The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-15
THE SCHEME TO SELL THE
GAS-WORKS.
THE NATTER STILL A MYSTERY
YESTERDsH'S TESTIMONY.

YEsTERD.y's TESTIMONY.
nc committee appointed TO consider crr-
tam statements contained in the address of
President Wynnc, of the City Council. deli
rcred le!orc that body some week, since.
met again iii the Council chamber yestcsday
afternoon. Present -Mcssrs. Whtlock
| (rlmIrnan), Lipscomb, CottrcIl, S,arkc, and
Jonc-
The first witness examined by Mr.. Whit
| lock was
| MR. LOUIS +. B0SSIErX.
Mr. Whitlock stated To him that the object
! "' thc-" ihquillca is TO ascertain whether any
! IMPROPER Influences have been used by per-
on. members of The Council or not, TO pro-
rulc POSSESSION oi the Gas-W o:ks, ami asked
l,l!n II he had any information bearing on
this subject please to State what he knew.
| y. Nothing to my knowledge. In regard
10 The second part Of Your question will
relcr you to the record OF the Council OF
| October Ia, 1872. The witness here read
the resolution already referred to.l About
that time. continued Mr. Bossicux, I ell
dG'vor'd to ascertain the cost of the city
6os-W ork>, thinking it possible that tie
city might offer them for sale. and il SO, Il
Gentleman Of means and friend Of mlne
desired to become II bidder. | went to the
City AUDITORS office for the purpose of
making the inquiry as to the cost of the
Works. etc. had conversation with the
clerk, Mr.. j. q. Wmn (thc Auditor being
absent at the timc) and was satisfied in that
conversation that the cost of the Works
could not hc obtained ut that office. then
| I'D frbnn,.,, IT I I
Bos>iruX, Nj. l.. Stratl., and | may have
called on Others, but cannot now rcncln-
Der. / nm satisfied, however, that did lot
call on any mcmber Of this committee.
injured oI the gentlemen named whether
tncy could give the Information desired.
Mr. Wynnc'> idea WIS that The Works cost
:joo,0Oc. Mr.. StrauS said eSDO, 900, and see
in tins mornings papers that Mr.. BOSseuy
estimated the cost al 100000; but | think
he said then that the pipes in the street cost
that much.
Q. Did you tell Mr.. Wynne why you made
the inquiries:
9. Did Mr.. Wynne receive the matter
with favor.
\. He merely replied to my questions.
9. Are you very sure that yGu never made
any pltt,CSiliOli VI Ul,ltu ibolSS'-i,h'
to Mr.. Wynnc i'll the matter:
\. I'm quite positive that did not. |
approached him because thought he could
give me more Information than anybody
else, because he WIS once manager Of super
int"DGcnt of the Ga>-WorkS.
9. Did you go on the coal-pit excursion
| recently:
\. 30, sir.
g. Are these conversation, which YOU nov,
rebate the only ones which YOU have had u
this subject:
A. think 30: and they were merely
casual.
Q. You have stated that some gentlemen
| of considerable means were associated With
| YOU will yuri state who they were!
\. Id rather not. Is no Ulcr wi> made Gov
| The Works, aud aS the matter wa5 Il private
| one.
.. Were they members OF the Council
\. They were not.
g. Did YOU ever bear that there were any
persons inside or outside OF tie Council
who desired to enter into this arrangement
for the pm pose Of ob>trucling the credit oI
the city:
\. never did. sir.
Q. Did YOU ever have any conversation
win any one outside of the city or this sub
icct:
A. Not to MY rcco lection. sir.
! .. Do you know or have you heard ot amy
ind!y .duaIs vino could give us the niorma'
tiun we desire:
\. The parties with whom l was con
nccted might.
q. How many were they!
4. Well; can't speak positively Of but
one.
q. Did YOU inquire Of Mr.. Wynnr. anC
did c give yorl any matters uf detail con
rrrnin- the operations of the Works?
\. wanted him to tell ne what III,
Works cost
| 9. Did yOu ever hear that
THERE WAS RING FORMED IN THE cot.Scll
for this purpose?
\. 30, sir ; n%!thcr il The Council nor OH
of it.
q. Then, YOU never heard that Mr. Par
ktr Campbell, MIR. Davenport. or mysrIl
were paltir, 10 be intcr3Str.! in the pur.
ciIaSr:
4. No. sir. never did ; though il >rcnmt
to ir generally understood that Mr.. DyI"a
port wantcdtp be bidder.
Q. You never heard OF il in any WHY IL tt
lead YOU to suppose that it WAS III private
| or Improper nanrcrF
/ \. Never, sir. ~ NY !i%y. II tho Gas
Works had bccn inr sale Supno3y ne wauirt
To be Il bidder. jn:t as anyhodr els would
have done.
| GENERAL >awEEEEY uN THE sTA&p.
Genera! Nrwbcrry was next questioned by
tie chairman.
@. Please tell the committee anything yot
NAV know in regard TO the matter undcl
consideration.
4. About the time OF the first inyc>tlGs
ton into the management of the affairs OF th'
t;us- Works, aud when it seemed almost lun
possible 10 correct what then seemed to b'
ABUSES IN ITS MANAGEMENT,
I gaye the subject some thought myself as Il
the proprietv cf the sale OF lease Ul III,
Works. and cOnverSed with other members
of the Council As to their opinion OF it
Among those with whom | conycrsed were
the chairman of the present committee. Mf
Starke. Mr. Hall. and lh.nh upon one {" ca
| sion Mr.. Wynnc hin>cIt. The conversations
however. were raS,,al. and only pertained
TO the propriety and is feasibility. III,
three tir.t-named gentlemen and myself were
together with Captain Dilnmock at Mr.
Starke's mouse, and after finishing the WORK
| for which we met street committee DilslneSs)
This conversation occurred casually. The
universal expression among those gentlemen
| was that it would be
DEPl oEagIE STATE or AFFAIRS
# vo should Ue forced Il ,,ell the Works; YET
IL they could not be properly managed b,
the Council! it might DC best to sell a> !as'
resort. 80 conclusion was arrived ut IN anJ
manner.
.. Did you then regard the question US
finally disposed of: