Evening star., 1954-04-16
Bea|I's S Ohio Critics
Concede His Ability
kCiiy Administrator
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Stoff Correspondent

PORTSMOUTH. Ohio. April
16.-Almost a year before Ed
ward T. Beall left here to
become county manager of
Montgomery County, Md, the
Portsmouth City Council decided
to give him a conditional" no
tice that his services as city
manager were no longer desired.
Three men who were members
Of the City Council during the
1928 period said that an
agreement was reached by the
city heads that Mr.. Beall should
be informed that the best inter-
ests Of the public would be
served if he sought another Job.
The Montgomery County
Council might have unearthed
this information if it had made
an on-the-spot inquiry here, in
stead of making telephone calls,
before Mr.. Beall's appointment
as county manager last Septem-
ber l.
Two attorneys sent here this
week by the Maryland officials
expected to wind up their in
vestigation today into the record
of Mr.. Beall who. with others,
was named Monday in an Ohio
State auditors report in con-
nection with the shortage of
So, ,458 in hospital funds in Ports
mouth.
Leader Tells Of Call.
William Hedges. civic leader
and one of those telephoned. by
Montgomery officials prior to Mr..
Beall's appointment last year,
declared:
'It would have been a lot
better if they had sent their two
attorneys out here then instead
of now"
Mr.. Hedges said: II was called
by the president or chairman of
your council don't remember
his name-shortly before Mr..
Beall left here last September.
don't remember the exact ques-
tions he asked but the type of
questions concerned his (Mr.
Beall's) ability and his perform
ance record. From my own per-
sonal knowledge, / gave favorable
answers. ..
II thought it was strange that
they would put a man in such
a responsible position without
sending some one out here to
investigate.
Mr.. Beall left a $9,50O-a-year
job for $12,500 one in Mont
gomery.
DR.. Chester Allen, who served
as mayor last year but who no
longer is on the council. said he
does not remember the name of
the Maryland official who tele-
phoned him on two occasions.
"The second time lasted about
10 minutes. They asked me my
impression of him as a city man
ager. as to his honesty. his habits
and drinking. They were all gen.
eral questions"
DR.. Allen was asked by a re-
porter if all of his answers were
favorable.
"They varied" he answered.
Councilman Everett Rothwell
said the first he knew of the
City Council agreeing to inform
Mr.. Beall he should look for
another job was early last year.
Praise Beall's Ability.
Nearly all of those questioned
spoke highly of Mr.. Beall's tai
ents and ability as a city admin
istrator. Mr.. Rothwell attrib-
uted the situation that existed
here to the fact that there was a
"split" among the six members
OF the council involving faction
al differences.
He was behind the bond is
sues and levies," Mr.. Rothwell
said. land a lot of people didn't
like those levies. He probably
would be here today if it hadn't
been for that stiff fight lover
bond iSsueS). But we decided it
would be better for every one
concerned If he started looking
for another job"
Mr.. Rothwell expressed his
conviction, however, that Mr..
Beall "was the best city manager
We ever had" Others who are
critical of Mr.. Beall's record in
Portsmouth also are willing to
concede his talents as an admin
iStrator.
Lawyers Pursue Inquiry.
Meanwhile, the two Mont
gomery attorneys. Plum m r
Shearin of Silver Spring and
David Belts of Rockville, went
into the third day of their in
quiry which has included the
questioning of numerous officials
and citizens of Portsmouth and
a conference with State auditors
Office officials in Columbus.
In reply to a question about
the general information obtained
in the conference, they said the
reports received there were
mostly unsatisfactory"
Scioto County Prosecutor w.
H. HarSha. jr., said yesterday he
had received a telephone call
from Mr.. Beall in Rockville, Md,
and that he has started an in
veStigation to determine whether
the findings of the audit report
should be presented to the grand
jury which convenes May 10.
Mr.. HarSha said Mr.. Beall
told him he would mail a letter
Tn PYniQin hic pneif;nvo ~ A.