The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-28

of the criminal division of the circuit foreful special charge to the Jeffe
 He called to the attention of the jury the various charges being made on the street regarding the enforce ment or nonenforcement of the law, with reference to boarding ana rooming houses and places where It is said liquor is being sold.
 The court also instructed the jury that if there has been official con nivance at crime, or vice or any other offense, or if the officers have been acting corruptly with reference to these law violations or are pro- tectiug In any way yiolators Of the law, it is the duty of the grand Jury to ascertain the facts, and If eVi- dence is found to substantlate these charges they should let the puplc know it.
 Special Charge
 The special charge of Judge Fort
 Defend Birmingham
 'fOn yesterday after the charge was delivered, I notice that the neWspa per accounts laid d special empha- sis upon what their construction or the charge that this county--ln other words in the charge was attemptlhB to defend Birmingham, thus putuhs a political aspect upon the reterehce that I made to Birmingham being as good as any other city, so Tar as having in 1t some of the best people in the world.
 "My attention has been called to the fact that there are nunipet of charges being made upon the charges been made repeatedly in reference to the way in which the law is eh- forced or nonenforced in this city III regard to so-called boarding houses and rooming houses and places where if is said that liquor is sold freelS and where women of loose reputaLloh resort, and young men and youhs women are being gathered into such places frequently and to the detriment of the morals of the community.
 "It is also alleged and charged upon the streets that there is offlclai pro- lection or official connlVance loi things that ought not to be. III other words, violations or the law Now nothing could be more serioue than such d state of affairs, 1t IS eN- ists If there be an official high or low higher up or lower down. in what ever range, that would connive at violation of the law and thus tend to bring into disrepute pubic ]ustlcc whether in the city of BirmingnaH or in the county at large, such olti- cer ought to have his connection with any such state of affairs maue public.
 No Whitewash
 "I want to say to you gentlemen that so far As this court IS con cerned and all the officers or ehls court, that l hope you Will not whitewash anybody; that IT there had been official connivances at crlhle O. vice or any other offenses againsl the law in this city, or II there nay been officers who are cofruptiy ac1 inc with reference to the opposed enforcement of the prohibition law if they are acting corruptly in reIef ence to the handling of their otticial duties in that regard, or If they arg nrotecting in any way violators or inc law. whatever it be, that law 'or any other law, why the very hfst duties of the juries, of the grand nIry especially, is to see what the facts are. and if they find evidence to substantiate these charges, theS ought to let the public know IL; De- cause, my friends. public oplnlon' when it is once informed, will rishe these things. We will have better community if we just know wha. the facts are, if an impartial trlpuhdi has found those facts, because pup lie opinion is not going to stand ioi any official corruption or any or ncial connivance at law violations u matters not where it comes from; IL may be your friend or 1t may De mine. but if he does that kind or business he ought not to be the frleho of any good man.
 Charges Made
 Now. l want to call your atesh- tion to that because in the mios' of inc campaign now going on these charges are being seriously made pS neople. many of whose sincerity We cannot doubt. Many good women are taking interest in the campaign ana are trying. in the first place. to throw lisht upon dark places; they are trying to ascertain what the truth IS and give the public the benefit or H.
 "I am not speaking of those wom- an. any woman who may be seeking popularity, anything ol that kind' put I am talking about that whenever tbe good women or good law abiding men of any community seriously charge that law violators are sbeihs screened or protected find out on behalf of the public what they have