Evening star., 1954-04-14
BeaII Granted
Leave 10 Clarity
Audit Report
Montgomery Chief
And Council Aides
Probe Ohio Motter
BY ChorIes [. Hoffmon

FFoDe Onlo M0trer
By ChorIes [. Hoffmon
Edward T. Beall. Montgomery
County manager, was reported
out of the city today. presum-
ably engaged in clarifying an
auditors report released Monday
in Portsmouth. Ohio. covering q
period when he was city manager
there.
The county council, at Mr..
Bealls written request. granted
him a leave of absence yesterday.
The councils action followed .
three-hour closed session during
which Mr.. Beall made an appear-
ance.
Shortly after approving the
leave, the council also an.
nouneed that a second attorney.
David E. Belts, of Rockville. had
been retained to investigate the
situation.
Mr.. Belts was to join Attorney
Plummeri M. Shearin in Ports
mouth today in an effort to
speed up the investigation.
Any further action on the
councils part will depend pri-
marily on the two attorneys
findings.
Named in Findings.
Mr.. Beall was named Monday
in six findings for recovery"
totaling $2.458.56 in shortages
in accounts of the Portsmouth
General Hospital while he was
serving as city manager and act
ing director Of the hospital. The
findings were returned by exam
liners for the Ohio State Audi
tors office.
While he is making his moves
to clear up the matter. Mr..
Beall will receive full pay from
Montgomery County.
Mr.. Beall left the county
building in Rockville immedi-
ately after the leave was granted.
He was not present IN the meet.
ing when the council acted.
Reached at his home, he said
he would go to Portsmouth if It
proved necessary. He said, how
ever, ne would do a great deal
by telephone.
The county manager said he
was not retaining an attorney.
He added he was prepared to
refute all six of the findings.
Budget Action Near.
The council is faced with A
big problem If the matter is not
cleared up speedily.
A preliminary capital budget
on which a public hearing has
been set for April 90 is due for
release Tuesday from the man
ager. The entire managers
capital and operating budget had
been scheduled for submission
to the council May IL.
Neither is in shape for delivery
at this time. county officials in
dicated.
In Mr.. Beall's absence the
council named Jeptha j. Carroll.
his assistant, as acting manager.
There was no time limit set on
the leave. but councilmen hope
to have some indication by the
end of the week as to whether
the matter can be cleared UP to
their satisfaction.
No Charges.
Council President Harold F..
Hammond emphasized no one
mad been charged in the Ports.
mouth shortages.
1t is serious matter. how
ever. and we feel we would not
be doing justice to our people
and to Mr.. Beall if we failed to
1uily explore the matter" he
said.
Mr.. Beall's letter requesting
the leave was as follows:
Recent publicly concerning
an auditors report on the affairs
OF the City of Portsmouth con-
meets my name with some of the
findings there.
although no charges have
been preferred against anyone
connected with the affairs of the
City Of Portsmouth during the
period of the audit, the publicity
implies that there may be some
personal relationship or respoti-
SlDlllty on my part connected
with certain items in the audi.
tors report.
I'm order that these matters
may be cleared up as promptly
as possible, both for the sake of
Montgomery County and myself.
/ am requesting a short leave of
absence in which to clarity the
entire matter"