The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-12-08
SENATOR CLIFTON IS
GIVEN TERM IN PRISON
WELL-KNOWN LEE COUNTY.
LEGISLATOR GIVEN FROM
THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
CONVICTED OF ENLIGHTENMENT
AS Guardian of John ]. Curry Is AL
legged Not to Have Accounted for
$4,810. Money Was Paid by Govern
ment for Disabled Soldier.


State Senator ]. D. Clifton, Of Lee
county, representing the Tenth district
composed of Lee. Dougherty and
Worth counties in the general assem-
bly, and we'll known in Terrell county
and throughout this section, has been
convicted in the superior court of
Sumter county on a charge of embez-
cling the sum of $4S10.25 from a
world war veteran, John J. Curry, and
sentenced to serve from three to FIVE
years in the penitentiary.
The case was tried at Americas on
change of venue from Lee superior
court, and much interest centers in
the prominence of the defendant and
the fact shat he is accused Of having
embezzled large sum from dis
abled soldier Of the world war who is
now patient in ST Elzabeth's army
hospital at Washington, d. c.
Evidence adduced during the trial
showed that Clifton had received
varying sums from the government as
the guardian of Curry, and that he
had been required by the ordinary of
Lee county TO furnish additional Sc
curity upon his bond
According to attorneys for the de-
Tense prevailing flood conditions about
the defendants home near Leesburg at
the time of the demand presented
conditions which made it physically
impossible for the accused to get about
and secure additional bondsmen with
in the time allowed iii the order of
the ordinary and an order was passed
by that court removing Clifton as
Curry's guardian and naming in his
stead r. R. Green, present clerk of
superior court at Leesburg, who later
made formal demand upon Clifton for
the sum alleged to have been held by
him as the guardian OF Curry.
Much of Evidence Documentary.
Much of the evidence adduced was
in the form of documents, many
checks written by Senator Clifton up
on his account as guardian of Curry,
carried in an Albany bank, being in
PRODUCED by the state and identified
by an officer of the bank. The evidence
summarized showed that Curry,
mentally deficient youth, after his dis
charge from the army came under the
observation of Clifton, who later was
appointed his guardian, and in such
capacity received numerous sums
awarded Curry as compensation
through. the United States Veterans
Bureau These sums, the state charg=
ed at the hearing, were not properly
handled by Senator Clifton, being
converted to his own uses and pur-
poses instead of being held intact and
used solely for the use and benefit of
Curry.
Upon demand for an accounting
made by Green, the state charges, SEN
ator Clifton failed and refused to de-
liver to Curry's new guardian the
sums OF money received by him and
alleged to be still legally due Curry
and his estate This failure resulted in
the Indictment of Clifton and his trial
upon the embezzlement charge. Attor-
neys representing the defendant are
lack Childers, of Americas, and Rob-
ert B. Forester, of Leesburg, while
the states case was presented by So
licitor General julie FELTON,, with f.
Z. FOT16SlGI, Ol LCCobulS " dttSlluliiS
the trial as representative of the Unit
ed States Veterans Bureau.
Civil Suit Pending.
The Veterans Bureau has brought
a civil action in Lee county to recov-
err the amount alleged to have been
embezzled by Senator Clifton and the
case is now pending in court, with a
hearing thereon scheduled to be had
at the next term of court there.
After remaining in custody Of the
sheriff all night and until afternoon
next day Clifton was released under
bail Of $500 until January End, the
date when argument will be heard on
motion for new trial. The bonds
men are w T. Larramore, of Lee
county, and ]. L. Johnson, Of Sumter
county. Both are prominent and
wealthy farmers.