Atlanta Georgian., 1913-03-12
Continued From Page One.


with me, but that he would take up the
matter at once That's the last I've
heard Of it-there have been two reg
uiar meetings of the board since then"
Relations Cause Talk.
The friendliness of Oliver and this
woman has caused a lot Of talk in her
community"
Johnson then added quickly:
That's why Oliver tried to kill me
yesterday-because l exposed him.
That whole thing was premeditatcd
they know I'm after them
Chief Rowan today vigorously brand
ed the charges Of johnson as absolutely
false and unfounded
His charge that | am incompetent is
nothing but spite, that's the whole
story said the chief. Il have no fear
OF any investigation that may be made
the records and workings Of this de-
partment are open TO the world"
This man johnson is after my SCALP
He has been after 1t for years. He
VIII keep after 1t until he is squelched
He came into his job with the avowed
purpose of getting mine. To date he
has not succeeded. Nor will he sue
ceed. His whole statement is bluff and
bluster,' pure and simple He is lust a
pettyfogging politician hiding behind
the clouds of sensation which he has
caused to be thrown about the de-
partment. We invite any regular inves-
tigation OF this matter. But we will
take the stand that Johnson must pro-
duce facts. None of his gossip will be
tolerated. Facts we want and will
have AS have said, this is Just an
effort on Johnson's part to further his
own interests. He doesn't realize that
the campaign for the office of chief of
the county police is ended"
Charges Made Before
The chief laughed at the accusation
that any county officer had plotted the
murder OF 10 johnson.
"Oliver didn't try to kill him at all
he just shook him up a bit" he re-
marked with smile.
Oliver was indignant over Johnson's
charges. He said:
The stories that johnson spread
about me are plain les-nothing more
or less. He's sore on me, and for the
past year has been trying to hatch up
something on me that he could run TO
the county commissioners with. He
has failed. He lies when he says l
dined down town with a married wom-
an. He knows he lies and | can prove
It, AS to his alleged hints of immoral
conduct drunkenness, and the usual
sensational hows raised by the dis
gruntled office seekers those are mere
words. He can't prove one of them.
LAS to the affair yesterday in the
grand jury room, the fact is that !
never touched Johnson When we met
in the room | told Johnson Just whai
| thought of him in pretty plain Eng
lsh. Grabbing a chair he started To-
ward me. ! just grabbed him by the
collar and shook him like l would
rat-that's all. ] wouldn't hit the fel-
low-what was the use? | could handle
him like a boy If l careJ to. All this
howl he puts up about being maced is
rot. ! couldn't have used my club If
had had IT with me-"
No Positive Evidence.
AS to his detailed charges. Johnson
said he had no positive evidence of
graft In the department. He said. how
ever, that he would file his formal
charges in writing next week, on the
return Of Chairman w. Tom Winn, of
the police committee of the county
board, who is now absent from the city.
The affairs of the department have
been loosely conducted. and Chief Row
an has been cognizant of this. or at
least he should have been If he was on
the job. My heaviest ammunition will
be aimed at Rowan, as he is the head
of the department and responsible for
its general shortcomings He is totally
inefficient and incompetent, and has no
business in such a position OF course
all of the county officers are not in
VolVed in these charges-some of them
are splendid officers-but others will
certainly be shown up"
Johnson strongly hnted that he will
show that protection" has been af-
forded certain blind tigers. and said
other things besides women will be in
VoIved."
Il don't care to go into details lust
now until my case is fully prepared"
he explained. Il have been gathering
evidence for the purpose of demanding
for Il TO come just at this time. This
Infamous attempt to murder me vesteY-
day, however, has forced it to head. !
stand ready to go into the investigation
fully and let the blows fall where they
will"
As to the attack In the court house
Johnson said that after Lieutenant
Oliver "enticed him into the room
County Officer jackson lock,E the door
and stood by with his hand on his pis-
tol, while Oliver tried to kill him with
his billie"
Cries Saved johnson.
They would have got me. all right
and stopped my Investigations and
these exposures, had It not been that
my cries were heard in the hallway
outside by other officers who kicked
in the door and rescued me-" said John.
son.
I was attending the city criminal
Itra