Sunday, 25th May 1913 Police Chairman Confident of Honesty of Officials

Atlanta Constitution

Sunday, May 25th, 1913

"Except to say that I have absolute confidence in the honesty and integrity of Chiefs James L. Beavers and Newport Lanford, I do not care to express myself," said Carlos Mason, chairman of the police commission, yesterday when asked for an official expression in regard to the charges made by Colonel T. B. Felder that the police and detective departments are full of graft and corruption.

"All that I know of the case has been learned through the evidence and statements made public," he said added, "and as I have not been drawn into the matter and am not conversant with its details I would not care to say in what light I regard the attack.

"I knew nothing in advance of the efforts of the detectives to fasten evidence upon Colonel Felder through the use of a dictagraph [sic]," he added, "and it has come as a surprise to me.

"As to the charges themselves, as made by both parties to the case I have formed no opinion which I could express. I have no hesitancy, however, in stating my belief in the honesty of the departments."

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