The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-24
CHRISTMAS CROWDS
ORDERLY, STATES
Chief TOM SHIRLEY
Great Decrease in Number
of Arrests - Fireworks
and Tin Horn Blowing
Will Be Prohibited

Birmingham is enjoying one Of the
quietest and most orderly holidays
times in her history, is the report
from police headquarters, who state
they have experienced very little diff
fculty for the past few days in hand
ling crowds of Christmas shoppers,
and authorities are now hopeful that
the holiday season will be passed with
out a single incident to mar the quiet
record.
According to Warden c. e. Glover of
the city Jail. fewer arrests have been
made for the past week than any cor
responding Christmas week since his
connection with the city, period of
10 years. Especially is a great decrease
noted in the arrests for drunkenness.
he states. Only three white men and
no negroes have been arrested during
the past week for the offense, and
streets.
"The decrease, in comparison with a
few years ago, is remarkable said
Warden Glover. II remember several
years ago when it was nothing unusual
for the Jail to be filled to capacity dur
ing the days prior to Christmas And
the same was always repeated on New
Years Day.
FEW ARRESTS MADE
ARRESTS for petty crimes, drunken
ness and disorderly conduct have been
exceedingly small this year. For the
past week only three arrests were
made for drunkenness. and all were
white men, seven arrests for disorderly
conduct, the majority of whom were
negroes, and two arrests for petty
crimes. 1t doesn't seem natural that
such a change could take place within
few years in the same town."
Chief of Police Tom Shirley is also
greatly encouraged over the outlook
for the best" Christmas in Birming
hams history. II believe" Chief Shir-
lev said, that the city will pass
through the Christmas holidays with
out having the usual boisterous times.
The elimination OF drunkenness seems
to be the cause.
so far, there has been comparative
" little disturbances, and none of
these occurred in the dowItOwn dis
trict OF course there will always be
some disorder. but it is the desire of
the police department this year to
eliminate disturbances as nearly as
possible. We have started on the right
road, and 1 hope we will reach our
goal without hitch"
Commissioner of Public Safety John
Fl. Taylor is thoroughly pleased with
the situation and the vigilance of his
pvati
been received at his office that would
tend to indicate the police depart
ment was not doing it's full duty, he
stated
ABSENCE OF FIREWORKS
The police have been troubled some
with the boys, who are taking great
delight in discharging their blank"
pistols wherever they see fit. The boys
cannot be arrested, and the confiscation
Of the pistols is the lone method by
which the authorities hope to break up
the practice
The usual disturbances furnished by
fireworks are also lessening the work
of the police. 1t is violation of the
city's statutes to sell fireworks. Con-
sequently none have been seen or
heard here thus far.
Chief Shirley and his men intend to
keep order in the downtown district
tonight. Usually stubborn resistance is
encounted on Christmas Eve night
from men and boys who desire to form
professions and march about the
streets blowing horns and throwing
confetti. Nothing of this nature will be
tolerated. according to Chief Shirley.
1--WE are going to Join everybody in
having a good time he said, but we
want them to remain within the con-
fines of the law; and I hope that we
can report the most orderly Christmas
season in the citys history"