The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-19
BESSEMER SCORED
 BY FIRE EXPERT Officer Fitzpatrick Makes Statement in Reference to
 Shooting of Chief
ROSS IS ACTING CHIEF
Local Camp of Sons of Veterans to Be Reorganized-Skating Rink
 to Open at West Lake

Bessemer. April 1S-(special.)-The city of Bessemer was scored tonight in a talk made by H. S. Jenkins. representing the Southeastern Underwriters associa- tion to the city council at it's meeting held in the council chamber at the city hall, in regard to the conditions existing in Bessemer as to the prevention of fires, construction and conditions of buildings, grade crossings, number of fire stations, number of firemen, amount of fire hose on hand. wiring, deficient fire escapes, which he declares was inef- ficient. Following MT Jenkins talk AL derman Simmons made a motion that the matter of fire escapes be referred to a special committee who will investi- gate conditions.
 The city council met in regular session tonight with all members present and President George Ross in the chair The enforcement of the hog ordinance was next discussed at length, and John T. McEniry petitioned the council to modify the law, and that those wishing to keep pigs could do so if they kept the pig pens in sanitary condition. After con siderable discussion the law was modi- fled.
 The matter of opening up Seventh ave- nue across the railroad tracks of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad com pany on Twentieth street was referred to the street and light committee with power to act and take up same with the officials of the company.
 Andrew c. Mitchell asked the alder manic body to extend an invitation to the Shriners of zamora temple to stop off in Bessemer on their way to Tusca- loosa on May 31. which was done. w. D. Lanier was present and invited the coun- oil and the public in general to attend the meeting to be held in the city court room Wednesday, at which time num- Der of prominent men would be present for the purpose of recognizing the local Sons of Confederate Veterans
 STATEMENT OF SHOOTING
 Chief of Police R. M. Childress, who was accidently shot in the right arm last night during a fight with a negro at a. tent show on Alabama avenue was able to be on the streets for a short while today. It appears that Detective "Dnk' Fitzpatrick shot and fatally wounded Robert Searles a negro, one of the bullets passing through the mans body and hitting MT. Chldress in the right elbow as he reached for his gun. When seen today MT. Fitzpatrick said: MT Crenshaw and I were at the tent show to preserve order and a white man became offensive inside the tent and we arrested him and started out of the tent with him. I was between MT. Crenshaw and the white man, and as we came out of the tent a negro at- tempted to push his way between me anu my prisoner. I told him to step aside and he replied that he didn't step aside for nobody I paid no particular attention to the matter at the time, how ever and had taken several steps when l heard someone call out: Look outn l turned in time to see the man draw ing his knife and coming toward me. l drew my gun and told the man to drop his knife but when he kept com ing, I fired. Being aware of the crowd, l fired at the thickest part of the man, but the bullet only turned him around and he kept coming. I fired the second time and he fell, the first bullet hitting him in the abdomen, while the second went into the left breast just above the heart Naturally I am very sorry about the accident to the chief, though he realizes that it was absolutely unavoid- able.'
 The shooting of MT. Childress, coming so soon after the shooting and death Chief Wallace on February 26, caused much excitement in Bessemer, and eye witnesses to the shooting were of the opinion that Chief Childress was shot by the negro, and MT Childress him. self stated last night that he was shot by the negro