Atlanta Daily World

CLAIM JOBS WERE SOLD TO WORKERS

Cashed Checks Of Dead Laborers

Reports Say

ARRESTS MADE

(By Continental Press Service)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—Several arrests have been made here upon basis of information supplied by secret Governmental operatives who have been here tracing down rumors that there was fraud and other crookedness being practiced in the operation of the WPA in the Chattanooga territory among white and Negro people who were on the local WPA payroll.

Among the charges filed are these: That checks for dead men have been cashed; that men carried by the time keeper as working although home ill or somewhere else and when they were not working; that a "go between man" was sent to the Negro workers on pay day to collect a share from the Negro WPA workers for the timekeeper, there being an understanding between the timekeeper and the laborers that they would "split" their check with the timekeeper for carrying them on the payroll when they were not working; that the "go between" white man was also paid a sum for his activities in the fraudulent practices: and that it is also alleged that there had been considerable "payroll padding" by the white timekeeper.

Over the week end, the white timekeeper, Charles E. White, 27, who was keeping time for the workers on the WPA project on Seminole Drive, in East Ridge, and a Negro laborer, Daniel Thomas, also 27, were added to the list of those arrested by Governmental secret operatives and the Deputy United States Marshal and a city Detective. The arrested officers were U. S. Marshal, G. S. Centry and Ed Sims, city detectives. John Patterson and Arthur Owens were also arrested early Sunday morning.

White, the timekeeper, adamant Friday following his arrest had maintained he was innocent of any wrong by carrying the "dead men" two weeks on the WPA payroll later weakened and confessed he carried 12 men on payroll who were not working. He further implicated himself by confessing he also gave full time for about a dozen Negro workers who were either ill and at home or were off for several days to his knowledge.

White, the timekeeper, in his partial confession, said he sent his accomplice, Thomas, to see the Negroes on payday and made them (the Negro WPA workers) "split the extra pay with him". Thomas the accomplice, was paid several dollars for his part in the fraud the timekeeper keeping the remainder for himself.

Two deceased Negro WPA workers, Green Brown and James Petties, who died March 13 and 15, respectively had been carried on the WPA payroll after death at full time for two weeks, 70 hours work. The timekeeper, Charles E. White turned the identification cards of the two dead Negroes, Brown and Petties, to his accomplice, Daniel Thomas, and told him (Thomas) to have Owens and Patterson call at the WPA office for the checks for the two dead Negroes. Thomas obeyed White in every detail, it is said. Federal operatives claim Owens received Brown's check and cashed it at the Commercial National bank, Wednesday March 18. The check for Petties was cashed at the Main street branch of the Hamilton National bank the same day.

Officers further explained that Thomas could not write; so he had Patterson endorse both checks with the names of the two deceased WPA workers. Thomas who habitually wore a cap exchanged it with Owens for his (Owens') hat when he called at the WPA office for the check, it is said by officers. Owens

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and Patterson also avoided detectives by changing their headgear The confession states that Owens and Patterson got one dollar each for calling for the checks. Thomas, who later admitted his part in the fraud, got slightly more, the balance going to the white timekeeper, Charles E. White The four persons arrested are specifically charged with: Conspiracy, falsifying records to obtain money from the U. S. A., forgery and cashing forged checks.