The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-21


afternoon Mr.. Whitlock chairman.
MR.. MANLY oS THE STAND.
Mr.. Manly was the first witness examined
hy the chairman Is follows:
q. DO YOU know of any purpose on the
put Of ahy members of the Council to force
the sale Of the city G1s-WorkS Ivy producing
| omtnr rassment in her finances or hy any
| other improper means:
A. | d" not. sir.
q. DO vou know of any ring now or lately
| in existence 10y persons III or out of the
| Council I" Cct POSSESSION OF the Ga>-Works
| Ivy such means:
\. | iA not.
O. Can YOU tell this committee the names
| Of any persons who eau give any n!orma-
ton on this subject!
4. ! cannot. sir.
.. DO YOU know Of any members of the
Council who were moved to vote for Il low
| rate of taxation for the purpose of producing
embarrassment?
\. I do not. sir.
o. Have you any information whatever
which would lead to the discovery of the
persons CHARGED in the address Of the Pre>i-
dent OF the Council with improper conduct
in relation to the Gas-W WorkS:
\. have no Information.
MR. WILLIAM ENGLISH
was next called 10 the staud, and all the
above questions were put to him. He gave
the same replies a. did Mr.. Manly.
=. Did YOU 20 on this excursion to the
| coaI-pit>:
\. did, ~r.
-. Did ,ni hear III. subject talked about
| lhrr,
A. | did not. sir: nor did hear the names
| uf any ot the members OF the Council con-
| ncctcd with scheme of the sort alluded to.
MIR. J. j. ENGLISH
| W. next examined hy the chairman, who
prnpnundcd the same questions a> those
| asked the two previous witnesses. III" also
| answered in the negative t,all tn" questions.
M">>r> Joseph Hall. Pleasant Gentry. scott
| at tlnv. Forester. Nantl,IN1ll. and hester
| man also replied to the above questions III
the ,.lInr manner il> the preceding witnesses.
AR. ErktR TssTIFIES.
Mr.. Whtlock nest called Mr.. f.. j. .Eukcr
10 the stand and asked him whether hr had
any information in relation to the subject
under inquiry, 10 which he replied that he
| had none.
q Did ,o,l never hear the nlmcs of per-
| son, III or ulit ri the Council who were 10
| h, ;.>Snriatrd in IN enterprise of this sort:
\. did. on Tie street; ii WL> ca>llllly
| heard. lat did not SUPPOSE that there was
| amy truth III it.
.. did YOU say tn Mr.. Bo>>icuX that MI.
Parker Campbell. Mr.. Charles L. Williams
and ny SELF were associated together TO pur-
| chase the Gt>-Wurk>:
| ). Not exactly. | did not mean in the
l A. I i 4 tl,,.tl l,,,I hp,l
On tn" street that these gentlemen wanted TO
| In, The Works.
| 9. Can YOU state Ia iiii> committee the
name u! any person from whom YOU derived
| Your intnlunliun:
| \. cannot now remember any.
| 9. Did YOU al this gathering ut the coal
nit, hear this subject discussed?
! i. did not but did on The way home.
| was ~ttin- with Mr.. NJ. l.. Stlaus, and he
told me thnt bad done Hrong in voting for
| Il - instead ut 81 30 that the uuc-twt ntN-
| i've system would Iuiu the city. and event :
| u,llN pll1 the t,;I~-N urk> in the POSSESSION
Of other pailc:. and take II away from the
| city.
| q. hid hr tell Nou the name ut any men,
hcl oi the Council that h" Believed had de-
sign. on The G;>-W ork-
| 4. He did not lie said that he had un-
| dcr>tood from Il gentleman who belonged TO
the Council THAT another gentleman wanted
! tn get pus>c~>iun Of the Works. aud that II
the taxes were not raised such would
eventually br the case.
| q. Did not understand you to say that
YOU heard my name called on the trip:
| \. did not | am quite sure tina, did
not hear it mentioned.
g. Have YOU stated everything that you
know cunccrnn. this mattcr'
4. have, as correctly as | could and a.
my memory allowed me.
| Q Have YOU ANY information whttevcr
thai would lead to the discovery OF the per
SONS charged in the address Of the President
of the Council with improper conduct IN rc-
l,tiull Ia The G;t>-W orkS:
A. h.i>" not.
| GENERAL BRArLEY 7. JOHNSON
Twas next examined hy Mr.. WhitlIck. Hi
| testimony WIS as follows
| q Have ycl anv knowledge of improper
conduct on tn" ptrt of members OF The toun
ell relative 10 the Gas. Works!
| \. None whatever.
| O. Have YOU any inturuiltion that my he
deemed pertinent 10 this ipquil! II 80
| please state what II i.
\. will give YOU what Information
have. hayn" you. gentlemen, 10 Judge o
the ,rrtiurucy. Long prior 10 the election
nr this Council WIS employed by Inrtlr'
rouductiny large @as operations III o'litreh.
parts of the country to examine ana report
to tl,rm of the condition anu value o
the -lS property 81 thc ''l!. ="
fine information | desired irot tue OHIO,
of the Superintendent OF thc ''a>- W olk>,
! was then instructed to inquire Whe'ner lh,!
could be purchased and Ill what litt' ~
/ ,hr prosecution of that inquiry | saw Mr.
Thomas II. Wynnc ana aScerlaliico 'io,'
h,m, a> | believed positively. that thev con-"
not hc purchased at any price. Accolui"-
I, hi, view, a> expressed TO Inc then, II was
the policy ot the city to retain colltfoi VI
them and mike Them rrn,uueratiHe eya SINH
lar system Of lax ,tivu Us has been put in ope-
ration hy this Council. | reported to my.
client, that the property was not for sale aud
could not he bought. Some time ailel
this Council was organized they directed
mo 10 renew the inquiry. In tha'
Investigation asked the opinion ol
! General Nrwhcrry. Il member oi tut
| Io,lnc;I from the ward in which reside
I am neatly certain that never spoke u
another member of the Council on this SUB
jept but from the developments that were
made by the books and proceedings OF lut
Council itself. and the expressed opinion OF
members aS | got tneln by public rulnor or
! iuhi,i,,,r,ls TO whom they had expressed
themselves. again came to the conclusion
that the Ga>-WorkS could not bc purchased
on any terms within the range OF "liat I'D!
clients would consider reasonable, ana
doubted whether they could be purchased
ON an, terms at all. 10 reported TO them
again. There my knowledge OF the matter
terminates. | have not heard from thru'
since.