Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-02-16

A very aggravated case, as detailed In a
letter, was presented to the Council last
week by Councilman Evans. wherein Mr..
George Bunch, an overseer of the poor,
was set forth as having gone around
cursing'' Mr.. John Day, a recipient of re-
lief in his list. Mr.. Evans said it was an
outrage. Mr.. Abby, another member, said
it was an outrage. and if it was i'll order
he would move to remove him. Mr.. Witt
said these gentlemen who knew the facts
ought to prefer charges against the over
seer, and things looked generally blue for
Uncle George. On Saturday morning the
Committee on the Poor was called together
by Chairman Frank Larew, with Com
mitteemen Bagby and Powell present.
Uncle George dropped in early, wiping
his spectacles and observing, when does
this Returning Board meet want to
know what my fate is?'
When the committee was called to order
he said he would like to hear the letter
read, as he had only seen it once, and hat
was when it was printed in the VINDICA-
TOR. though the letter had been directed
to him. The letter was read,
''Well,' said Mr.. Bunch, Il deny every
thing Of the sort. The letter is addressed
to me. and if it had come to me [ should
nave gone to old MIR. Day and settled it
| with him. I haven't seen Mr.. Day for
three OF four years. except may be around
the polls on election day. 1 have said no.
thing to him nor about him IN any way,
except what was my duty. You ant ex-
| pect to satisfy everybody. Mr.. BagbA
| came to me one day in January, and said
,Ir. Day was in a destitute condition.
/ said l couldn't help it; th at Mr.. Day Tt
| ceiyed the same as when Mr.. Hudson Was
uverseer of the poor-S]am month and wood.
might have told Mr.. Bagby that WHAT they
aid about not getting what was allowed
| them was Il lie. l reckon [ did.
Mr.. Noel testified that he sold Overseer
Bunch wood for Mr.. Day, and never heard
Bunch curse abont him, One day Bunch
| called and asked if Dav had gotten wood.
and being told no, said. ''SenG him around
81 worth; don't let the old man suffer"
MI. Todd, member Of the Council, stated
the fact that Bunch had last month given
Mr.. Day more than he was entitled to-
Mr.. Alby-The charge is not for with
holding. but for abuse.
Another witness testified that he had
order.-Had never heard Bunch curse
| about them.-Had heard an old lady on
the poor list say she was afraid to meet Mr..
Bunch as she had heard he was very abu-
slve. Witness had been told by Bunch
] several times to let the Days have their
| wood first, as they needed it.
MI. Bagby said he had been passing
| Days house on a cool day last month and
yhe old man said he had no fire and that
re had rather die at NICE then to be starved
20 death by piece meal as he was being
Aow. 1 told MI. Bunch that and he said,
Day was a d old liar Bunch swore
md was very rough. Had never heard
Bunch speak disrespectfully of any of the
receplents on. the poor list except this one.
Mr.. Buncb-On that occasion [ did get
lngry, because [ felt | had been doing my
iuty. 1t was then that [ went to Noel's
md ordered wood. All Day had 30 do was
% ask, and he would have gotten what he
was entitled to.
MI. Bagby-What remarks did youmake
about me and Mr.. Evans and the Council.
Mr.. Bunch-That had no reference to
this case. What [ said about you and Mr..
Evans 1 anu responsible for anywhere and
in any way.
Mr.. Bagby-I had given you no occasion
TO speak disrespectfully of me.
Chairman Larew-This conversation has
| nothing 10 do with the charge against Mr..
Bunch.
Mr.. Bunch-What L said about you (Mr.
b. IS not what [ said about MI. Day. l
am responsible for what L said.
| Master Long, a little grandson of Mr..
Day, stated that in Noel's woodward he
had heard Bunch say, ''Send John Day a
load Of wood, d him."
Mr.. Alby-Mr. Evans brought me the
letter presented to the Council, which he
said had been handed to him on the street
oy a lady. He asked me to hand it to MI.
FultZ, which [ did. | then got one of the
ladi, S supervising the Free Lunch house,
o go and see Mrs. Day-she returned, hay
ing found her crying like a child at having
ueen cursed by Mr.. Bunch. MI. Bunch
called on me, and said there was a conspi,
racy against him. | can Say that there
was nothing of the sort, Mr.. Evans did not
know Mrs. Day.
Mr.. Bunch-I'd like to know what Mrs.
Day told the committee.
Mr.. Larew-Two members of the COM
mittee visited Mrs. Day, and she said she
mad not seen MI. Bunch for two OF three
years, but had heard that be had been
damning them around town. She said
they had been getting all they were enti>
tied to on the list.
MI. Powell, of the committee, said they
had visited nine persons receiving relief
from Overseer Bunch, and all had said that
they were receiving all they were entitled
to, and that MIR. Bunch had heated them
DIS a gentleman.
MI. Bunch gave the lie in Landes'
store. to the statement that [ didn't fur
nish all the Days were entitled to.
MI. Alby-You used that language
Mr.. Bunch-Yes, l did! Suppose you
were to deliver a man a bill of goods, and
he was to come to your store and say he
didn't get half he bought >and paid for,
what would you call it?
MI. Abby That isn't the question.
Didn't you use the language about Mr..
Day reported by Mr.. Bagby?
Mr.. Bunch-I might have lone so. Mr..
Bagby aggravated me by sympathizing
with them-as if they hadn't got what
they were entitled to, when / knew they
had. and that | had done all the law allow