The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-19
INSPECTOR UNDER a CLOUD.
Charges Against Health Department
EmpIoye to he Investigated.


EmpIoye TO BE Investigated.
Charges against Sanitary Inspector Ber-
nard L. Mcdonald for drunkenness and
Eunbecomiug conduct toward a lady viii
lie Investigated by Mayor Meldrim to-
day. The circumstances upon which the
charges are based have been talked about
pretty generally. and while The investiga-
lion Will be secret. it is alleged some salty
allegations will be made against the in
spector.
The charges in brief are that Mcdonald
went TO the house of a south side resi-
| dent Wednesday night, where there lived
lady and four small children, asked per-
mission to look over the premises as a
sanitary inspector. and while being shown
around made several ungentlemanly prop
ositons Ii is also charged he was in
toxicated
Health Omcer LeHardy, who has charge
Of the sanitary inspectors, sent report
of the matter to Mayor Meldrim, though
rather tate an hearing of IT,
on account of the effort of
McDonaid's friends TO keep it under cover.
The last Or. LeHardy saw of Mcdonald
was Wednesday afternoon, when the in
a leave Of absence. He was granted II
and left the health office supposedly TO
go home. but ii seems he did not do So
When DR.. LeHardy heard the story he
was not inclined 70 attach much credit
to it, as Mcdonald had been an efficient
and conscientious inspector, and there was
no inclination to believe an uuconhrmed
report that he conducted himself in an
improper manner, and chat, too, on the
strength Of his being a public official In
order to get the facts, DIT. LeHardy de-
tailed his assistant, Mr. Melvin, to make
inquiry as to the truthfulness of the
story. He did so, but was not inclined to
divulge the version he got of it because
it was in the hands of the Mayor.
1t is understood, however, that Mr..
Melvin found the woman in the southern
section Of the city. Her husband went
into the army some time ago and she lives
alone, having the task of supporting her
self and four children, one of whom is
scarcely able to toddle from IT'S mothers
side 1t was further learned the woman
is highly thought of in the neighborhood
she lives and supports herself by her in
dustry as q seamstress.
AS to the facts of Inspector McDonald's
alleged conduct, il is reported the mother
and her children were sitting on the front
porch of their home. Mcdonald passed
The house two or three times. His conduct
becoming rather curious about the third
trip. The last time he stopped at the
stoop. which is close to the pavement,
leaned himself against the railing fami-
iarlv and entered into conversation.
1t was insisted that such an hour was
not the proper time to inspect houses,
but Mcdonald repeated he had been di-
rected to INSPECT the place which ii was
claimed was in bad condition Believing
il the best way out of the situation, and
knowing Mcdonald was intoxicated, the
woman went inside the door and pointed
the wav for him TO go.
McDonald's conduct was such that one
of the children was sent across the street
to Fireman Harris, who took charge of
the inspector and got him to his home.
After being taken home however, he re-