The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-07
At Least One Public Im- prOvement Assessment
 Paid Old Body OFFICIALS PREDICT
 OTHER SHORTAGES Systems Used Under Both Administrations Said
 To Be Identical
GLASGOW'S TRIAL
 LAST OF OCTOBER
Lehman Has Shortage Escapade Before Entering City Service
 Reports Show

Some of. the shortages in the public improvement department of the city comptroller's office date back to the previous administration. when Dr. N. A. Barrett was commission president and Jimmy" Jones was comptroller, it leaked out at the city hall Saturday. This revelation caused a new sensa- tion at the administration building and gave rise to predictions that the scope of the audit now being conducted by F. Hopkinson Smith will be widened.
 The present administration took off, flee in November, 1921. At least one public improvement assessment was paid several months prior to that date for which no credit was given on the books, it was learned This may be the $6,500 item in accounts of the Ala bama Great Southern railroad, which is alleged to have been paid January, 1921. Mir. Smith and others in charge of the audit, however, have asserted they know nothing of such a shortage.
 More Shortages Expected
 One city official told The Age-Her- aid that additional shortages in ae- counts handled by the former admihis- tration might be expected when Smith submits his report. This official said that the authorities now in charge have had an inkling of such shortages for months.
 It was further learned that the sys- tenn used in taking public improvement funds during the former administra- tion was identical with that employed Al, 1oko 1Ae IT Lehman, public improvement clerk, who recently was sent to Kilby prison after confessing he embedded $4,900, was in the employ of the city at the time the old shortages are said to have occurred.
 The other employees of this deaprt- ment, including W. H. Glasgow, now under indictment, did not enter the city service until the present commission took office.
 Another sidelight on the situation which caused talk at city hall was per- sistent report that Lehman, shortly be- fore he went to work for the city, was dismissed by Birmingham bank in connection with a shortage. It was said that details of his banking career, together with the facts that prevented his prosecution, would shortly be placed ill the hands of Glasgow's attorneys.
 Await Final Report
 This indicated that Hugo Black and George Ross, attorneys for Glasgow, may make an effort to saddle" full responsibility for the series of short ages on Lehman, although he em- phatically and repeatedly denied he got but $4,900. Glasgow's trial probably will begin late in October. He has an- nounced he will plead mot guilty"
 The final report of Mir. Smith and his assistant auditors is expected to fix re- sponsibility for the shortages, as well as give their total. Thus, the audit report may play an important part in the trial of Glasgow.
 City commissioners were guarded in their comment Saturday as to what might be done about the reported short ages in the previous administration. The idea prevailed that no action would be taken until Smiths final report of his audit is submitted.