The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-11
CLERK COOPER en- THE GOALS
THE GRAND JURY INDICTs HIM
FOR EMBEzLLEMENT.

The Accused Arrested on n Bench
Warrant and Released on 5000
Bail-The Total Amount Charged
UD So Far Against the Ex-CIerl,
Sf,375, But the Accounts for Eight
Years Not Yet Looked Into.
Atlanta, Ca. April lO.-John Tyler Coop
er, ex-clerk OF the board OF county COM
missioners. was indicted FOR embezzlement
by the grand.jur to-day. The Indictment
grows out of the shortage In his accounts
with tho county which was disclosed to
the public a week ago. The matter was
taken up by the grand jury in called ses-
sion. Immediately after the returning OF
tho true bill a bench warrant was issued
and Mr.. Cooper was placed under arrest.
but was released by the sheriff upon bond
in the sum Of 5000 signed by J. d. Collins.
Mr.. Collins was Mr. Coopers companion
on the trip to Costa Rlca, where he went
soon after his retirement from the clerk
ship Of the board OF commissioners. and
being still absent from the city when the
shortage was discovered. Mr.. Cooper
came back to Atlanta Of his own free will
after he learned Of the exposure OF his
shortage and announced that he would
make the deficit good.
The commissioners were apparently will
ing to allow the matter to end IL the short
age was paid up and for several days
nothing was done, though the responsible
ity was shifted from Mr. Cooper to the
county treasurer by the board. 1t was
tnought than Mr. Cooper would make res
titution and thUt there would be no indlct-
ment, but late yesterday afternoon tho
grand jury was called together and the
members OF the county commission and a
number of other Witnesses were gummOn-
ed to appear this morning. Some of these
witnesses testified that they had paid IL
9llor taxes for years past, OF which Mr..
cooper mad made no return to the county.
and others had paid the tax on theatrical
performances and bought maps. the money
going tho same way. The total amount
50 TAR charged up against the ex-clerk Ia
Si,Si5. This reaches back only TO 1892. while
there Is evidence to show that Cooper 8
peculauons have been going on since 1854.
lie served the city as mayor one term and
at the same time held the position OF coun-
" clerk and IL appears that while IN that
high office he continued to salt down the
tax money that ought TO have gone into
Mr.. Coopers Indictment and arrest crea-
ted quito a sensation in the city on ac-
count OF the wide popularity and political
influence which he has enjoyed FOR the
past fifteen years or more Besides being
mayor and county clerk he has filled many
other important public positions In connec-
tion with the city and county government
during his career.
Mr.. Cooper had no statement TO make re-
gardng his arrest, except that he had al
ways admitted the shortage and intends to
mako II good. When the matter IS settled
up he Will go back to Costa Rica to live.
It was reported at the first announcement
of the defalcatlon that A. amounted to $50 :
900 or $4,000 and that the ex-clerk had car
ried the money off to Costa Rica with him,
but this has proved nothing but fake.
The county Is. however. out of pocket, Il is
believed great deal more than The
amount claimed of Mr.. Cooper.