Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-24
CASE OF MIR. MOSLEY.
Mayor Ellyson Officially Informs the
Council Of the Removal from Office.
HIS GROUND FOR ACTION.
Full Transcript Of The Evidence Taken In
the Examination
PAPERS TO BE PRINTED
Session Adjourned Over One Week
Talk About the Case.

After the Council in Joint session last
night had adopted the resolutions of re-
spect 70 the memory Of General Johnston
Clerk August stated that he had the resig-
nation OF Mr.. 4. b. Grymes as clerk to the
City Treasurer. which had been referred
by the Board OF Aldermen to the joint ses-
sion.
Mr.. Crenshaw moved to adjourn until
next Monday night, when such business
as presented itself might be transacted.
Mr. Glover appealed TO the Council to
GO into an election so as TO put the twenty
i've candidates out of misery. IL was q
matter Of necessity 10 him. for until IL was
done il was impossible for him 10 attend
70 his own private business.
NOT ADJoUREsD.
The motion 10 adjourn was defeated by q
vote of IA ayes 10 81 noes
AT this point there was considerable dis
cussion as 10 whether or not any other
business could be transacted, MIR. Guigon
and others claiming that Mr.. w. l.. White
had moved 10 suspend the rules to allow
the introduction Of the resolutions in
honor of the memory of General Joseph
L Johnston.
ton. which stated. And such other busi-
ness as may be offered"
Mr.. White SAID he had verbally changed
his motion.
The Chair decided that Mr.. Whites mo-
tioD as written would have to stand.
THE MosLEY INVESTIGATION.
Under this ruling the message OF the
Mayor in relation to the Mosley inyestlga-
ton was handed 10 the Chair (Mr. Dicker-
SOM. This consisted of a communication
and all the evidence taken in the case.
Mr. August bad only read few lines of
the first when Mr. Stratt6n moved TO dis
pense with the further reading.
Mr.. Campbell made motion that the
message be laid on the table and printed,
and a copy furnished each member of the
Council. This was an important matter,
and one that would affect mans charac-
ter for life. loud applause from the spec
tators. which brought down the gavel,
greeted Mr.. CampbelPs remarks:l
Mr. w. l.. White endorsed Mr.. Camp
bells position, which action caused an
other outburst from the lookers-on. The
Chair positively stated that this must not
occur again.
CHAIRMAN or THE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. James I. Ferriter said that he was
chairman of the Second Market Committee
and as such knew nothing in the world of
il. He could say that Mr.. Mosley had
turned III more money than any other per-
son who had filed the Office.
Mr Christian could not see how any
thing could be gained by laying on the
table. The Mayor had removed Mr. Mos
lev and the Council had either to sustain
the Mavor or step over him.
Mir. StrattOn favored giving MIR. Mosley
any investigation that lay in the power of
the Council, and would use his vote IN that
direction.
The idea was advanced that as several
Couucilmen had left il would not be fair to
the candidates to 90 into an election.
Mr. Christian said that was just where
the trouble lay. Some of the councllmen
had probably been compelled 10 stay away
because they could not vote for six candi-
dates as they had promised.
ATE VOTE.
A motion was made to adjourn until next
Monday night. on which a recol ded vote
was called, and resulted in tie-21 ayes
10 II noes.
Mr.. Stratton changed his vote from Aye
TO No, making il % TO 20 IN favor OF adj
Journment.
The Letter of the Mayor.
The following is the letter of the Mayor,
only few lines of which was read:
RICHMOND, Va, March 20, 1891.
To nc Honorable The Members Of the City
Council:
Gentlemen.-It is with painful regret
that have TO inform you that IN the exer-
else of my official duty found it necessary
on the 18th instant to remove from once
Mr.. w. H. Mosley, clerk of the Second
market. As YOU are already aware, have
been engaged for several weeks IN the ex-
animation of the accounts OF the different
DEPARTMENTS of the City Government In
the course of that examination ascer-
tanned that a large number of the stall-rent-
ers in the Second market have failed TO pay
Their rent. or at least seemed from the
Treasurers books not to have PAID thelr
d. -4o.rv. hE
swo or three years.
UTTER DISREGARD OF THE ORDINANCES.
I AT once instituted an inquiry TO as
certain the cause of their delinquency,
aud during the examination that followed
! was shocked to find that Mr.. Mosley
had. IN the conduct of his office. shown an
ufter disregard of the ordinances enacted
Tor the management of the markets. -,
Section Of chapter 26 provides that all
bills are 10 be payable TO the treasurer:
and vet il appeared from the statements or
the renters. and Mr.. Mosley's own ac-
acknowledgement, that he had been IN the
habit for more than two years OF coilect-
ING the rents from q large number OF per-
sons occupying stalls
Section "a of the same chapter makes II
the duty of the Clerk TO furnish 10 the Au-
ditor on the first weekday of each year a
list certified by the chairman OF his market
committee of the rentals OF his market,
which list shall state both the annual ana
monthly rent II is further provided that
the Clerk shall on the frat weekday OF
each month thereafter furnish 70 the Auui-
TOR similar lists showing any change IN the
renters that may have taken place auring
the preceding month.
Mr.. Mosley admitted that he had never
furnished any such lists.
NO BOOKS KEPT IN HIS OFFICE.
He confessed that though in the habit
OF receiving q large amount OF money eacn
month from stall-rents and the saie y,
certificates 10 daily renters that ne naq
never kept in his Office any books on whch
90 enter these receipts, ana that MS oluy
record of them was IN q memorandum,
book he carried in his pocket. when mao
been lost or stolen since this investigator
began. Mr. Mosley has kept an account
IN bank as Clerk of the Second market.
He has been III the habit OF checking IN
discriminatory upon tins ACCOUNT ~, i .o
own private uses and for his payments 10
the Treasurer.
felt il TO be my duty IN the light OF
these acknowledgements TO remove mt.
NOsley from the position OF CLERK OF the
Second market. / submit herewith
statement IN detail Of the testimony OF n1'
MOsley and OF each of the witnesses e1-
ahmed, for which / would respectfully
AK your careful consideration that you
may the more fully understand the reasons
for NY action. j. TAYLOR EILysos,
Mayor.
Hall Transcript OF the Evidences Taken Dy
the Mayor.
The following is the statement to which
the Mayor refers. and ii is beaded TX
animation Of the Accounts OF the ti ,s1- oi
the Second Market made by Mayor Eliyson
Cd March l6 and II. 1917;
From the accounts on the books OF the
Treasurer il appeared that ). J.. stsns-
berry. who occupied Stall No. 40 IN tne
Second market, WAS delinquent Ior sne
rent in November and August, 1880. Mr..
stsnsberry, when questioned by the mayor
in reference 70 the matter. stated:
have been in the habit of paying IN ad-
vance. Have not IN the last two years
been down to the City Hall TO pay my bills,
but have been in the habit of paying MI.
Mosley. cannot swear that l paid the
two bills ia question. but i have always
thought had paid up to date. have no