Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-15
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
AND ATLANTA AIDES
UNDER PROBE BY us.
.IrreguIarity in Expense AC-
counts, ''Pernicious" PoIit-
icaI Activity, Charged to
Hager, Akernnan and Aides
BY THEODORE TILLER


WASHINGTON, d. c., March Is.
Charges of 'pernicious political ac-
tivity," irregularity in certain eX
pense accounts, and violation of
section of the criminal code relative
q to federal officials participating in
'vmovements TO raise money for po-
Attorney General Daugnerty against
Clint w. Hager, United States districr
attorney for the northern district
of Georgia; Walter Akerman, United
States marshal for the same district;
c. P. Goree, assistant district attor-
ney, and w. r. Tucker. chief deputy
marshal under Mr.. Alderman.
The charges were filed by Andrew
Duncan, a former employee at the
Atlanta federal prison, but now an
employe of the Veterans bureau for
the district of which Atlanta is head
quarters.
Assistant Attorney General Rush
Holland, to whom the charges have
been referred, has not yet begun
an investigation. Mr.. Holland is a
busy official these days. When the
senate investigation of the Teapot
Dome oil leases took on sensational
angles, President Coolidge directed
the attorney general to assign a rep
resentative to attend the senate oil
hearings fro mday to day. Attorney
General Daugherty assigned Mr..
Holland to that duty and the latter
has been thus engaged for some
time. having no opportunity to take
up the charges against the Georgia
officials.
The charges preferred by Mr.. Dun.
can, it is understood, are to the eff
feet that the four officials named
have violated governmental orders
prohibiting federal officers or en-
ployes from participating in politics,
and from engaging in solicitation of
funds for political purposes. Mr..
Goree is chairman of the so-called
regular" Republican state central
committee in Georgia, while the 9TH
er three officials hold no posts with
in the party organization, although
all four are avowed opponents of
the Rival Republican state commit
tee headed by j. Louis Phillips.
Mr. Phillips, who is residing in
Washington temporarily, today de-
MED any connection with the
charges, saying that they had no
political origin and that he never
had heard of them in advance of
notification by The Journal CORE
spondent.
II have had nothing to do with
the charges against Mr. Hager and
his associates" said Mr.. Phillips.
1T is true that they are my political
opponents, but neither directly or in
directly have I been instrumental in
the filing of any charges against
them. do not recall that 1 know
Andrew Duncan. l have not COM
municated with him and did not
know he had filed any charges
NONE OF INVOLVED PARTIES
WERE INFORMED OF CHARGES
None of the four officials mention
ed in the Duncan charges has re-
ceived official notification from the
department of justice, it developed
Thursday.
II have not been advised of any
such charges by the department OF
justice" said Mr.. Hager," and until
l have been notified | can not dis
cuss the matter in detail. | am not
that charges have been
filed, however, as man in office is
Railways open to attacks by his politi-
cal enemies.
1T is worthy of note that Andrew
Duncan, who filed the charges, was
formerly an employee at the Atlanta
federal prison, was discharged and
indicted on statutory and narcotic
charges by the federal grand jury
but these true bills were afterward
nolle pressed. His application for
reinstatement at the prison was re
jected, however.
ANY and all of my official acts
as United States district attorney
are open to any investigation the
department. may see fit to in
augurate. / would welcome such an
investigation"
The other three officials mention
ed in the Duncan charges took the
same stand as Mr.. Hager, indicating
their belief that it was a political
move by the Philips faction TO dis
credit in advance the Forthcoming
state Republican convention called
for April = by the Goree state COM
mittee. The Philips committee has
called a convention for April 80
Mr.. Duncan admitted having filed
the charges, but denied that he had
any political motive, or any connec-
ton with the Philips faction.