Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-02-21
CHATHAM POLICE
|ND|GN|T|ES To
Be PROBED
Atlanta Detective Accuses Of
ficers at Savannah of Bad
Treatment Over Prisoner.

rdiguities said to have been offered
Lieutenant McGrath and Policeman
,IcBrfde, Of the Savannah county po-
,,,, force. to Detective T. d. Shaw, of
ho Atlanta force. who has just re-
,nrned from Savannah with prison
or today are being investigated by the
chatham county commissioners and are
ovnectad to result in charges against
both officers.
Detertive Shaw today said he was
bnmjliated and mistreated, and de-
eared ne would go to Savannah to
testify against the two officers if it be
came necessary.
Shaw said Lieutenant McGrath and
officer Mcbride presented to him a
"nadded bill' of expenses for arresting
Matthew White, negro wanted in At
rsnta for skipping his bond, and that
they became angered when he refused
ro pay IT, Mcbride, he said, applied
unpleasant epithets to him.
Shaw said the officer became so of
fsnsive that Night Jailer Seyden called
him down" for his language.
Chatham Chief Indignant.
Chief A. r. Mcfarland, of county po-
lice. expressed himself to Detective
Shaw as highly indignant over the con-
duct of the two officers, and assured
him. Shaw said, that both men would
have to answer charges before the
county board.
Attorney John A. Boykin, acting for
Detective shaw has written letter to
Judge Frank chairman of the Chat
ham commissioners. laying before him
the matter in detail and assuring him
that the treatment of the Atlanta de-
tecrtyc was Of the rankest kind.
q have been to various sections Of
the country after prisoners, but never
before-North, East, South nor West
did | ever receive such treatment as
did at the hands of these county police
men in Savannah" said Shaw.
Detective Shaw's Story
Here is Detective Shaws story of the
incident:
The negro. Matthew White, was To-
Gated i'm the country. ten miles out from
Savannah, and on my arrival in that
city ! promised to pay Lieutenant Nc
Grath and officer Mcbride. who were
sent out to make the arrest, s. for their
time and 50 as arresting fee. They
were gone just As minutes, and when
they returned with the prisoner handed
ne a bill for $2625-$15 for their time.
so automobile hire and 1925 arresting
fee ! found. however. that they never
used an automobile at all, but went
after the negro on their motorcycles
and brought him in on a motorcycle.
while We discussed the bill, an at
tache in the county commissioners of
flee overheard the converse ton and
advised me that the bill was outrag eous
and should not be paid. The matter
was taken up with Chief Mcfarland
VINO treated me with the utmost kind
ness and consideration. He turned
down the bill absolutely and didn't
want me to pay anything. I insisted
however, on paying the So as I had
promised, and he accepted this, but re-
FUSED to allow me to pay an arresting
lee This, of course, made the two of
hcerS mad.
Abuse at Jail.
inc next morning -TUesdayII went
10 inc county jail to get the prisoner
ana McGrath and Mcbride met me
mere They again insisted that | pay
me DILL and uphraided me for my deal
.tsS with the chief. When informed
"ieiI' that the chiefs settlement of the
account was final. Mcbride began to
abuse me.
wanted to avoid personal diff
,u''S' and left the Jail with the prison.
Fl. McGrath seemed to realize his mis-
gized
II was the worst deal ever heard Of
','e ponce officer receiving at the hands
VI another police department."
Inc entire Atlanta detective force is
Shaw.
ne chatham county police force has
~" organized OnlV about six months