The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
HINTS ARE HEARD
 OF BIG SENSATION
Three Commissioners And
 Others Face Cues tioners
JURYMEN PLAN TO
 STAY IN SESSION
Dinsmore One Of First Wit nesses Called By Inquisi-
 tors At Days Session

The mystery Of the unexplained g, 300 in the finances of the public irn- provements department of the city of Birmingham probably will be explained within Q day or two by indictment of one or more city employees whose ac- counts may show shortages. according to developments following the appear ance of Comptroller c. E. Armstrong, three members of the city commission and several other city employees before the Jefferson county grand jury We'd nesday afternoon. Ef
 No indictments have been returned yet. Even William l.. Lehman, said to have confessed to the theft of $4,900 of city funds, is still at liberty follow. ing his release from county jail on a $3.OO0 bond, pending the action of the grand jury. However, Solicitor Jim Davis, who decided to call the city of ficials to testify, as reports eminatning from the city hall indicated that the shortage was much more serious than at first supposed. hinted that develop ments of sensational nature might be expected at any time. He refused to mention any names, but said the grand jury was determined to make a thor ough investigation of the alleged short. ages.
 May Reach $S,0OO
 It was even hinted that the shortaes would reach $S,000 when all books are audited. A complete audit fthe pub lie improvements department has aI- ready been ordered and is expected to be completed within few days.
 City officials said late Wednesday afternoon that an audit had already han xyAa1 A4 Ake AZ a clerk in the office of Comptroller Armstrong, and that they had been found correct in every way. c. Palmer Parker, certified public accountant, has been authorized by the city eemfaissioz to handle the auditing of all bookn 1 It is understood that all records from last September up tc the present tine will come under the accountantss scrutiny. This period covers the ad- ministration of Comptroller ArmstronK and extends for two or three months into the administration of Comptroller Marvin Taylor, his predecessor.
 Solicitor Davis said after the graid jury adjourned for the day that other officials would be called for appearance Thursday morning. It is understood that one or more members of the ciky commission who appeared Wednesday will be recalled to testify again Thurs- day morning.
 Will Remain In Session
 The grand jury has abandoned it's plan of adjourning Thursday or Friday and submitting its final report at that time, Solicitor Davis said. He added that it probably would be kept busy on the present investigation until April 1, when it will be obliged to adjourn in accordance with law. Its work will then be taken up immediately by the next grand jury, to be organized at once.
 The three commissioners who testi. fled Wednesday were William L. Harri- son, D. B. McLendon and W. E. Dick. son. Other city officials called in the investigation included Comptroller Arm strong, Craig Jeffreys, s. J. Glenn and w. H. Glasgow. all employed in the comptroller's office. Considerable mys. tery was caused by the appearance of Col. M. A. Dinsmore, a candidate for the presidency of the United States in the recent primary, who explained his part in the investigation with the re mark that he had something to say about the matter that would interest the grand jury. He was one of the first to be called from the crowd waiting in the ante-room.
 None of the officials would say whai the nature of their testimony had been or mention the names of other persons who might be involved in the short ages.
 c. Palmer Parker. said Wednesday night that his audit probably would re quire week or more and would cover the entire period since the last annual audit of the city records in Septem- Der.
 Lehman still maintains that he took only $4,900 and says he is at loss to explain the alleged disappearance of more than $1,500 additional. It is ru- mored that additional vouchers and checks have been found to bring the annArent ehortAee in $2O(0