The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-02
PEOPLES FORUM
MT. Hclm,s side of It

- i
 The account of my arrest for vio- .lating traffic ordinance is incorrect sas you published the same, and does
 me an injustice. He tried to brush
 by a scout at Second avenue and
 Twentieth street while the signal
 showed red"
 Wrong, because l had already
 crossed Second avenue on the west
 side, also Twentieth street on the south side, when this jealous traffic
 officer. c. R. Rogers, whom it was
 my pleasure" to meet for the first
 time, in an unpleasant and ungen-
 tiemanly manner, and beautiful
 Birmingham, with rowdy and .lboisterously loud voice yelled "Hey!" appearing as if he were
 excited. nearly out of breath. I
 stepped down into the gutter in or der not to block traffic as a crowd
 began to gather. looked around
 and wondered what it was all about
 anyhow. Mir. Rogers asked me why
 1 brushed past the scout, that they
 were there for my protection.
 Thank you," said I, but don't
 need any nurse for crossing the
 streets" He said I was violating
 city ordinance. I asked, Since
 when!" Several weeks," he an
 swered. Told him that I had mo-
 tieed the signals, thought they were only for motor drivers. l don't drive a car, saw no notices any
 where for pedestrians, so didn't
 think the signals concerned me-. thought that was all, and began to
 move on. Instead, he said, You'll
 have to sign bond" pulled out
 some papers from his pocket, scrib-
 bled down something, handed it to
 me to sign. I asked, What for?"
 Its your own bond for twenty five dollars that you'll have to meet
 in court" he retorted. I felt thep and feel now that I have done no wrong, nor broken any law, there fore, would not sign any bond, but stated I would be willing to meet fin court. His answer was that he would have to take me to jail. We went.
 Don't bother me, sonny" he said to the scout, who called traffic of ficer, c. R. Rogers. Don't bother me, sonny" shows that I was neither rought nor ungentlemanly to the scout, and went as stated above. "YOu'll/ have to stand back till the light changes" the officer com manded. Il won't" Holm replied. That's falsehOod, as I had already crossed two streets as stated above: .I won't do either" Holm retorted, whereupon Rogers escorted him to the city hall" That is refuted!
 At night Police Court Judge Burns fined him $5 and admonished him to obey the signals in future" That is not right, either. About 7:15 p. m. was called in with about half a dozen trunks (they looked like gentlemen, ,well-dressed, but had taken in-0r On-too much corn-lightning), to plead guilty. Some officer asked me if I would plead guilty, my answer: No, sir !" Thep he turned me back into jail again. After a while I was called again. The judge asked me if I would plead guilty, my answer No, sir!" Then Mir. Rogers and were sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, ''so help you God" To this I said Amen :" The officer charged me with violat- ing the traffic law, walking across the street. The judge asked for my views. Your honor," said I, lin always sober and do not need any nurse to take me across any street in Birmingham, either day or night. As to the traffic law, feel that l haven't done any wrong, that the signals were for motorists, as I do not drive a car and had not read mp about the proposed ordinance. l only walked across the streets, not interfering with any one." You are fined $5," said the judge. Re fuse to pay" said I. Then the judge ordered me back to jail. A friend of mine Ga friend in need is a friend indeed) stepped up and paid the fine, else l would have been in jail five days for crossing a street in Birmingham, Ala, U. $. A. .
 The Age-Herald's version is that Judge Burns admonished me to obey the signals in future is not so. The judge will bear me out. Per haps The Age-Herald meant he ought to have said it. Perhaps the judge had respect for "old age" more than can be said of many peO- pie here. I would like to know, as 1 understand it, I being the first such offender being arrested and fined $5 for walking across a street in Birmingham, for the benefit of all and the good name of our fair city, what is the minimum and maximum fine or punishment for walking across the streets! In closing this first chapter of this unpleasant case, l make this a formal request that you publish the facts as they actually are. J. P. HOLM.