Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-06-09


sooner than his life, and his health was con-
s,auty being impaired whilst he remained in
the city. Sometime after the purchase Mr.
Hopkins was looking about the building for
the purpose Of taking diagram Of the rooms.
and said to him, "What set Of furniture were
You looking at when you were here sometime
ago?" He replied, This" | then said,
take it. 1t is yours make it a present
to your wife.
Mr. Hopkins, interrupting, inquired of MIR.
B. the price Of the furniture, aud said that it
was less than 500, AID not $500, as had been
rumored about the streets.
Mr.. Bradley said the furniture was small
set-a sofa and six chairs Continuing, he said
he had felt indignant at MIR. Wheat when that
gentleman approached him on the street, soon
after the present was made, and inquired OF
him about this charge of bribery in the manner
he did, and that that was the reason he had
walked away from him Without making reply.
MIR. Wheat said he must beg to make an ex
plaHation. Kumors and reports had come 10
him aud he had been approached on the street
about the matter and requested to MAKE
charges, aud he had goue to Mr. Bradley and
atons and nuendoes
Mr.. Bradley. interrupting, said what he had
done he would do again thousand times. he
regarded The brlbcr as meauer than the person
bribed.
MIR. Wheat. Do you not think it is the
duty of friend to tell another when he hears
statements prcjudicia to him rather than per-
NIT the rumors to be secretly circulated against
him?
MIR. Bradley. felt hurt. You have Known
me ali your life Mr.. Wheat, aud to entertain
any such idea concerning my integrity injured
my feelings.
Mr.. Wheat said he had always refused TO
have anything to do with these charges unless
they could be substantiated 10 q manner to his
satisfaction.
Mr.. Mckenzie. Mr. Bradley, you asked
SIS, 900 for the building originally and came
down 10 $l4 600?
MIR. Bradley. Yes, sir.
Mr.. Wheat said at the last meeting Of the
Board he had stated that he offered the resO-
luton to give Sl4 900 for the building, but iu
that he was mistaken. The resolution was Of:
rrcd by Mr.. Neac, and not by himself.
There here ensucd a very excited and per
soua coll guy between Mr. Bradley and Mr..
Wheat, which required The intervention OF the
Chairmau, who said that such matters OF a pri-
vale character could not be INDUCED in 10 the
Board but must be settled outside.
Mr. Mckenzie then offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That the statement made by Z. Z.
Bradley, esq, in reference to charges made
agaitis, any member Of this Board, III reference
to improper conduct in the purchase uf the
Peabody Building, is satisfactory to this
Board
The Chair put the question to the Board,
when
Mr.. Wheat said he decllncd to vote upon
the resolution in view OF the feeling which had
been manifested towards him.
Mr.. Hopkins appealed to Mr. Wheat not to
dccllue to vote, and said that as lar as he, Mr..
Hopkins, was concerned, there was no bad
feeling Mr. Wheat had been misrrpresencd
and had not said many things which had been
attributed to him by others.
Mr.. Bradley. | do not wan to be under
stood as impugning Mr.. Wheat's honesty. |
mean to Say that he Is close man 10 bust
uess transaction.
MIR. Wheat went into an explanation and
said these charges and nueDdoes had been
brought to his attention by parties who had
Come to him with the charges, and time and
again he had been approached with three re-
ports and his reply always was that he could
lake no action. Things leaked out-ctarges had
not ouly been made against Mr.. Hopkins but
against all the membcrs OF the Board. He
thought an investigation was due to the whole
Board; he never did MIR. Hopkins any injury
in his life, nor did he ever do Mr.. Bradley any
injury, but MIR. Bradley had dceplcy injured
hun tu-cay and he should feel 1t. He had
sent a gentleman to see Mr. Bradley thi, moro
ing To say he waited TO have an interview 10
order that all misunderstanding might be clear
ed away. Whatever he had duue was as Il pub
lie uttic r. Under his oath he would act con
scen cously So long as he was u member OF the
Board
Mr.. Bradley addressing Mr. Wheat All |
have said Was 10 relation 10 the manner you
approached me 90 the street. and t. what
have heard about your pressing this matter
continually.
MIR. Mckenzie thought the matter ought to
b. concluded.
Mr.. Wheat. Mr.. Mckuusie | want to vim.
dictate myself here. would not have this mat
ter investigated On the charges as made to me,
but when Mr.. Hopkins asked this inves,ipa-
ton Was 10 favor Of complying with his re-
quest.
MIR. j. S, Beech said he wanted to make a
remark. We are all ricuds, called upon to stand
I'D Judgment upon u lCllUW ucmUcl. n pcISUu
iu public life occupies a different position from
Que iu priuate position. Ii the two gentle
men say there is no bride here is an end Of it,
There cant be n bride, without briber. Those
promises Remembrance are but the colnnpu
courteses OF lc Mr.. Bradley distinctly dis.
claims any bribery or aoythiog improper III the
conduct Of Mr.. Hopkins, aud MIR. Hopkins
does likewise regarding Mr.. Bradley. 1t all
the members of the board do not vote upon this
resolution it will cause ii to look outside as il
those not voting arc opposed to the resolution.
He hoped that PERSONAL feeling would not pre-
vent members IRON voting, aud that all men-
bcrs would vote upon the resolution
Mr. Wheat Insisted upon being excused.
The Chair stated he could only be Excused by
consent of the Board.
1t was moved and seconded to excuse Mr.
Wheat, but the motion Was lost.
Mr.. Wheat rendered his resignation as
member Of the Board.
Il