Evening star., 1954-04-13
County Probes
0hioCharges
Against BedI|
Montgomery Lawyer
ToInvestigote Report
Of Hospital Shortage
By chorIes [. Hoffmon

mer M. Shear1n Will ny to
Portsmouth, Ohio, today to in
vestigate circumstances Of a re-
port naming Montgomery Coun-
ty Manager e. T. Beall in six
findings for recovery" totalling
$2.45S.56.
Mr.. Shearin was retained last
night by the county council to
make the investigation on it's
behalf.
Mr.. Beall was named in a re-
port by examiners of the Ohio
State auditors Office. The re-
port listed the alleged shortage in
an audit of the Portsmouth Gen.
eral Hospital at time when Mr..
Beall was city manager there
and acting director of the hos
pital.
Montgomery Council President
Harold F. Hammond said Mr..
Shearin was selected because of
his knowledge of the manager
form Of government.
Mr.. Shearin is immediate past
president of the County Charter
Committee, a former clerk to
the council and a former assis-
tant county attorney.
Unanimous Vote.
Mr.. Hammond said the in
vestigation was being taken on
as result Of a unanimous vote
Of the council last night.
The attorney has been di-
rected to make a complete
check" Of the Portsmouth stu
alton. He also has been author
lied to carry his investigation
to Columbus, the Ohio State
capital, if necessary.
Mr.. Hammond said he antici-
pated the investigation taking
at least 48 hours and possibly
longer.
The council president empha-
sized the probe was ordered prior
to the councils questioning of
Mr.. Beall about the auditors
report.
THAT way" he said, there
is no implication that we be-
lieve Mr.. Beall is guilty Of any
wrong doing"
Mr.. Beall went into a closed
session with the council shortly
after 10 am. today to explain
the situation.
Prior to the meeting he said
he would ask the council for per-
mission to make a public state
ment lin the open session later
in the day. Mr.. Beall said the
audit report made no charges
against anyone.
Flew to Charleston.
Mr.. Beall said that yesterday
he had flown to Charleston to
meet some people from out there
(Portsmouth)." he added. He
said he had wanted to find out
just what was going on.
'It is matter of some per-
sons trying to blow a straw into
a haystack without even having
the first straw" Mr.. Beall said.
Mr.. Beall said he had a can
celled check for a payment for
lumber he had purchased
through the hospital and added
that he believed that in the bill
ing process he had got the wrong
bill. One of the findings for re-
covery was for $22.94 for lumber
allegedly purchased for Mr..
Beal'S private use and charged
to the hospital.
Mr.. Beall said it was possible
that he did owe the hospital
$235.69 for dugS alleged to have
been purchased for his use in the
findings. He added, however, he
had no bill for it and that he
was studying his Cancelled checks
on this matter.
Explains Telegram.
In reference to a telegram
sent to the examiner and bearing
Mr.. Beall's name and statement
that he would go to Ports
mouth possibly last March 10
with an attorney, the county
manager said the message had
been sent by his wife from Silver
Spring while he was at the Gen.
eral Assembly in Annapolis. He
4 said he had not known of the
mention of an attorney accom-
panying him.
Mr.. Hammond last night re-
peated a declaration made ear
her that Portsmouth has a "hot
political situation"
The council president added,
that when Mr.. Beall was chosen
for his job last susmmer it was
after the council had been told
that anyone who could work
there tPortsmouth), could work
anywhere" j"
Mr.. Beall was chosen from
79 persons who applied for the
managers job. He took Office
in September. !
0n-the-Spot Check.
Today's investigation will be
the first "or1-the-spot" check of
the background Of the man who
manages Montgomery,s "$700
million corporation" as Mr..
Hammond puts it.
Mr.. Hammond said the coun-
Gil had received three to six
letters" from Portsmouth about
Mr.. Beall after his appointment
in Montgomery.
II know people who don't like
him. apparently because he re-
fused them favors. They tried
to hurt him with letters" Mr..
Hammond said. II personally
checked out there (by phone)
and he had a good record; no
reports Of an adverse character"
The findings for recovery"