The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-11-05
ROGERS SUSTAINED BY COMMISSIONER
 CLASS|F F|CAT|ON
Commissioner Cloe ChaI, IengeS All Charges Made Against Traffic Officer
 C. R. Rogers

Following a thorough investigation into the case in which both the ac- cuser and the accused offered wit nesses to substantiate their testi- mtny. Traffic Patroiman c. K Rogers Saturday was exonerated oi the charge of having offered a drink of whisky to J. H. Cornell, 46i; Fifth avenue, south, while at the circus grounds on the night of De- tober 20. W. M. Cloe. commission CT of public safety. In rendering his decision declared that in his mind the controversy had it's origin ir jealousy aroused in connell over two young ladies who were in the com pany of tho officer.
 ConneI in his allegation declared tfSt Rogers. while partially under the Influence of intexicants. had Of fered hi ma drink of whisky at the circus grounds while the two were in the company of three women. Con nell testified that the odor of whis, ky could be detected easily on the breath of the officer.
  avenue, Fairview, appeared at the hearing and testified Tn favor ei Cornell in the statement that his attention to the condition of off cer Rogers was called by Mrs. SuiH. van, his wife. Sullivan said that ths odor of whisky was evident about the person of the officer. although he was unable to say if the officer was in possession of any whisky oI if Rogers had offered Connell a drink. Sullivan was unable to identi- fy Rogers until the latter had stood erect and had donned his uniform cap.
 Rogers declared he had met Con- nell with the women, one of whom he knew. Rogers said that he took two of the girls in on passes that he had and that after seating them, he party. Rogers declared that this of fer tn his part was the only mention Cf drinks of any description offered by him or any one else.
 Traffic Sergeant E. W. CrumI testified that he was with Rogers for a considerable length of time dur ing evening of October 20 prior te the time the circus performance started and after 1t had closed. Ser geant Crump declared that he de- tected no odor of whisky about Rogers and that in his opinion the officer was guiltless.
 James c. Davis, solicitor elect, tes. tified at the hearing that he also met Rogers at the circus grounds or the night the offer is alleged to have been made and that he was un- able to detect an odor of whisky about the person of the accused man Beth statements were corroborated by Officers Hinds and Newman, traf- fic officers, who were with Rogers during the evening.
 Commissioner Cloe declared that he was of the opinion that Rogers in the event that he had been gull ty of taking & drink of whisky while in uniform, would have had man. hood enough about him to admit it MT. Cloe said, however, until such times to see that his men conduct ed themselves as officers and as gen tlemen and that he was willing te discharge any member of the force under his Jurisdiction when there was proof beyond a doubt of guilt Cloe said. however, that until such proof was furnished he would stand by his men until the last minute.
 Several business men of the city have appeared in person in the of flee of the commissioner of public safety as volunteer character wit nesses for Rogers.