Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-11

! would NOT give MIN $50 centa Giyeit to
him yourself oh he says, l have
got nothing 10 do With 1t. You 1.-Two hero
you know these people. Ho then started
ont ] said TO him in parting, y Mr..
Booze. ! would like very much II
this Eight could be made in such
. way that there would be no bad
feeling about It or no bitterness. His re-
ply was All you have got TO do is 70 do
| business in strictly honorable manner,
and there will be no difficulty felt
slightly indignant, and asked what be
nseant. He said: | mean this; that
when We had that fight OF Roanoke you
were tho first man to congratulate mo on
the report OF the committee. aud you
acted tho damned Niger afterwards
And. said Mr.. Waddey In conclusion. the
result have stated. don't think this 10
"Whst proposition did Mr.. Booze
make 7" was the next question.
he made none"
| What did you make?"
II made none."
| DENIED Mr.. BELvIN's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Guigon remarkedt that he understood
Mr.. Starke desired to mako IN additional
statement. and on his motion that gentle
man was allowed to speak. Mr.. Starke
| said that he had learned that Mr. Belyin
had testified that he went North
with the committee as the representa-
tive of himself, and that he (Stsrke) was
10 bear q certain part of the expenses OF
| his trip. Mr.. Starke denied that this was
a fact or that he had ever paid any portion
| of the costs of that trip. The witness
said that SO far as he knew Mr.. Belvin had
| no connection with the Fenton company
! except as far as permission to put IN O
| duplicate bid of his own was concerned.
| He thought Mr.. Booze and Mr.. Belvln had
| arranged this between themselves.
HAD THAT CoMsITTEE FIXED"
Mr.. Glenn was asked by Mr.. Guigon If
| he had ever stated TO any friend OF his
own that he bad that committee fixed"
He said that he did not; that he had
| never made any remark in connection
with the metallic book-lles, except that If
the quality of the material and the work
manship would count for any thing he was
positive that his concern would get
the contract. The witness then made GER
tain explanations of amounts OF expense
rs shown by Mr.. Waddey's statement. He
| said that one or two items inquired OF by
the City Attorney were due 10 the fact
that he had gotten his meals downtown
| while making the measurements aud
| dong other work III the City Hall in con-
| nection with his bid for tho metallic files.
Mr.. BOOZE WILL COME.
Mr.. Starke while on the stand presented
In reference TO the request of the com
mittee for my presence, would say TO you
| that am certainly unable to meet them at
| the meeting suggested by you. aud with the
| business before me at this time could not
see my way clear TO reach your city INSIDE
| of two weeks.
Il shall cheerfully appear before the
| committee upon certain conditions, that
other witnesses which / shall name IN due
tune shall be subpenaed before my coming
to Richmond, and that the committee Will
sat in continuous session until all the tes-
timOny is gone through with that may
propose 10 present 10 the committee.
Hoping that you will lay this commu-
nlcation before the chairman of the CON-
mittee and have the committee take such
action IA they may deem fit III the premi-
ses and inform me OF same
MR.. BATEs's EXPENSES.
Mr.. s. r. Bates the Assistant Engineer.
who accompanied the committee to New
York, was asked whether he had heard any
expressions as to which OF the files was
the best lie said no had not, except at
the meetings. Mr.. Epps expressed his
opinion during a discussion. Mr.. Bates's
bill of expenses on the trip was only 500.
He said this included hotel bills. car fares,
etc.. and that he stopped at the same
place with tho committee and travelled
about the city in street-cG as did the
rest of the gentlemen. lie charged all hls
legitimate expenses to the city.
Mr.. Frank p. Bates, Of the City En-
Questioned insti p by Mr. Epps as to what he had
ever heard Mr.. Epps say about the files:
The Clerk stated that on the evening Of
the last meeting of the subcommittee the
Jefferson. Ward Councilman asked him
what he thought of the goods. MIR. Bates
expressed slight preference for some
r r lN.~.. .trfa
piles, but heard Mr.. Epps say nothing as to
his views.
DIR. ANDERSON ON THE STAND.
DR.. ]. W. Anderson. who went North
with the subcommittee as an expert TO
assist the committee in determining whe-
Their to recommend wooden or metallic
book-fies, testified that he accompanied
the committeeman North. and that from
what was said during the trip he was I'M
der the impression that Mr.. Mountcastle
was somewhat ia favor of the Specially
compsny's goods. he never heard MIR.
Epps cay ANYTHING indicating what he
thought as to the relative merits OF the
work by each of the companies. Dir. Cur
It's. the witness thought. was impressed
with the tentoD company's cases.
Mr. Guigon Intercepted the witness as
TO the expenses of his trip and was told
that the Doctor west on the same train,
stopped at the same hotels, had the same
fare. but left the committee at Philadel-
pima and came over To Baltimore. His ex-
pensos were $500. The Doctor remarked
to the committee that Mr.. Booze, who
PAID several bills on the trip North,
seemed TO be under the impression that he
(AndersOn) would run short Of money.
DR.. Anderson. however, insisted that ne
should settle his share of all bills created.
Dr. Anderson was followed in his evil
dencs by MIR. II. l.. Carter, q membec Of
the COMMITTEES on Grounds and Buildings.
He said that on the evening after the final
| inspection of the metallic samples ct the
| new City Hall Mr.. Epps asked him what
| he thought of the relative merits OF the
work OF the two companies. bis reply
was that the Fenton company was not IN
It. Mr.. Epps SAID that his sentiments
! were about the same.
DR.. Anderson was recalled. and made
| some further statements which had no i'm
| portant bearing upon the investigation.
RECEIVED AN ANONYMOUS NOTE.
At this point Mr.. Murphy asked that
| Mr.. Epps be called to the stand. The gen.
| tleman referred to arose and stated that
| he had in his possession note which he
received last Thursday, but he did not
care just then TO put 1t in evidence. He
said that boy came to his place of bust
! ness with the mlssive. and called upon
| Mr. Samanni TO bear him out III this state
| ment. Mr.. Samannl said he saw the young
man come into the Office and inquire for
| Mr.. Epps. saying that be had a note for
him. What Mr.. Epps most regretted was
that he did not secure the name of the
missive-bearer.
Mr.. Epps then asked that Colonel Alex
ander Archer be asked to the stand to tes-
tfy az to his character. This was done.
and Mr.. Epps left the room until Colonel
Archer had finished his statement.
| , Colonel Archer said Z" Mr.. Chairman,
can SIMPLY say that l have been intimate
with John Il. Epps for the past twelve
years; he has served in my family to MY
knowledge for thirty years, and no man
stands higher in my estimation for strict
integrity, honesty, and truth" Jap
| plause.J
The Chair hero had to rap the specta-
| tors TO order.
| Colonel Archer resumed his evidence
My implicit confidence in him is such
| that / could as soon think that / myself
were guilty of criminal wrong as John 4.
Epps."
The audience started to applaud the
witness again, but the Chair almost mutt
lated the table with his gavel. Colonel
Archer was asked by Mr.. Vaughan If Mr..
Epps had ever given him note. The wit
ness remarked that his confidence in Mr..
| Epps had always been so complete that