The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-28

IL knew, that was on the delinquent list
for February. Then it was that looked at
My cash-book and found this transaction
above alluded to. On one other OCCASION |
sent the money in an envelope to nay my
hill to Mr.. Pryde's house. He was a neigh
bnf. and he1ce sent Ii to him. After hear.
Jig that was delinquent took the trouble
to fuft tip tbe receipt for February. but
couldn't find it. The fiGst mouths bill Was
found. and 1t being about the saifit alpoitnt
as the last, I thought no more Of IT, as 1t was
clear the previous bill had not been added.
MORE ABOUT TEE LATE FALSE ENTRIES.
". W. Wood, Assistant Inspector, being
Said he was In the Inspectors officc on
Tuesday after 3 o'clock. Sir. Detiegri came
in. picked UP the ordeT-book, ,.ard said he
would like to find out when Mr.. Pryde had
bis meter changed in his house. Took up
the book and remarked that he couldn't find
1t In that bonk. Then put the book back
sfitrte II lseianged Then went to the files
of the ret,lrned jtdets, looked over them,
and couldn't find it there. Thgf sent out
and never saw him again. He had
NO PEN IN HIS HAND, .
for could have seen him. did not
know that the figures had been altered. l
know If he had altered them there could
have seen bihi. Mr.. Sehaffer was there. and
l heard Denegri talking abcttt some figures
in the book. I heard him say to Schatief
that if MIR. Kelley mad had that book when
he was making his first investigation he could
have found out
WHO COMMITTED THE FORGERY.
remained in the Office until 4 O'Clock,
but did not see Denegri until the next
morning. saw him have the order-book in
his hand about 10 O'Clock, after the commits
sion had begun work. Mr. Knowles and my
self were in the office then. and Denegri
took down the book, opened it, and with an
exclamation said, "Look hereT' Knowles
said, "What is it?' I looked over il, and
saw the changed figures He then put it up
and said nothing more. did not see the al
teratiops the day before.
Mr. Kelley: Did Denegri call your atten-
tion to the altered figures?
Mr.. Wood: No, sir, not to me, but saw
that the book had been tampered with.
Witness here told all about the locks and
keys as has heretofore been detailed.
sokEY-oRDERs FOR DELINQUENT BILLS.
Mr.. Melton was questioned by Mr.. Whit
lock whether he knew anything about All
order signed by Mr.. r. f. Knowles to Dir.
james Melton. asking him to reserve $13.05
out Of his wages for gus bills due by him !?
Mr. Melton replied that he had some In
distinct recollection of such an order for bills
that Mr.. Knowles had assumed to pay.
Mr.. j. E. Batkins, sworn: Said that he
knew nothing in the world about the altered
figures. Only knew that Mr.. Melton had
said once or twice that he would read biz
own meter, hut didn't remember that Mr.
Pryde said so. Thought Mr.. Prfde bad
said that there was an ordinance allowing
the Inspector and other employees to llst
gus
WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT.
don't think ever took Mr.. MetOn's meter
In my line. Think I was once at Mr.. Pryde's
house. came into the office after John
1yree, and they seemed to be mad with ME.
That's the reason / did not work in Mr..
Pryde's section of the town, though when
] took the stal!e, Of the, meters in Johns
neighborhood lid ivi take his: :.
Mr.. Kelley Can't you tell how frequently
YOU have taken meters in Mr.. Pryde's neigh
borhood in the last seventeen months?
Mr.. Batkins: No, sir; l don't know. !
have taken them this year there, though.
Mr.. Pryde had said to me that lie would
take his own meter. think that anything
law with me # Mr.. ielt6fi had left him in
charge. y
Mr. Kelley: Did you ever by any ones
order neglect to take the state of anybody's
meteri
Mr.. Batkins: No, sir, never did, and
never thought of It. don't remember ever
IT,, p,rfI yp Mr
their gas consumption. don't know how
often theY entered it or didn't cntei 1t. |
often saw opposite MIR. Pryde' e'sand Mr.. Mel
tons names the words " No bills" | think
this was more than one or two months.
tfrtiNkTtoh or Mr.. suRtETT.
Mr.. P. A. Sublett. being present, explained
that he had seen In the papers that Mr. 4.
Knowles had volunteered to pay two bills
for bis frm. On several occasions he had
handed the money to Dir. Knowles, who
volunteered TO pay the bills. Generally he
did 20. Yesterday be handed him a receipt
due December 2Qi 1870. Tbe bill for March,
20, 1871, seems, said Mr. Subett, to be still
unpaid, amounting to S3.52. Knowles also
said that Sweetman owed bill which he
hadn't paid, and as he (Mr. Subiett) didn't
know Sweetn1an by sight, he WIS satisfied
thst 1t w,:s "A mistake! Said plso tl,at 10
would like to ask Mr.. Knowles why he
volunteered to pay the bills. He was .sltis-
fed, however, that the March bill Of II had
been paid, though it could not be found
The bill before it and after it has been paid
Mr.. LAuBE
also said in explanation that he never said
that Mr.. Pryde had run up "a considcranl lie
BILL" but that the bin which he made was
$l7. Mr.. Laube further denied that he ever
said In Mr.. Pages presence that Mr. Pryde
had not assumed to pay his gas bill. Mr.
Laube also said that he never told i'll that
conversation what the Mayor had usked him.
but tliat he did say that be never gave Mr.
Pryde any money to pay his gas bill.
Mr. Pryde here asked Mr.. Lau If he had
not said that he (Pryde) and others had H.
fnuded him out Of three hund' ed votes, and
that he intended to prosecute him for II.
DIR. Laube: No, sir; but did say to your
face TINT yuli had robbed Inc OF three hun
dred votes, and you acknowledged it.
a Mr.. Pryde: That Is false.
Mr. Melton, in explanation, spoke of l,ar-
ing frequently taken the state OF hls meter,
and that he found his consumption OF gus
very small. But two burners were in the
house. Found the CONSUMPTION SO small
that he did not think 1t nece>siry tu-setLle
the bill then. Later, he ha, An accident and
the two burners We're kept constantly going.
Subsequently he moved to another house.
Came to the Office, had hi, bill made out, and
paid 1t in full to date. This WAS doRe, said
he, before he knew of the Investigation
Mr.. w. II. Page said that Mr.. Pryde never
gave him the keys of the desk until after the