the other commissioners agree with you in regard to your present stand?'
 T don't know"
 REAL CAUSE FOR SUSPENSION It is generally conceded in police circles as well as among the citizens that MT. Barber suspended the detec- tives because they refused to divulgt she name of their informer. MT. Bar. Der, when asked point blank whether or not he wished the people to believe that he suspended Eubank and Cren. shaw for not telling him the name o1 their informer said: q have nothing to say.'
 The police department, as a resul of MT. Barber's ruling, is considerably upset, but the men keep silent and re-
 fuse to say anything. They anticipate a shake-up in the department and say that they cannot afford to be quoted Detectives Eubank and Crenshaw re i fuse to be quoted and say they ar' willing to abide by the decision of theil superior officer.
 | Former Chief of Joolce Bodeker, whei asked to express himself in regard to tn l suspension of Eubank and Crenshaw said: If it is true that they were sus pended on account of their refusing tt divulge the name of the man who tippet them off to the job last Monday morn 1 ing, consider the action of Commissions | Barber unwarranted. I know that 1t il 1 not the custom of police officials or com missioners that I worked under to ques | tion the men in regard to how they re ceived the information to catch thei crooks. The mere fact that they appre | hended dangerous criminal was enougl to commend them instead of reprimandin. or suspending them I have never seel any reason for asking any of my mei during the time I was chief of police 0 since, where they received their i1rforma ton. A detectives word to crook shoul' be as good as his word to man of tn highest integrity. If it is true that Flu bank and Crenshaw have been suspende' on account of not telling that which the. l had no moral right to tell, they shoult
 pe-reinstated at once, or else have it lief to the people of this city. I regard then as one of the cleverest pairs of crimna detectives that can be obtained in th city,
 YEILDING'S COMMENTS | F. B. Yielding, former member of tn police commission under the old alder manic rule, was candid in his expression in regard to the action of MT Barber "If MT. Barber suspended Detectives Eu | bank and Crenshaw on the ground tha | they refused to tell the names of thei i informers, he did wrong, in my estima
 ton, and his actions were unwarranted
 do not think any man would be honor 1 q hla tn ,ive his word of. honor to anothe