Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-27
JURY
INQUIRY
MAY BE
ASKED

An investigation of the sensa-
tional charge that Captain T. j.
Donaldson, recently removed as
the head of the Fulton County
Public Works Department, dur
ing the twenty-eight years of his
incumbency Systematically took
provisions and supplies from the
convict barracks for his personal
use, will be demanded at the next
regular meeting of the County
Commissioners or at a called
meeting within the next few
days.
EX-Chairman Shelby Smith. of the
Commissioners, talked reluctantly OF
the matter when he was seen Tues
day. He admitted that the inyestiga-
ton would be called for, and. when
asked if 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 ne
thought that the arrangement was
still understood
Mr.. Smith said that if there was a
formal record in the minutes Of the
granting OF such a privilege he was
unaware OF It. He was asked the APP
proximate value OF all provisions
taken.
only a most thorough investiga-
ton can determine that" he replied
81 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.
Must Be Investigation"
None OF the Commissioners wishes
to appear in the attitude of persecut-
ing or depressing 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 he
an investigation, in my opinion
THE discrepancies in material as
IL 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 We're missing that never were
used by the county This led TO the
talk Of an investigation.
Then Captain Donaldson himself
appeared before members of the boaro
last Saturday and told them unre-
servedly that he had been appropriat-
ing tIfe 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
arrangement"
Captain Dona Idson 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. IL 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 I'm
the county employ, being appointed
superintendent of paving and paving
repair, at salary " $500 a month. a
drop Of an even SOB from his former
pay The demotion of Captain Dom
aldson was opposed at the time by;
Chairman Waters and General Cliff,