Atlanta graft ring
Encyclopedia
The Atlanta graft ring was a corruption scandal that erupted in 1930 that generated
26 indictments and its exposure earned a Pulitzer Prize
for the Atlanta Constitution in 1931.
Atlanta had prided itself for a relatively corruption-free government throughout its history, but by the 1920s, a certain odor was beginning to be felt.
On November 18, 1929, Fourth Ward
Alderman Ben T. Huiet told the city council he had heard a payment of $3,500 was asked for to pass electrical wiring that had been installed in the new Atlanta City Hall
which was then under construction.
Soon after Atlanta Constitution president, Clark Howell
, wrote a ringing editorial demanding the Fulton County grand jury to investigate.
Foreman Thomas Lyon and Solicitor General John A. Boykin began the lengthy investigation where more than a thousand witnesses were called to look into the council and Mayor I.N. Ragsdale's administration.
Of the twenty-six indictments, fifteen were convicted or pleaded guilty of those seven received prison sentences including councilman Harry York
.
The press coverage earned Howell and his Constitution the 1931 Pulitzer Prize
for Public Service
.
Solicitor General Boykin went on to break up Atlanta's numbers game
operation in 1936.
26 indictments and its exposure earned a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for the Atlanta Constitution in 1931.
Atlanta had prided itself for a relatively corruption-free government throughout its history, but by the 1920s, a certain odor was beginning to be felt.
On November 18, 1929, Fourth Ward
Fourth Ward (Atlanta)
-1874:A new city charter increased the radius of the city from one to one and a half miles, reduced the number of wards back to five and created a bi-cameral council of two councilmen from each ward and a second body of three at-large aldermen was established....
Alderman Ben T. Huiet told the city council he had heard a payment of $3,500 was asked for to pass electrical wiring that had been installed in the new Atlanta City Hall
Atlanta City Hall
Since Atlanta was founded, there have been four official city halls of Atlanta.-Antebellum:After half a decade of makeshift meeting places for city business , in 1853 mayor of Atlanta John Mims purchased the four-acre "Peters's Reserve" from Richard Peters for $5,000...
which was then under construction.
Soon after Atlanta Constitution president, Clark Howell
Clark Howell
Clark Howell was a Pulitzer Prize winning American newspaper man and politician from the state of Georgia.-Biography:Howell was born on September 21, 1863 in Atlanta, Georgia...
, wrote a ringing editorial demanding the Fulton County grand jury to investigate.
Foreman Thomas Lyon and Solicitor General John A. Boykin began the lengthy investigation where more than a thousand witnesses were called to look into the council and Mayor I.N. Ragsdale's administration.
Of the twenty-six indictments, fifteen were convicted or pleaded guilty of those seven received prison sentences including councilman Harry York
Harry York
Harold York is a retired professional ice hockey centre who spent four seasons in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
.
The press coverage earned Howell and his Constitution the 1931 Pulitzer Prize
1931 Pulitzer Prize
-Journalism awards:-Letters and Drama Awards:*Novel:**Years of Grace by Margaret Ayer Barnes *Drama:**Alison's House by Susan Glaspell *History:**The Coming of the War 1914 by Bernadotte E. Schmitt...
for Public Service
Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
The Pulitzer Prize for Public Service has been awarded since 1918 for a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper or news site through the use of its journalistic resources. Those resources, as well as reporting, may include editorials, cartoons, photographs, graphics,...
.
Solicitor General Boykin went on to break up Atlanta's numbers game
Numbers game
Numbers game, also known as a numbers racket, policy racket or Italian lottery, is an illegal lottery played mostly in poor neighborhoods in the United States, wherein a bettor attempts to pick three digits to match those that will be randomly drawn the following day...
operation in 1936.