The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-27

sums of money. with never the ves- tige of shadow of anything out of the way.
 Sam King, vice president of the Rank of Ensley, said he had known Mr Taylor 10 years that the city carried about S65,000 in that bank and that Mr. Taylor had carried through the raising of the interest paid to the city by the bank from 2R to 3 per cent. He said MT. Tay- Tor had never said anything about any .0336 per cent interest to them.
 J. II. Holcombe of the c. c. Hol- combe Music company, said MT. Tay- Tor had been a bookkeeper and col lection man in his employ some years ago and that MT. Taylor had handled accounts aggregating over $250,000 but there never had been anythonig against him in that time and his work had been very satisfactory. R. J. Strickland, furniture dealer, made a similar statement. pr. Rob ert Echols, pastor of the Woodlawn Methodist church, said MT. Taylor was one of the stewards of that church. that he had known him for eight years and that MT. Taylor was an honorable, upright, Christian gen. tleman, Other bankers told of MT. TaylCr's having secured reductions in rates on money borrowed by the city and raises in rates for the city on its deposits. William Killough, 73 years was a little boy In kits. I have never heard one word against that boys good name In all his life, the old gentleman said.
 Joe Lacy and T. B. Tanner had each known the city comptroller for a quarter of century and spoke of him in high terms, as did many oth- CTS called.
 Taylor Makes Brief Statement.
 MT. Taylor made very brief state ment, simply recounting what he re- membered of the discussions that took place. He said the city in the early spring and later in the sum mer had had to borrow money. from the banks to finance public improve ments and other municipal business matters. He said he had talked to Dr. Bell but had at no time asked pr. Bell to cancel his note. He said 1t had been reported in the papers he had asked for .0336 per cent interest, but he had actually asked the Wood | lawn bank to raise the interest paid the city on the municipal deposit to three and a half per cent. This, he said he was told, the bank could not do. The city had $30,000 with inter- est in the Woodlawn Savings bank in March, the interest rate being three per cent. q asked Dr. Bell" MT. Taylor said, ito renew my note. ] 1 paid the interest on 1t. The note was | for S150. He consented to renew 1t, but we did not discuss city business at that time. There was no question raised about the renewal. Later l talked to pr. Bell about raising the interest on the city's deposit wanted other banks to pay three and a half per cent. too. The city was borrowing money at five and six per cent interest, but only getting three per cent on it's deposits, the city los ing the difference. l wanted the city to save that money. It was tax payers money. The money that was drawn out was to pay invoices on work for which the bonds had been floated. The bond money was on de- posit awaiting use."
 Mir. McArthur interjected; Did pr. Bell tell you he could not do any thing for you personally, did any thing come up about it?" NO sir, MT. Taylor answered.
 O O O
 Details Of School Bonds.
 MT. Taylor then went somewhat into business detail about the school bonds, the banks the money was de- posited in, how the accounts were checked to meet the progress of the work and the time these accounts lay in the several banks. He showed checks. cancelled, on several banks where bond money deposited had been withdrawn at, comparatively