The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-05
JOHN TYLER COOPER ON TRIAL.
HE Is ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLING
FUNDS OF FULTON COUNTY.

The Accused Once Mayor of Atlanta,
Clerk of the Board of County Conn
| missiOners and a Powerful InGu-
ence In Political Matters-A New
Board Orders an Investigation ard
Brings to Light an Alleged short
age of About $4,000 In His Ac-
counts.
Atlanta. Ca, June AFTER hanging for
more than a year in the court, being put
off from time to time upon various
grounds, the case of John Tyler Cooper,
ex-clerk of the board of county commits
sioners, was called for trial by Judge
John S. Gambler to-day. Contrary to ex-
pectations, both sides announced ready.
and CooDer's fate is now in the hands of
a jury. The Indictment against him is
for emblezzling the funds of the county
while acting as clerk of the board of COM
missioners, a position which he held for a
number of years.
John Tyler Cooper was up to a few
years ago. considered one of the most
powerful influences in municipal politics.
He was a member of various municipal
bodies and had served the city a term as
mayor, at the same time being clerk of
the board of county commissioners, one
of the latest offices in the county. He
dominated the affairs of the
board until one day, two years
ago. a surprise was sprung in the shape
of the election of a new element on the
board. This new element began to inves-
tigate things, and as result, it was not
long before Clerk Cooper was doomed.
When the end of his term was reached
he was quietly dropped, and a new man
elected to fill his place. Shortly after
wards Mr.. Cooper left for Costa Rica, on
a pleasure trip. While he was away it
was announced by the board that he was
short in his accounts, an expert examiner
of the books having demonstrated this
fact. At first the amount was put at $1,000,
but before the final report was made the
shortage amounted to over twice this
amount.
Mr.. Cooper returned to Atlanta from
Costa Rica, admitting part of the short
age, but maintaining that he had no Grim
nal intention, and claiming that there
was in fact, nothing criminal in
the transaction. The grand jury
found an Indictment upon the
facts as adduced by the board.
Mr.. Cooper said that he was willing at
any time to make good the amount of
the shortage, which he claimed was only
about $1,000, and finally the commissioners
accepted the amount rendered by Mr..
Cooper and gave him a receipt in full for
the whole amount of the alleged short
age. The commissioners also indicated
their willingness to allow the Withdrawal
of the criminal proceedings but Judge
Gambler refused to acquiesce, declaring in
court. when the request was made, that
it would never do to set such a precedent
because of the influence of the accused
and insisted that the case must go to
jury before il could be settled in his
court. An effort was made to quash the
indictment during the absence of Judge
Gambler, and when his bench was beins
occupied by another judge, but this also
failed
number of witnesses were examined
for the state to-day. They were mostly
liquor dealers. who had paid for licenses,
and whose checks given to Clerk Cooper
never found their way into the county
treasury. Members of the board Of coun-
ty commissioners were also examined,
and the shortage, which is not denied,
was thus established. A great deal of
public interest is manifested in the trial
because of the former political power
welded by the defendant and the repeated
efforts that have been made to shut Off
prosecution.