The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-28
BROOKE SAYS HE
 WILL FIND TRUTH Has Little to Say About the
 Investigation SENT BY GOVERNOR To Whom He Is Making Daily Re- ports of His Progress-Exami-
 ner Will Go Before the
 Grand Jury
SENT BY GOVERNOR

H. Y, Brooke, state examiner of public accounts was sent to Jefferson county further to inquire into those innumerable and intangible rumors of graft and offi- cial misconduct which have been cur rent for a long while, and which have ex- tended over the entire area of Alabama.
 But MT. Brooke has not made known the plan of his investigation, the scope of his investigation, or the individuals whose alleged misconduct will be the sub ject of his investigation.
 ''I was sent to Jefferson county" he stated yesterday, "to go to the depths of the rumors of graft. l am attempting to do so. | was instructed to conduct the examination in secret and to make no statements of explanation to anyone. I am going to do the work thoroughly as l can, and because of the fact that as d result, full light will be thrown on the rumors, I hold it that everyone is pleased. It is my purpose. as result Of the investigation to prove the rumors true or false. in other words, to clear tne situation entirely After the investi- 1 gation, l will submit a copy of the tes- timony to the governor and to Judge | dations."
 Brooke Is Reticent
 Are you Investigating, as is reported. l the allegation that P. G. Bowman, coun- 1 ty back tax collector, has turned his off, flee over to A. A. Gambil?" he wsa asked.
 1 He made no reply.
 Are you Investigating" he was asked. the report that fund was collected from the applicants for saloon licenses l to be used in the local option fight in Lauderdale county?'
 T was sent into Jefferson county.'' was the reply of MT. Brooke. with in- structions to make public no phase of my Investigation
 Asked when the investigation would bs concluded, he replied, q cannot say. The 1 examination of one witness brings into prominence other names. It is then ec- l essary to find the owners of these other names and summon them witnesses. Thus the task grows and it Is impossible l to predict when the work will be com- peted."
 When asked if he would investigate the report that a large sum of money was raised in Jefferson county with which to conduct a lobby for whisky bills through the legislature and the report that cer- tain checks are in existence made pay able to cash" signed by liquor dealers. and endorsed by prominent individuals. MT Brooke declined to make a state ment. The general understanding, how ever, is that Mr. Brooke is or has been inquiring into the alleged transaction be- tween Back Tax Collector Bowman and A. A. Gambil and that he is investigate ing or will investigate the other rumors, to which reference is made above.
 The Examiner PhilOsophizes
 "Rumors, however," stated MT. Brooke. "are as is known. generally based on little truth no truth at all Because there are rumors in the air, and be- cause these rumors are being investi- gated, is no accurate indication that there will be sensational developments. It is generally thes rule that one per cent of a rumor is based in truth, and that that percentage of truth is negative quan- tity. However do not misunderstand me l am not making prediction as to the outcome of the investigation. I am not talking of the investigation, in fact"
 | twill you examine Colonel Bowman?' was another question asked. l "Oh, yes" replied MT. Brooke. He will probably be the last man called upon.'' l In discussing his mission, Mir. Brooke said: "I was prepared to go into Geneva county for the purpose of examining public l accounts when the governor, calling mo | from the breakfast table, instructed mo | to move into Jefferson county for the purpose of Investigating certain rumors. | The task 1t is needless to state, is not pleasant one. However, l intend do- | ing the best I can, and those who know me realize that if there is a bottom and that bottom can be reached. I will go there On arriving in Birmingham, busted myself in finding the sources of | testimony, and then prepared for the | examination of witnesses. I started the | examination. and, stated, there is no way of indicating when the work will | be concluded
 Before Grand Jury l Mr Brooke, while talking, was await ing his time of entrance into the room of the grand jury, it being the impress sion that that inquisitoria body is also Investigating certain rumors, and that | the examiner is furnishing the jurors | with testimony.
 | Questioned just as he entered the cham- l ber, he replied that he was, of course. l furnishing the governor with daily re- l port of his progress.
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