Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-03-16

do with the engine. Smith requested MIN
not to go off the committee.
Cross examined by Mr.. White On the
Saturday before the difficulty witness Was
at the engine house. Smith wanted to have
a hole cut il the floor to get at the valve.
Witness declined to give him authority to
do it and recommended him to get the au-
thority from the Committee. Witness said
he would like to have the City Engineer
present to see about the propriety OF doing
it. Don't remember that my manner was
abrupt on that occasion; it might have
been. Smith was excited and witness
might have been. While looking into the
valve Monday witness told Staples to turn
on the forced injection very Slightly, which
he did. Smith objected to this. When
Smith refused to give witness information
Monday, witness did not say ''You refuse
to give me information, do you. Now I'll
have you out of here" If witness ever
told the truth, before God he didn't make
Use of that remark. Smith may lave said
!. before he struck witness that he wouldn't
stand witness domineering over him any
longer. 1t is very likely he did say it.
Witness had not now and nevei had any
unkind feelings to Smith. Could not say
, that they had gotten along we'll tog ether.
Smiths manner was peculiar and abrupt.
Witness did not wish to be understood as
saying that all the fault was On Smiths
side of course SOM might have been on
his own, which is generally the case where
two men quar- ell, one side hardly ever has
all the blame. Witness thought one cause
of the trouble was that Smith was acting
under bad advice.
SUPERINTENDENT SMITHS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Smith being sworn, said he had been
annoyed more than enough 1t had been
said he didn't know his business, nor how
to run the engine. In regard co the valve
in waich the trash had been found, wit
ness had Ca He'd MI. Evans attention to it
thirty days ago-the engine had been work
ing badly, and this was the cause. MI.
Evans had ven Witness il sight Of trouble,
and days that he would be running the en-
CINE would come there three times a day.
GA Monday, witness, when the floor was
cut through and the valve examined and
found with trash in it, had sent for Evans
to show it to him, because b. had always
insisted that the valve was not stopped up
and witness wanted him TO see that 1t Was.
Evans, on this occasion, told Staples to
turn on the forced injection, and witness
ordered him to desist. Evans was always
catechising witness, as if witness was there
under instructions Ii Evans came to the
engine house and things weren't working
to suit him, he vent and turned cocks, &C.,
wherever he pleased. Witness thought if
it was believed that he could not run the
engine, the man sent there to catechise
him ought to be one who knows how to run
it. It was great injustice to witness, that
Evans should be allowed by the Council to
do as he did. Evans objected so strongly
to witness getting down at the valve under
the floor, which witness thought caused the
trouble, that he (witness) wrote to New
York March 9th to the expert what he
thought was the matter, and the expert re-
piled that he was right and witness would
probably find fish or something else in the
valve. Witness had found fish in the
valve. tThe reply of the expert to Smith
was filed as evidence,) Evans declined to
grant permission to get at this valve, with
out the consent OF the committee. On
Monday morning, when witness refused to
give Evans the information, Evans, shak
ing his finger at witness, said Nov I've
got you just where l want you; will you
put tina in writing? I1l have a man here
in your place" Witness said, sYOu have
been bul4-dozing me around here long
enough, aud | won't stand it any longer"
Evans replied to this, and witness struck
him.
Cross-examined by Committeeman -
Eva;s always came to the engine house
just to tiud something to pick Il flaw in.
Witness had no idea of personal difficulty
when he sent for Evans Monday, only
wanted to show him the valve. Witness
didn't recognize the right of the commit
Tee, nor even Councilmeu to Interfere with
the engine-the ordinance gave him con-
troll over it and the responsibility for it.
Witness STRUCK Evans when he said he
would get another MN in his place
thought this was justifiable. This thing
had been going on d longtime, and witness
ldu USSll WUlllCu Wy IPdlo llU1C b1lottl vuC
Councllmen could tell. Witness had tried
to do his duty-it was no part of his duty
to teach Evans how to run the engine,
MR.. ED. STAPLES TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Ed. Staples being sworn stated hay
ing been at the the engine house the Sat
urday before the difficulty and hearing a
conversation between Smith and Evans i'll
which both were pretty sharp. Witness
pretty much confirmed the statement of
Messrs. Smith and Evans about the diff
that he did not r~ecollect seeing Evans
shake his finger at Smith, but was positive
that he heard Evans say to Smith aftenAis
refusal of the information that ''I,l soon
get shut of you now" Smith handed
Evans Il paper to sign and Evans waved
him off saying, Go away from me, l shan'r
sign any paper to give you anything"
Smith then said, ''give me that in writing
aud Evans said ''glve me your refusal in
writing and both walked towards the
desk but did no writing. There WAS other
talk. Evans was standing up when Smith
struck him and he fell among witnesses
tools. Witness tried to separate them.
Witness is positive that he did not hear
Evans say to Smith 1--WE got you where l
want you," When Evans said I'm get shut
OF you now" he was on his knees looking
down the valve. Witness thinks before
Smith struck Evans he called him ~
scoundrel and Evans said, "Don't say