Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-09
Deposed Railroad Commissioner
Makes Hypothetical Defense
Which Investigators Accept as
Argument" but Exclude as
Evidence.
M'LENDoN WANTS NO
LAWYER; WILL ASK
QUESTIONS HIMSELF
President Gambler, of Central
Bank, Tells Committee That MIR.
w. II. Patterson, Missing Star
Witness, Will Be There Friday.

That h has violated no law OF the seaCe
sven though he may at one time nave HeI :.
and later diSposd Of certain Oonos ~ ~
the Athens street railway COMPANY, =
the reply OF s. Guyt AcLenooh. III :.
chatrnan OF the railroad commission %
cs.o-gta 20 the bond-dealing charse
v~hich the Joint resolution OF the gen
sral assembly directed its committees -
tnve~tixats In connection with the Isa
wonn given by former Governor hAAe
Smith for suspending Mr.. AeLenoon
from the railroad commission
Fsut Mt. McIendon denied that ne nae
ever owned any bonds OF the Atnens
street railway. He had never even seer
any such bonds, he said his oenlA %
this charge, after his hypotheucA oe-
fense. was nat 49,.
eommittee began It's work. Thursday az
terpoon. In the senate chamber AZ tne
capitol. that he would not be represented
by counsel and that he reserved the rlgn'
"a represent himself In that capacity
Mr.. McLendon. after his printed repD
~ bean read to the charges cited hy
FORMER Governor Smith as the executive
basis for suspendIng him. handed TO the
COMMITTEES a supplementary reply CON
tanning the contention that ne Mr
McLendon. could today own ever
ems street railway and still be ooservan'
az the letter Of the law. for he said the
original law defining the qualifications OF
railroad commissioners and prohibiting
their connection with railroads speclncal'
IL exempted street railroads
Mr. McIendon took the position, fur-
theruore. on this same point. that wher
the Athens street railway bonds were
sold IN October, 1905. whatever disquah'
ncations had lain against him, II theF'
had been any. were removed
McLENDON MAKES STATEMENT
Mr.. McLendon's supplementary repl,
began with the already published ex
PLANTATION OF why he went into the oone
deals-that he tried to interest capital II
the WrightsviIle and Tennille railroad
for the effect Il would have upon th'
guhernatorial campaign
Asa G. Gambler, president OF the Cen
trail Bank and Trust Corporation, ap
reared before the committee Immediately
upon its converting. Thursday afternoon
. and declared that W. H. Patterson. vice
president OF the bank. who has admitted
Iutfrnr /. knowledge OF the bond deals By
Mr.. sLendon. and who is considered
one OF the star witnesses OF the inves
tfzation. would be on hand 10 testify II
the investigation Friday Mr. Patterson
had left the city Wednesday afternoon
before the committees subpoena could
reach him Information as 10 his where
abouts was refused at the bank, TO
Journal representative. Thursday morn
ing.
At as o'clock the committee adjourned
until Monday afternoon. at O'Clock.
when the meeting OF the McLendon IN
vestigating committee was called TO or
der. Thursday afternoon. Messrs. Slater
wright and Ellis failed to respond &
their names. and a recess was takel
pending their arrival. At the suggestion
OF Mr. Brown. the members Of the com
mittee present retired TO further conside
the method OF procedure. II was IN
idea OF Mr.. Anderson that the COMMITTEE
should first consider Governor Smith
reasons for suspending Mr. McLendon
before hearing any evidence bearing ol
Mr.. McIendon's bond deals
Mr.. Asa @. Gambler. president Of tn
Central Bank and Trust Corporation. Jus
previous 70 the meeting, appeared to no
tify the committee that ". H. Patterson
vice president OF the bank. who is wants
as q witness. Will return to Atlanta Fri
day. and be subject to the call OF tn
committee.
McLENDoN PRESENT.
8. G. McLendon, the suspended commits
sioner. was among the first to arrive &
the chamber. He occupied a place nea
where the committee sat. Sitting imme
diately 20 hts left was Congressma
GrigEs. Of the Second district. Mr.. Nc
Tendon informed the committee that h
had no counsel. but hoped TO be abb
70 ask such questions Of witnesses as oc
CURED 10 him He appeared IN goo
humor, and while the resolution Great
ing the committee was being read talke
and laughed with Judge Griggs.
AS the committee returned from Il
conference. Messrs. Slater. Boyd. wrigh
and Ellis came in
SMITHS MESSAGE READ.
AS a preliminary formality, the mes
sage OF Governor Smith. giving his res
sons for suspending Slr. McLendon. wa
read By Secretary MeElreath- The read
ing was given close attention. thong
most OF those present were familiar wit
its contents
The printed copy OF Mr.. McLendOn'
statement TO the legislature was mex
read. The length OF the statement evi
IDENTIFY tired Secretary McElreath. an
he was relieved in the reading by Nj
Wright
McLENDON ADDS TO REPLY.
Mr. McLendon declared. at the cor
clusion Of the reading OF the statement
that the resolution injected anothe
Misunderstanding 10 the bond deal. II
said he wanted 20 submit an additions
statement. which he had very recent
been enabled 20 perfect
The statement was then read II trace
briefly the history OF the campaign G
lscs. particularly the railroad rate phase
OF f. A letter written 10 A. F. Bailey. G
the Wrightsville and Tennille railroad
regarding the issuance OF bonds by tina
road was produced The statement ais
contained a reply by Mr.. Bailey. In whic
Il was stated the bonds OF the road coul
not be sold below par.
Mr.. McLendOn's statement further CAV
the opinion that the bonds were a goo
investment, the value Of the issue bein.
Il was stated. scarcely Of the value c
the rails Of the road
IL was further stated that the writer
mention Of the bonds was simply a ma
ter Of opinion which he had espresso
70 friends. The sale Of the bonds woul
have been OF value 20 Governor Smit
IN his campaign. he thought He state
he was never interested in any bonds Z
stocks that could be affected BY N
action OF the railroad commission. TIL
law governing this matter was quoted.
Mr.. Anderson moved that Mr. Meier