The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-28
Four Commissioners Are Called Instanter by
 Grand Jury NO INDICTMENTS
 YET ANNOUNCED At Least Two, Possibly
 More, Expected . Saturday
SHORTAGE OF $8,OO0
 MAY BE STARTER
Present Grand Jury Finishes Work Saturday, But New
 Will Organize At Once

Although persistent rumors were heard at the court house and city hall late Thursday afternoon that the Jef- ferson county grand jury had returned indictments against William L. Leh- man, clerk in the public improvement department, and other city employees, in connection with the alleged theft of $1 ,500 or more of city funds, all of these rumors were denied in official quarters.
 "No indictments have been returned in connection with the alleged theft and none will be returned until the grand jury adjourns and makes its final re- port Saturday; that is all I can say in regard to the matter" Solicitor Jim Davis said in commenting on these reports just after the grand jury re- cessed Saturday morning.
 At the office of Forney ". Brandon, court, no indictments had been received late Thursday afternoon and officials there said they probably would not get any until Saturday.
 County officials hinted that the dis closures made at the grand jury hear ings Wednesday afternoon and Thurs day, when Comptroller c. E. Armstrong, and four members of the city commis- sion appeared in response to instanter subpoenaes, probably would result in wholesale investigation of all depart ments of the city government.
 It was hinted that even the smaller bureaus and departments might be in- cluded.. It is understood that the shortages in the city funds, first dis covered by the confession of Lehman that he misappropriated $4900, may total $S,O00 or more by the time . final audit of the city books, already well under way, is completeda
 Armstrong Recalled
 The grand jury was in session all day Thursday, but part of the time was devoted to routine cases not con nected with the alleged shortage of city funds. Among the city officials who testified were Comptroller Arm strong, who was recalled after testify ing Wednesday afternoon, and Commis- recessed late in the afternoon until
 
 sume consideration of the alleged short age, return indictments in this and other cases passed upon since recon vening early in the week, make it's final report and adjourn. The law provides that it must cease to fune- tion after April l, as all cases after that date must be handled by a new jury.
 The expected investigation of other city departments probably will not be- gin for about week, as seven days must pass before the adjournment of the the present body and the organization of its successor April z, when the new term of circuit court will begin. SoIici- tor Davis, said it would be organized as soon as possible, however, as it probably will be called upon to com plete the probe of the present alleged shortage.
 Although refusing to mention any names, county officials made no at tempt to deny that one or two persons whose names have not yet been men tioned prominently in connection with the shortage probably would be indict- ed during the three or -four hours the grand jury is in session Saturday.
 Parker Is Checking
 c. Palmer Parker, certified public nc. countant, who has been employed to audit the records of the public i'm. provement fund department, said Thursday night that he had alreadS begun his audit and expected to have it completed within a week. He said he had found no discrepancies thua far. He is beginning the audit, he added, by checking the records of the department as a whole to ascertain the exact amount of the total shortage. This will be followed by an inspection of the individual records of the clerks to determine where responsibility for shortages may lie.
 Mir. Parker said he had been in- structed by the city commission to check the records of only the public improvement fund department and that nothing had been said about com plete audit of the books of the city government. Y.
 Commissioner Cloe was the first wit. ness to be called in the grand jury hearing Thursday morning. He was followed by Comptroller Armstrong. Records of the department were also examined.
 Indictment of other city employees is expected to explain the disappearance of $1,500 or more beyond the $4,900 which Lehman is said to have con fessed to taking. Reports that the total shortage would reach $10O0O were discounted by county officials.
 
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