Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-26
BATEMAN, FREED FROM
FRAUD CHARGE, SCORES
FIELDER AS PERSECUTOF

With the three indictments In which
he was charged with ewind'jug Frank
Rothleutner. OF KHgore. N,br-, out
Of $4,000. dismissed by Judge l. s
Roam, Judge J y Batemau Thursday
morning issued a statement in which
he defended his personal honor and
attacked Colonel Thomas p. Fielder
,Rothleutuer's attorney
Colonel Fielder he characterized as
a Creature" and an "insoleut swag-
gerer and pretentious bully" He
calls Felder's attack Of last March
Infamous" and "cowardIy"
A dismissal Of the indictments by
Judge Roam brings TO a close "a widely
discussed case Judge Bateman, who
is well known in Atlanta, was ar
rested in Miami, Fla, last March,
charged with feecing Eothlcutner in
ia fake poolroom scheme.
Three indictments were returned
against him by the Grand Jury. The
case came 90 trial this summer, and
The jury failed to agree Il IS I'M
derstood that on the final vote the
twelve men stood ten for acquittal
and two for conviction.
Charge Perjury.
Arguments for the dismissal Of the
indictments were heard last Saturday
and Judge Roan's order vindicating
Judge Bateman followed.
: Judge Bateman's statement Is as
follows:
Knowing well / had not committed
any crime. / was Of course, very
much amazed and surprised when ]
heard Of true bills against me by the
Grand Jury Of my home county.
The law requires that n Grand
Jury shall be composed OF the most
intelligent, upright and honorable cit
liens. Presenting that the gentlemen
who composed this Grand Jury are
such men as the law requires and cN-
meets them to he. l. OF course, am en-
titled to believe that not one of them
" ould have Intentionally done me a
wrong. For these reasons ] believe
the bills were founded upon per
Jury. | know nearly every member OF
that Jury and some OF them ! nave
taken 10 be my friends.
This has been one OF the most
monstrous and high handed games
ever attempted to be played upon any
one. The wild West never had lts
parallel ] came to Atlanta In jan
uary, 1888, from my native nome,
Houston County, Georgia, just below
macon. and have been engaged here
for these past 30-years In the practice
Of law and business pertaining there
10 and in all Of my life there H. nol
ANYTHING IN It l am ashamed or aifhlu
Never orunbled, He Says.
Il 81 anyone take this case To MN
self and think about IT, KNOWING
that YOU have not committed any
crime, or done anyone WrohE' anu
vet. without any cause Whatever 10
be arrested and informed that grave
charges are made against you Aoui
ma me sprend in the newspapers from
M end Of the country TO the other
as criminal, and headlines IN thehi
.aesienating YOU as chief gambler ol
the nation. taken into CUSTODY, cue
hills ~ Indictment by the Crane jury
~ vour own home county return 'u
against YOU, unusual and eNvt9SlN'
homo required OF you, lawyers 10 eW,
nlov TO defend your honor ana E0ou
name witnesses 20 bring nom "A ul7-
lance at a great personal eNP'n Se'
the humiliation of going throuEu 1"
trial. and hghting perured scouiut ~
10 save your honor, make C'se
this a thing that is almost uhe'''U'
able. .,, q,
..Tbo whole case concerning me IS
= faIsehood from beginning TO emo.
4 Know nothing Of II whatever. ana
never did Il is as foreign 10 my me
as Il is possible to be. / never "aS
al any time engaged In any KIND Oh
illegal sport. gambling or anything
ttbst nertains 10 it, | never was In a
noolroom used for betting on morse
races or for betting on anything elS,
or In any other way ana W"u'u NO.
know how such place appears.
am home man in the fullest sense 81
the word. finding my happiness the''
and not in Illegal gaming spo' -
Scores Colonel Fielder
"a. ,iras IN this ordeal through
which | have gone l have felt that a
double barrel shotgun. heavily ioao
"a with buckshot. would be useful IN
NV defense hut I thank God ! nave
restrained myself However, by aho
Nth the righteousness and Justice oil
the F,terual God that will let me I'VE
= shall. in the execution OF tho law
make those who have attempted TO tlN
anon me this infamv and shame. ac-
count for each and every one OF 'ue'l
acts.
"As to this man, T. r. Fielder. who
has been the moving and, no doubt
the encouraging counsel In this pros
scution. he has known me probably
for the past twenty years and b.,
knows am clear OF any OF the
charges that have been made. and
believe he knew IT when he made Ger