Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-15
HOT REPLY To
GRAF CHARGE
BY NJ CLELLAND


Processing Intimate Acquaintance
with the details of the counter
charges that are to be filed againsE
him. Alderman John r McClelland to-
day made reply before the accuse =
lions actually were submitted to the
special committee of Council appoint
ed to probe McClelland's graft
charges against other members Of
Council
The attorney bade defiance TO those
he claim. are plotting against him.
They can bring out all they want,
he declared. and ii won't hurt me
any. ! have nothing to conceal THESE
trumpet counter charges will not
amount to hill of beans. They'd
better be preparing themselves to an
swer my charges before they go
around trying to ferret out something
against me"
Alderman McClelland discussed the
graft probe freely to-day while he
was the center of a group in the ante
room of the Mayors office. He gave
assurance that he would refute the
charges without the slightest diff
Guilty. Mr.. McClelland said:
Admits Fee for Civil Matter.
Il understand they are going to
charge that Eva Clarke. former pro-
prietor of disorderly house in At
lanta. paid me a fee Of 500 to pro-
tect her from the police.
1T is true that | represented her
as attorney in civil matter. and trd"
that l took a fee from her. But
did not take the fee in consideration
Of protecting her from the conse-
quences Of violating the law.
She told me she was going to obey
the law. and take her mother into her
house with her and wanted me to find
out If the police. under those circum-
stances would modest her.
With the distinct understanding,
and on her positive assurance that she
was not going TO violate the law l
took the matter up with Chief Beay j.
ers. told him all the facts in the
case. including the fact that she had
paid me a fee. and he told me if she
lived properly the police would not
modest her.
Arrested After Three Days.
But in about three days. SO I'M
derstand, she broke her promise TO
keep the law and was arrested. and
given the choice of leaving town or
going to the stockade. She chose to
leave town.
Then, it seems, she got mad with
me because l didn't appear as her
lawyer to defend her in Recorder 5
Court.
She didn't engage me to defend
her for violating the law. She en-
gagged me to see that she was no.
molested so long q $ she lived within
the law
she had no understanding that
was to represent her in Recorder
Court. our understanding was that
she was to obey the law and thereby
keep OuJ Of Recorders Court. never
told her I'd represent her in Record
ers Court l couldn't have told her
that, because the charter prohibits a
member of Council from practicing IN
Recorders Court.
Defies His Aecusers.
They can bring out all they want
to and they won't hur, me at all. I've
got nothing to conceal, and all their
trumped coutner charges won't
amount to hill Of beans. They'd
better be getting ready to answer my
charges, instead of running around
trying to dig up something against
me
A friend of mine telephoned me
by long distance from jacksonville
last Sunday that he could get. if
wanted them. affidavits from Eva
Clarke that they paid her money Ia
make the affidavits. / told him he
needn't go to the trouble. as / didn't
want them. | understand. however
that he went ahead and GOT them
anyhow. II seems that their ennis
sary, whoever ne was represented 10
Eva Clarke that he was rcfunding the
f.a gna "a al me- 4,E il, -..-l . e.i