Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-08
Much Testimony Of Interest Given Be-
fore the Special Committee
HOW CONTRACTS WE'RE OBTAINED
Messrs. MONTGOMERY and smoot Give
Their Experiences I'm Dealing with
supt. Adams-Messrs. Grimes and
walsh Also on the stand.

as to seeing the negroes hauling coke
when he came to work. He said. though,
that he always made them stop, as 1t was
against orders to allow them to continue
after the hour he went on.
Hutner Marston, the ofiice-boy at the
works, was the next witness. He saiu
he first came to the gas-works in April
1871. and had been there ever since. he
was asked by Mr.. Meredith what became
of all the receipts received by Mr.. Adams
for money brought up to the Treasurer
office frow the works. He said that some
OF them were filed, and he had seen some
torn up and put In the waste-pasket.
J-pon being asked who kept the account
of shells, Mr.. Marston said that MI.
Meredith kept an account OF the shells
received from Mr.. Montgomery's carts,
and told Mr. Walsh how many loads were
hauled a day.
ONLY TO wALsHs CARTS.
Mr.. r. s. Gaulding, who is employed
I'm the engine-room. said he had delivered
tickets for shells received by MIR. Adamss
carts and Mr.. Walsf's cart.
.sDid any one else have cart then De-
sides Mr.. Adams? was asked.
..Yes. Mr.. Smoot had three. and mr.
Walsh had one" a,
/ In reply to questions asked py hir. Al
len. the witness said that he only gave
tictets for MIR. Walsh's carts. Mr.. Smoots 5
shraa carts went TO the office for their
tifttets The tickets he gave, he said, were
mere sljps of paper The other carts re-
ceived printed cardboard tickets In re-
ceint for the loads they delivered.
"Do YOU know any reason why THESE
| di0arent tickets were given?' the W.T.
ness was asked.
mo, sir; l do not. ..o
In reply 10 questions as to whether tne
three carts which were supposed 10 pe
hauling for Mr. Smoot were reaiiy nis
carts. Mr.. Gaulding said that ne had 10
way OF knowing.
| Mr.. Pat Burke, laborer at 'ne WI ins'
was next examined. MT. Mereoith queS-
toned him. III. .ho
"Do you have anythihS to oo WIZ"
shells?'
Il throw them uD ,-.,
"uow MANY carts haul these shelis
"Three carts generally. oesides MI
Montgomery's.' Ss,on,od
Ne said that one Of these carts belonged
20 Mr. Walsh. and he thought the otner
! two belonged to Mr.. Grimes-at ieas',
that was every ones impression aloe,
Yhe works. They were put up at MI;
Grimes's stables. The witness saio ne nau
often noticed that some OF sne ca''s "''@
short of haying a full load.
sI,sn Goodman, colored driver foi
Mr. Montgomery, was put on the STAND
and testified that he had seen the othei
carts deliver shells at the works, anc
that Ali of them did not carry fun loans
come of them did not have mucn more
than half a load, he said.
Fleming Christian. a colored driver TO-
| Mr. Walsh. took the stand ana SAID III
hauled shells as well as ioads OF coNe
He admitted that he had sometimes ca'
Rod only half a load of shells. but saio
49, he denosited these OF some distance
from the others. and always came back
apd added TO the shells until the twenty
five bushels, which make load, had beer
delivered.
MR.. MONTGOMERY TESTiFIES.
Mr. Montgomery, who had the contract
for hauling shells to the gas-worhs u
1909 was next put on the stand. and his
| ,aetimony was very interesting anc
threw a deal OF light on the subject ne
| aaid that Mr. Adams came TO him In ls5.
and said to him he wanted him 10 pa lol
the contract. He said he wanted hlm u
hid for him. ard that if Mr.. Montgomer,
would do this he would allow him to pu
I'm his own shells for what the city paid
Mr.. Montgomery bid 5ls cents bushei
nj the suggestion OF Mr.. Adams. The for
mer thought he would lose II. ana sai'
40 much TO Mr. Adams, but the Superln
tandant told him he would attend to 1t
that there was only one more bid. Mr.
Montgomery said he hauled about l6oS
or 1900 bushels OF shells. He said Mr.
Adams paid him the money for his shells
until the latter part OF the last season
when he drew the warrants.
Mr. Montgomery then told how he los
the contract for the second season. ~
said Mr.. Adams asked him TO bid, an'
tod him to bid 5is cents per bushel. W.T.
ness was afraid TO risk bidding that' ina
he could afford to bid cents per bushel
and still make some money out OF 1t. Mr.
Adams insisted that the bid be made o.
cents. but Mr.. Montgomery refused. ant
stuck TO his first bid. The next morning
he said. when he looked at the paper h
saw that Mr.. Smoot had gotten the con
tract on a bid OF 4 7-S cents. He told Mr.
Adams afterward very plainly that he di'
not think he had been treated right II
the matter. Mr.. Adams told Mr.. Mont
gomery that If he said anything about tn
matter that he (Adams) would lose nj
place. to which witness replied that, n
thought a man who did not properly dis
charge his duties ought 10 be turned out
l
privilege of furnishing shells, TO the gas
works at the contract price, and the mat
ter dropped.
| He said towards the latter part OF las
season the warrants were sent him, an
they called for more than he delivered
He simply took out what belonged to hir
and turned the balance over to MI
Adams.
HOW HE GOT THE CONTRACT.
Mr.. Smoot was next put on the stand
He was asked to tell the circumstance
under which he became bidder for tn
contract in 1894. He said that 1t wa
some time In September when he wa
asked by Mr.. Adams and Mr. Grimes
put in bid for furnishing the gas-work
with oyster-shells. After considering tn
matter Mr.. Smoot said he put In the bie
which. at the suggestion of Mr.. Adam.
he made Ats cents. He said he did not d
anv hauling himself and had not put !
the bid with the intention OF doing 81
and did not get any OF the money. Nj
Adams came TO him some time later an
said that Mr.. Montgomery was much diI
satisfied about the contract not bein
| awarded to him. He said. however, ths
Mr.. montgomery would be satisfied II h
was allowed to deliver his shells. tn
| | witness said that he consulted Mr.. Crime
as to this, and that the latter said he di
not think II would be fair TO let NJ
/. Montgomery do this.
= MIR. GRIMES TESTIFIES.
|, Mr.. Grimes was next put on the stan'
. and was questioned by Mr.. Meredith.
q How many carts did you have them
r IL had one"
h Can you explain how both you an
4 Mr.. Adams picked out the same man?
Eyes, cir. Mr.. Adams asked me abo,
putting In a bid for It, In other word
z | he said he wanted to have the hauling
. and did not have the money, ana Knew