Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-02-02
On TRIAL.
Commission Meet and Listen to
Both Sides
OF the Matter Relative to the Pultney
Township P1kes-Synopsis Of the
Evidence-Oth News

Evidence-Other News
On Tuesday the Board of County Com
missioners met in this place to hear tes
timony as to the charges of the insffi
cheney of the work done on certain por
tions of the McMahon's Greek and Rock
Hill pixies and the blame for which was
laid by the complainants at the feet OF
Engineer Dawson. Quite a number of
witnesses were examined by the prosecu-
ton which was conducted by J. F. An
derson, ESQ.,. of Bellaire. The testimony
of all these coincided quite closely
These witnesses were mostly farmers
living along the line of the road. The
burden of this testimony was to the eff
feet that the stone were not broken 50
that none exceeded four ounces in weight,
but that in some places the stones rang
ed from one to four pounds in weight,
filled, and consequently more stone were
reported and paid for than were put on
the road 1t was claimed that the tally
men at the crushers allowed the con-
tractors to fill a box two-thirds full and
call it full box. In support of this
claim some persons had measured the
stone on these sections and swore that
the coat measured only fraction over
nine inches, when 151a inches were re-
ported as put on the road, and paid for.
There was testimony to the effect that
some of the stone work on the McMa-
hons Greek road was faulty, and that in
other work the engineer had violated the
principles of roadmaking in allowing in
! different work to find placein the road.
The witnesses said that some of the tai
lymen at the crushers, whose duty it was
to see that the boxes were full, were mat
tentive to duty not always being present,
and not always insisting on full boxes.
Also that more stone was placed on some
sections fartbest from Bellaire, and lit
tie Travelled, than on the sections adioin-
ing the corporation line. Witnesses a's)
testified that some of the stone used
was bad and would crumble when ex-
posed to the air. This is in substance
the testimony ON which the demand for
the removal of Engineer Dawson is
based.
On the siue of Mr. Dawson. Dewitt
Danford, Esq, appeared as attorney. Mr..
Dawson went Oh the stand and was ques-
toned by Mr. Anderson-and in effect
testified about as follows: The roads
have been constructed substantially ac-
cording TO specifications. The roads
were not all rolled as specified, but the
same result was obtained by the travel
over the road. specifications have not
been strictly followed because deemed
it best not TO do so. The stone were not
all crushed to the size cf four ounces be-
cause such course would have ground
too many of them to dust. When they
were being crushed too coarse had crush
er stopped. Have not found work not
done as good as sIec fcations required.
Was not certain b 'ut the quality of
some of the stone, thought perhaps it WAS
bad. There was some advantage to the
contractors in not being required to roll
the road. Had heard complaints about
boxes not being full, and ga e the tally
men instructions to see that all box@s
were full There would be difference
between the amount of stone as shown
by the box measurement, and the amount
they would measure after being put on
the road, just how much cannot say.
Discharged Dixon for reasons sufficient
to myself.
In addition to this large number of
affidavits were submitted in the interest
of Mr.. Dawson, mostly from the con
tractors or men in his employ. These
witnesses uniformly testified that the
work was done according to specifica-
tions, that in the filling the boxes, full
measure was given, and that Mr.. Dawson
had been in all respects a competent,
careful and exacting engineer. Mr.. Daw
son then made statement explaining
why certain changes had been made in
the road, and constituting full defense
against the charges made. \ few other
witnesses were called who swore sub
stantially to the facts previously set
forth, and this completed the testimony.
There was considerable other matter in
troduced as to motives actuating both
sides, but the charges consist as given,
and the defense is general denial.
On Wednesday morning the case was
argued for the complainants by J. F.
Anderson and George NJ Wise, and then
submitted to the Commissioners. The
Commissioners took the matter under
adyisement, and will make an examina-
ton of the pixies before making their
report.
Locked Up.
Treasurer Archer could not open the
vault at his Office Monday morning, and it
was ascertained that something was
, wrong with the time lock. The door
! could not be opened, and Mr. Archer at
once sent to the safe builders at Cincin-
natl for an eXDert. who has not vet ar