The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-27
TAY[0R CASE TO BE
 DECIDED MONDAY
Bell Makes Accusations And Comptroller Denies Them
 Before Commissioners
(Continued From Page One)

reported to the city commission?"
 T appeared before the city com mission on October 12. MT. Taylor was not present. made a verbal statement In August or September, came to see the commissioners seve- ral times. but they were not in."
 The questioning brought out the statement that the city's account in the bank was closed by Septem- Der 19.
 Mir. McArthur asked: "Dr. Bell, had you protested about the removal of the account from the bank by the city?"
 T told the commissioners it was being checked out" Dr. Bell said, just giving them that information I appreciated the citys business, but did not want to give a private indi- yidual interest for it.
 Bank Directors Called.
 The directors of the woodlawn Savings bank-F. H. Wallace, H. c. Prickett, E. A. Carter and c. H. Nes- bit were called. They said Dr. Bell had reported the matter to them practically as he had just finished stating it to the commission.
 Commissioner W. L.. Harrison asked
  cussed the matter of .0336 per cent with any of the other bank em- ployes. They had not heard of such & discussion.
 President McLendon asked pr. Bell if he knew that the president of the commission was the director of the municipal financial department. Dr. Bell said he did not know what the duties of the president of the com mission were.
 You did not tell me about this un- til October, Dr. Bell" said MT. Me- Lendon.
 Tt was September. think" pr. Bell answered.
 Next were called character wit nesses, among whom were R. H. Wharton, president of the North Bir- mingham bank, who said he had known MT. Taylor for IS years and had always found him fair. square and reasonable. MT. Wharton said the city carried a balance in his bank, but MT. Taylor had no per sonal dealings with him. He did not recall having discussed interest rates with the comptroller and MT. Taylor had certainly never asked him for one-half of one per cent.
 At this point pr. Bell interjected that If character witnesses were to be called he would ask the city at- torney to put such questions to both sides.
 Mr. McArthur said he would not think of attacking pr. Bells char acter, but the man facing a serious charge had every right to bring for ward those who would substantiate his integrity.
 Another banker testified that the city carried from s3o,00O to s40.00o with them on which they had been . paying 2A per cent and that MT. Taylor had insisted that this in terest be raised one-half of one per cent. which was done.
 O O O
 Says Reputation Good. Col. T. 0. Smith of the Birmin gham Trust and Savings company, said MT. Taylor's reputation was good, that the bank had been paying the city 2 per cent on it's checking account, but at Mir. Taylor's insistence the rate had been raised to per cent He said:
 Colonel" Mir. McArthur asked, "did MT. Taylor even mention an .0336 per cent rate to you?" "He never did" Colonel Smith replied. He never mentioned personal finance to me of any kind. On the contrary, he always tried tC get the best rate from us on accommoda- tions, got us to reduce our charges to the city of 6 per cent to on city loans."
 Phil Bowers and George B. Tar rant, former county tax collectors, said MT. Tayltr had worked for them for many years. had handled large