The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-26
YEATES TO COME OUT WINNER.
GEOLOGICAL COMMITTEES REPORT
WILL BE FAVORABLE.

Investigation SHOWS the survey has
Been BeneHciaI-I Gates work
viii Also BE COMMANDMENTS
toms Grand Jury Wants to Get Rid
OF the Fee System-A Doctor Ac-
cuScd of Deserving His Patient.
Strickland Not Worried.
Atlanta. Ga. Jan. 25.-The Investigate lion
OF The geological department OF the state
which has been in progress for ten days
past. viii be completed this week To-
morrow VIII practically wind up the TAX
ing of evidence.
Former Governor Atkinson has been
summoned and VIII appear at that time to
tel what he knows about the working of
the department. the Governor being a
member Of The geological board. Former
Governor Northen has already been eX-
amined on the subject. and il is quite GER
tain that what he said was highly com
mandatory Of the work being done by the
euryey.
Besides these distinguished ex-offieers a
number u other Witnesses have been in
terrozated ana all the records of the de-
the members Of the inves tigating commit
tie VII ,alk about their work for publ
cation. bat il can be stated with positive
assurance that they viii report unanimous
~ IN favor Of the maintainence of the sur
Vey. Il is also pretty certain if the guard
ed admissions of some OF the members are
worth founding the prediction upon. that
they VIII sustain the administration of
the present geologist Prof. Yeates
Fight Made on Yeates.
There was a personal fight made on
Geologist Yeates at the meeting of the
legislature and this fight was the foundI-
ton for the present investigation.
As an indication of the minds of the
members of the committee, 1t may be re-
lated that at least one member who had
voted to reduce the appropriation in the
legislature after the investigation he has
made, now says the department has not
been getting enough money TO accomplish
the desired results, in fact, that 1t ought
TO get twice the amount il is now get
ting. This is quite a change of heart In
man who was no friend of the depart
ment when he was named upon the com
mittee. If the investigation has had this
effect upon him, 1t must necessarily have
strengthened the determination of those
who were known to be friendly to the
department when they were appointed
upon the investigating committee.
To Abolish the Fee system.
Fulton county grand jury made its pre-
sentiments to-day, and among many other
important topics of reform, recommended
that the fee system of paying county Of
f1cers be abolished and salaries substitute
ed, the proposed change to be submitted
to a vote of the people at the next cleo
ton.
There is little or no doubt as to the re-
suit of such a vote. The county offices of
Fulton are veritable gold mines for the
incumbents. Many of them could not be-
gin to earn as much in business as they
draw from their offices, and the public has
long ago come TO the conclusion that there
should be a reformation of the whole sys-
TEN.
The grand jury has moved TO take up
the subject with view of having an I'M
derstanding upon it before the next cleo
tioQ of county officers. so that they may
not lay claim to any rights in the emolu-
ments above The salaries to be proposed.
Accused of DESERVING Patient.
There was another sensational feature
to-day in the suicide of Mrs Belle Strlck-
ldn0, WHO look StENCntiluG last night De-
cause her husband had deserted her. tax
ing away with him the bed upon which
she slept to put in pawn for money to buy
whisky.
A young doctor by the name of Awtrey,
who was called in by the neighbors when
the young woman was found unconscious,
was accused by several of these people
of having deliberately abandoned his pa
tient while there was hope of saving her,
because he did not see any prospect of a
fee in the case. Three of the women who
gathered about the deathbed of the I'M
fortunate young wife this afternoon join
in the statement that they heard DR..
Awtrey say, after seeing her and admin
istering a dose of medicine of some sort,
that while she might be saved, he did
not see anything in it for him, and couldn t
afford to work all night with her for moth
ing.
The publication of this accusation
against the doctor has caused a bitter
feeling against him, the case of the poor,
heart-broken woman having attracted
widespread attention.
Awtrey Denies the story.
DR.. Awtrey however, emphaticaIly denies
what the women say of him. He con-
fesses that what he said was that there
was no chance for the woman to recover,
and. therefore. he would not remain with
her as he had other patients who needed
his attention. If there had been hope for
her he would have stayed.
Thomas Strickland, the husband of the
suicide, did not know what had happened
until this morning. He was too drunk all
night to understand anything that was
said to him about it. When he recovered
his senses he did not seem to be at an dis
turbed at the tragic death of his faithful
wife, but took it without any show OF
emotion or regret.
Strickland admitted having taken away
the furniture, having been compelled 70
Vacate because he was behind with rent
he says. He declared that he had shipped
the furniture to Gainesville. but the no
lice do not believe a word of this tale. II
is in pawn shop, they say Strickland
claims 10 be a bricklayer and watch
maker by trade, but has had nothing TO do
since coming to Atlanta.