Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-27
GRAND JURY
QUIZ MAY
Be ASKED
Graft Laid to Former Public
Works Board Head
Stirs County. q

An investigation of the sensational
charges that Captain T. ]. Donaldson.
recently removed as the head of tha
Fulton County Public Works Depart
ment, during the twenty eight years
Of his incumbency systematically took
provisions and supplies from the con-
vict barracks for his personal use.
will be demanded at the next regular
meeting of the County Commission
ers or at a called meeting within the
next few days.
Elk Chairman Shelby Smith, of the
Commissioners. talked reluctantly OF
the matter when he was seen Tues
day. He admitted that the investiga-
ton would be called for and, when
asked II criminal charges would be
preferred against the former superin-
tendent, significantly replied that this
would be something for the Grand
Jury to decide"
Admits Using Supplies.
Captain Donaldson is said to admit
freely that he used county provisions
and supplies, and even that he en-
ployed a county cook in his own
home, but he defends himself by say
Ing that he had full permission to do
this from one OF the old boards Of
County Commissioners and that he
thought that the arrangement was
still understood
Mr. Smith said that IL there was a
formal record In the minutes OF the
granting OF such a privilege he was
unaware Of It. He was asked the ap-
proxlmate value Of all provisions
taken
Only most thorough investiga-
ton can determine that" he replied.
Il had hoped that nothing would be
said in regard to the matter until the
investigation had been made and
Captain Donaldson's exact position in
the taking Of the provisions had been
fixed.
unjust Be Investis ation."
None OF the Commissioners wishes
to appear In the attitude OF persecut-
ing or depressing a man when he has
done nothing wrong. At the same
time we can not overlook our duty to
the county. If the county has been
defrauded, then the guilty person or
persons should be punished and pun
ished as they deserve There must be
an investigation. in my opinion
THE discrepancies in material as
It was recorded In the books have APP
peared from time to time. In going
over them casually, members of the
commission have been struck by the
apparent circumstance that provi-
sions were missing that never were
used by the county. This led to the
talk Of an investigation.
Then Captain Donaldson himself
a appeared before members of the board
last Saturday and told them unre-
servedly that he had been appropriat-
ing the provisions for his personal
use, but that he had been doing this
under an arrangement with one of the
old boards. We knew nothing of this
all Argument
Captain Donaldson Denoted.
When Captain Donaldson was re-
moved from his position as Superin-
tendent OF the County Department OF
Public Works early in January the
action was taken. It was said, to
equalize salaries and responsibility. S.
II. Donaldson. brother of the captain.
and long his assistant, was raised TO
the position.
Captain Donaldson was still kept in
the county employ, being appointed
superintendent OF paving and paving
repair, at salary of $500 a month,
drop OF an even 500 from his former
pay. The demotion of Captain DON
aldson was opposed at the time by
Chairman Waters and General Cliff
ford C. Anderson.