The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-10-13
COMMISSION
PROBES beatty
CRAFT CLAIM
Evidence Is Lacking Says
Attorney Burns,
TAX "RAKEOFF" CHARGED
personal Natter" Is Com
ment Of Commissioner,

county commissioners arc infc'll-
eating the official conduct Of James
Beatty, county assessor, as the result
OF an aiiidavi, made ont hy g.. /.
Austin. a former clerk 10 the asses
sor> Office.
commissioners were te,icent hi,
morning when asked as to the exact
charges and said they would prefer
% obtain mote information before
making them public.
81, may he personal matter be
tween Austin and BcaiN" one OF them
SAID.
More Evidence Needed.
Robert Burns, county attorney. said
Austin viii have 10 bring more cor
roborativc evidence bt0rc any prose-
cuion can be made lie said this
morning Austin alleges ,Aat Beatty ac.
ccpted money from large tax payers
IL the city Tor reducing valuations on
their holdings. Austin also charged,
the county attorney said, that he
tAustIr) and Beaiy were 10 20 fifty
fifty on the money so received and
that an audii company received por-
ton oi the "rakeoii'
Burns said Austin was accompanied
by two plalnclothesmen TO the court
house Saturday afternoon when he
placed the aiiidavi, before the county
commissioners. lie is said to have
been accompanied by Mayor Walton.
who It Is SAID, row has possession Of
the affidavit. The commissioners
Burns and the mayor were oloseted
Saturday afternoon, officials, at the
courthouse say,
Austin on Forgery Charge,
Austin Is said 20 have been arrested
last week on a charge OF forgery and
,Bcaty alleges he has on several oc-
oasions forged his name TO checks in
the city Austin was slated with a
drunk charge at the police station m-
der the name oi Fred Austin. i, is
said and the arrest has never been
brough, 20 the attention Of the county
attorney.
Austin said, according To the county
attorney, that Beatty and he agreed TO
80 "Nty-fifiy" on the rake offs" and
that Beatty never gave him his half.
County officials are dubious about the
charges Austin bring against the IS
SCISSOR.
Beatty Cancels Trip,
Beatty could not be seen during the
morning. although he cancelled his
scheduled vacation last night when he
learned Of the charges being made
against him.
The county attorney also said an
other matter had been brought TO his
attention relative to Besty's conduct
in office. Commissioners are investi-
eating q charge that the assessor low
cred the valuation on lots in the city
without letting the equalization board
know anything about it, and a, the
same time making il appear that i.
was the, work OF the board.
One OF the commissioner said this
morning some of the actions Of the
board will be reconsidercd. The com.
missioncrs placed the equalization
board matter before the county at
,orney las, week, before the Austin
affidavit was made out.
Beatty Record Open.
Beatty says his records are open to
every one and he has asked the
county attorney TO make full and
complete investigation OF his office
lie said he welcomes an iuves,iga-
tion.
Burns said this morning tho next
move is up to the county commits
U~Ners, They are the proper ones to
brfng charges against the assessor. he
aid. Commissioners would neither
firm nor deny they would bring
harges against Beatty.
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