Oh, Brother

As ranking aide and favorite brother of Georgia's Governor Marvin Griffin and as mayor of their home town of Bainbridge (pop. 7,562), cigar-chomping, lapel-grabbing Robert Alwyn ("Cheney") Griffin, 43, is at ease in almost any Georgia setting, from columned plantation to smoke-heavy hotel room. But last week Cheney Griffin suddenly discovered himself in a setting that made him ill at ease. Indicted on charges of accepting a $1,500 political bribe, Cheney taxied down to Atlanta's Fulton County jail, posted $2.500 bond, then skipped off to await his trial next month.

Cheney Griffin's troubles began when the big (circ. 196,693) Atlanta Constitution learned of a visit to the capital last year by a delegation from southeastern Georgia's Appling County. About 20 years ago Appling County deeded almost 1,000 acres of land to the state for forestry experimentation; the delegation wanted 125 acres back for a golf course. The Georgia senate was agreeable; so was the house. So, too, was Marvin Griffin, who ultimately had to sign the bill. But according to the Fulton County grand jury indictment, Cheney took $1,500 to start the ink flowing in the governor's pen. The Appling County folks went in debt to pay.

Cheney's indictment last week was only one difficulty facing the Griffins. Not only was the Constitution on their littered trail, but Marvin Griffin had stirred up a more dangerous foe. Aware that Georgia's strongman, U.S. Senator Herman Talmadge, had hand-picked Lieutenant Governor Ernest Vandiver as the next governor (TIME, Feb. 17), Griffin--who cannot succeed himself--nevertheless picked and began pushing his own nominee. In retaliation the Talmadge-dominated state senate ordered an investigation of the governor's administration. And if there are any political bodies buried around, the Talmadge fans will know where and how to find them.

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