The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-26
HOLIDAY SEASON
QU|ETEST IN THE
HISTORY OF CITY
Chief of Police Shirley Says
There Were No Serious
Disorders Yesterday
THIEVES MADE RAID
ON REFRIGERATORS
Minor Disorders Help to Swell the
Number of "Boarders' at the City
Jail-Prisoners Given Free
Christmas Dinner

Not a single shooting, accidental or
otherwise, or serious affray occurred
yesterday to mar the Christmas sea-
son. Although there were some VIOLA
tons of the law, the day passed with
out a single serious disturbance being
recorded at the police headquarters. This
is in striking contrast with the records
Of previous years.
The past week has been by far the
quietest holiday season in the history
of the city and although Birmingham s
citizens celebrated the occasion as much
as ever, they did SO in a more orderly
manner.
Police authorities were kept somewhat
busy throughout the day in answering
minor calls. Complaints came to head
quarters during, the early hours of the
morning and calls were noted until late
in the afternoon
JAIL INMATES INCREASED
AS a result the city Jail last night
contained more prisoners than any time
within the past few months. A total of
81 arrests were made from midnight
Tuesday until late hour last night.
Twenty of the victims of the enforce
ment of the law were negroes. The ma
jority of the arrests were for disorder
y conduct and drunkenness. Fights
among the negroes were somewhat num-
erous, but no serious injuries resulted.
Absence of fireworks greatly lessened
the work of the officers, although con-
siderable trouble was encountered from
boys with blank pistols and as re-
suit the police department is in possess
sion of a large number of these harm.
less weapons: confiscated from young
sters who were discharging them in the
downtown district
FOOD THIEVES ACTIVE
Burglars and thieves We're compare
lively idle. A few minor robberies were
reported and in no case was a big
"haul'' made. The refrigerators were
the prey of the robbers, but in all cases
food alone was taken Several citizens
had their Christmas turkey and other
foodstuffs taken
Chief Shirley was highly e1ated with
'We expected some business today" said
CnleI shirley, 'DuI the past week mas
been one of the quietest in the history
of the city during my long experience
as an officer: 1 believe the citizens en-
joyed and celebrated Christmas as well
as ever, but they accomplished the same
in a quiet and law-abiding manner, and
with little or no disorder
SOLDIERS AID OFFICERS
From the soldier boys who were Wis
Ting in the city from the various camps
and cantonhents in the south, the po-
lice received practically no trouble, ac-
cording to Chief Shirley. In several in
stances they aided the officers in quell-
ing disturbances, he added.
At the city jail yesterday the prison
ers were treated to an elaborate din
ner by the city The usual cowpeas n I'd
cornbread were missing from the menu
and in their place turkey, potatoes, cell
cry, dressing, cake, candy, apples, nuts
and loaf of bread were substituted.
The prisoners were not limited to their
supply and all ate to their hearts con-
tent The prisoners enjoyed the meal,
which was said to be the best ever
rendered to the occupants of the city S
hotef' as their Christmas gift.