Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-27
BEAVERS To FIGHT
SUSPENSION ORDER
ON FRESH CHARGES

No immediate legal steps are con
templated by Chief of Police James
i. Beavers to prevent the hearing
on April 2 before the council police
committee on the charges brought
against him by Edward II. Inman,
chairman of the committee, on
which the chief was suspended at
a special meeting of the committee
Tuesday night.
George c. Spence, attorney for
Chief Beavers, who has been his
counsel in his litigation with the
police committee heretofore, stated
w ednesday he was entirely satisfied
with the status of the situation, and
expressed his willingness to go to
bat" with the committee on the
merits Of the case as outlined in the
charges. lie also expressed conf
der ce that in the event the commit
tee convicted the chief at the hear
ing April 2, he would be able to set
aside the verdict in the state courts
on the ground of illeGality.
The action of the police COMMITTEES
was fully EXP ected, end would haV ?
come sooner but for the effect it
would have had upon the recent
county campaign in which Chief
Beavers was a candidate for sheriff, y
Attorney Spence said. 1--WE were net
fooled by the committees recent an
nOuncement that he was chief in
fact. This was merely part of the
camouflage in I'd. Inman's campaign
to remove the chief"
The suspension of Chief Beavers
came as ID surprise to the general
public, although it had been expect
ed by police officials that the com
mittee would resume its fight on the
chief, if the opportunity presented it.
self. The suspension was based on
charges filed by Councilman Ed H.
Inman, chairman of the police com
mittee, alleging:
/. That Chief Beavers has violat
ed rule - of the police regulations
and section 2013, of the code of the
City of Atlanta of 1910, in failing to
visit officers on their beats as often
as possible. to know of his own per-
sonal knowledge that they are per-
forming their duties.
Divorce Clause Cited
?. That Chief Beavers violated rule
50 Of the police regulations providing
that no member of the police depart
ment shall work on divorce cases,
when he made an arrest on February
3, 1924. that may result in divorce
proceedings
3. That CHIEF Beavers violated rule
81 of the police regulations requir-
ing police to speak the truth at all
times and under all circumstances,
when he filed a pauper's oath in
the case Of Beavers against Armi-
stead although at that time he was
drawing a salary of $4,000 per an
mum and had $3.50 worth of prop
erty on the city tax books.
The special m citing of The police
committee was called by Chairman
lnman Tuesday morning, it w. s
stated, md Chief Beavers was given
notice Of the meeting at that time,
although the chief insists he had no
notice that charges were to be pre-
ferred against him. He was present
at the meeting.
Chairman Inman read his formal
charges. and Alderman r. A. Gordon
made the motion that the chief be
suspended until the charges could be
heard. Alderman Jesse Armistead
seconded the motion, and it was
unanimously carried, without debate.
Other members of the police COM
mittee present were Vice Chairman J.
A. Bea.l and Councilman Arthur A
Dyer, constitutip the entire mem
begship of the committee.
Hearing April
The committee voted 10 hear the
charges at its next regular meeting
On April ? and the suspension Of the
chief was made effective until the
outcome of the formal trail. Night
Chief E. L. Jet w&s designated as
acting chief. and w. T Morris, .ec-
retaTv 20 Chief Beavers. was 7esig-
mated as acting night chief. These
officials took charge OF affairs at po-
lice headquarters Wednesday morn
ing. while Chief Beavers spent his
time n Judge John >. Humphries