Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-01
SEEKS
POLICEMEN
IN CLUBS
Members of Force Belonging to
Locker Organizations Likely
To Be Dismissed.

A rigid investigation into the rela-
tions Of the police and the locker
clubs of Atlanta was begun Tuesday
by Chief Beavers in connection with
the police scandal probe.
Sergeant L. S. Dobbs was assigned
to make a thorough examination Of
the locker clubs membership books,
with instructions to ascertain the
names of members of the police de-
partment who appear thereon, and
report them to him.
New and startling disclosures of
police corruption will be made if the
evidence said to be in the hands of
Chief Beavers is substantiated.
Big Shake-uP Foreseen.
Coming on the heels Of the stories
of disgraceful orgies at the notorious
Ola Bradley resort in the rear of l27
Auburn Avenue the new revelations
of the alliance between the police
men and the blind tigers and locker
clubs are expected to presage a
wholesale shake-up in the ranks.
Chief Beavers has reports in his
possession that many of the men on
the force. in deliberate violation of
years ago, have cards of mem
bership in the city's locker clubs.
Other reports are to the effect that
certain policemen are in the habit Of
drinking frequently at the locker
clubs and in the blind tigers.
The practice is said to have result
ed in the virtual protection OF places
which are being conducted contrary
to law and in the decentralization of
a part of the police force. The in
vestigation into the locker club fea-
ture of the police scandal was begun
quietly by Chief Beavers. When the
news of the probe leaked out, the
Chief refused to discuss it at any
length. 1t is known, however, that
the locker clubs are being carefully
watched and that the name of every
policeman who enters, except on
business, is reported to headquarters.
wore wen tnNOlNSus
A number of dismissals and sus-
pensions are anticipated. Chief Beav-
ers said that he was without sufficient
evidence at present TO make known
the names fanny of the men who are
in danger of dismissal, but intimated
that several policemen who have not
been mentioned in the scandal up to
this time would be involved.
That the exposures in the police
department will result in the Grand
Jury reopening it's probe into vice
conditions, and the alleged practice
of patrolmen in visiting locker clubs
and blind tigers" investigated, is
expected when the jury goes into
executive session Tuesday morning.
BaiHffs and deputies are in readi-
ness to begin issuing subpenas for
persons to give testimony along this
line and it is regarded as not i'm
probable that Colonel Thomas B. Fell
der will be recalled to submit new
evidence he is said to have secured
that substantiated his charge Of cor
ruption.
When the Grand Jury finished its
vice probe more than a week ago it
was learned II would make a favora
BILE report on the existence of alleged
protected vice and commend the po
life force for its efficiency.
Expose Changes Plans.
The recent expose that called for
the suspension of eight patrolmen
under charges of protecting, or not
reporting, a negro blind tiger and dive
they are said to have frequented, and
the charges of corruption and fur
Their investigation shat followed, will
result in the Grand Jury changing
its presentment and more than likely
going deep into the locker club and
blind tiger question.
That Chief of Police J. L. Beavers
believed he had not finished his work
when he suspended eight patrolmen,
and was willing to go before the
Grand Jury to tell II the result Of his
Investigations thus far. was substan-
tiR.ed in an interview with him Mon
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