The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-05-14
SHERIFF. T. J. BATSON


81 haven't anything to say in regard
to the action which I took yesterday"
said Sheriff 7. J. Batson when inter-
viewed yesterday, except that / did my
best to close every business open in viola
ton of the law. This l have done be-
fore, as citizens of Birmingham well
know.
LAS for the moving picture men having
anything to do with the arrests, there is
absolutely nothing to it. They did not
have single thing TO do with 1t. The
arrests that were made through my Of
flee were made upon my own initiative.
Those made by the constables I have
nothing to do with and, in fact, did not
know that they intended to act. | am
not responsible for any arrests that they
made NY men did not arrest the man
ager of East Lake park. They did arrest
one poolroom operating in violation of
the law in Brighton. / am not modern
Joshua and cannot point sword at the
sun and command it to stand still.
did all the work possible in the time at
my disposal Had 1 had more time the
arrests would have continued
JUDGE M'QUEEN
Judge John Mcqueen, who heard and
dismissed nearly 100 Of the cases during
Yesterday after the COSTS $2.75 had been
paid, made a statement.
.sIn view of the fact that these men
were following a custom that has been
generally observed for years did not I'M
pose fine today" he said. Instead,
with a warning they were dismissed.
Should they be hailed into court again
on this charge. however, ! Will be COM
PEELED to affix a fine. In accordance
with the law the arrests should nave
been made. The law on this subject,
chapter 49, sections TS14-7S19, of the GRIM
A L. hrno
far-rea ching; in fact, the way in whlch
interpret it no sale is allowed on sun
day except that of drugs.
IA constant stream of proprietors bear
ing their bonds appeared in this court
all during the day, asking for informa-
ton and expressing in no uncertain terms
their opinions about the arrests"
JUDGE ABERNETHY
Judge H. B. Abernethy, before whom
the men arrested by Sheriff Batson will
be brought Friday. stated that as far
as his court was concerned, the cases
would receive the same consideration as
any others brought there.
s.I am not in favor of receiving the
cases and only collecting the ices a..
tached to the arrests said Judge Alb
ernethy. 1.-THE law has been violated
and the men who violated it are be-
ing brought before me for trial.
They will get it. Personal views are
not to be placed above the law IL
law is obnoxious it should be re-
pealed, not ignored
CONSTABLE HOWLE
Constable George Howle. of Pre-
cincts "a and 10. stated yesterday that
he wanted 1t plainly understood That
he had absolutely nothing to do with
the arrests. and that although part OF
them were made in his territory, 1t
was without his knowledge.
at is still more absurd" he stated,
"for people to advance the theory that
the drive was made upon the solicit
tation of the movie men. Why the act
would have been one of basest ingrati-
tude, for the very men who were
closed were the ones who were fight
ing for the pictures to remain open
on Sunday. To my knowledge this
was not so. The moving picture men
should be entirely exonerated."
T. s. ABERNETHY
T. S. Abernethy, manager of the
Strand theatre, also made the state
ment that the moving picture men had
absolutely nothing to do with the ac-
ton and that they desired that this he
made known to the public.
1t was stated by member of the