Atlanta Georgian., 1913-03-12
Full Investigation o f
Department Will Be
NJ a d e by County
Commissioners Early
Next Week.
Grand Jury indictments
Will Be S 0 u G h t
A G ainst Officers in
Grand Jury Room
Assault.

Startling disclosures in the county
police scandal involving four police
men. are made in what purports to be
affidavits signed by women, and now In
the possession of William III. Johnson
whose sensational charges OF incompe-
tency against Chief ZACH Rowan and
his administration have stirred the city
Johnson is a former county policeman
and state agricultural inspector.
Johnson declared today that the at
tack made on him yesterday afternoon
in locked jury room in the court house
was plot by Lieutenant John Oliver
and County Policeman A. W. Jackson
to murder him because of his threat
ened exposures.
He said he would ask grand Jury in
dictment of both officers on the charge
of assault with intent to murder.
Johnson had conference with Chair
man Shelby Smith. of the board of
county commissioners, and demanded Il
thorough investigation of the county
police system.
Chairman Smith promised an ex-
haustive probe, Which win begin early
next week on the return to the city Of
Nv Tom Winn, chairman of the police
committee of the county board.
| Chief Rowan denounced johnson. and
made a sweeping denial of all OF his
charges. declaring Johnson to be
prompted by spite" He said he well
coined a full investigation of his own
competency and conduct, and the af-
fairs OF the force.
Lieutenant Oliver and Policeman
Jackson Indignantly denied Johnson,s
murder plot charge and characterized
his general accusations as false and
unfounded. ~a
Sensational Affidavit.
The most sensational disclosures are
made in what purport to be afidavits
in Johnsons possession, signed by
women. involving the names of -four
county policemen.
johnson declared he would submit all
of his evidence to the board of county
commissioners in the general investi-
cation of the charges of incompetencv
against Chief Rowan and against the
administration of the county police
force, which he has demanded and
which is expected TO begin early next
week. The names of these women and
the names of the county officers are
known to The Georgian, but are with
held, as the alleged affidavits have not
become of record
In one Of these papers woman
charges that grossly insulting propo-
sltion was made to her. She is a mar
ried woman it is said
have obtained information con
eethlng some of these county officers
mat VIII reveal shocking state of ar
fairs and astound the PUBLIC" said
johnson to a Georgian reporter.
Further Sensations.
The probe by the county board is
also destined TO develop a further SEN
satlon concerning the charges Of john
son as to alleged friendliness between
Lieutenant oliver and a married wom-
an living in the Hapeville road. Just
beyond the southern outskirts Of the
city. 1t was a report by Johnson on
January 20 to Commissioner Turman as
to these alleged relations that is said
to have caused the fight between Oil
yer and Johnson in the locked jury
room on the fourth floor Of the court
house yesterday afternoon
i made this report to Mir. thurman
when'l saw Oliver and this woman din
ing together in Folsonl's restaurant
said Johnson. Il have been gathering
evidence against ,he county police for
some time. and | thought the commits
&ioners should know of such conduct
on the part of one Of their ieutenants
81 police. | have heard good mauv
things concerning O,iycl and this " ON
an. didn't think It proper that "a
lieutenant of police should be so inti-
mate with the wife Of another man.
u first sought Chairman shelby
Smith. but failing to find him. told
Mr.. Turman of the incident | in
yited him to lunch with me at Fol-
SONS. so. that he might see for himself.
but he declined the invitation | then
told him what was going on in the
restaurant. and asked him 10 accompa-
Continued on Pane TNvo