The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-07
Yours very respectfully.
JOSEPH STELWAGON'S son,

tnfSt papers NhiNH "A' ~
''''''' Yours very respectfully.
JOSEPH STELWAGON'S son,
Bv -. c. Richardson Attorney.
The next documentary evidence in con-
nectiOn with the awarding or the coal tar
contract by the Committee on ldsnt 10
dr. John Armitage Is contained IN the
following letter, sent to the chairman Of
the Iight Committee;
Richmond. Va, May 2. 1880.
William s. Gum, Esq, Chairman COM
mittcc on Light:
Dear Sir.-i was prevented from attend
ing the meeting OF your committee yes
ferdav afternoon by an important busi-
ness engagement. which detained me
LONGER than was anticipated.
did not imagine that my presence was
necessary 10 induce your committec 10
investigate the matters contained IN the
communication prepared BY NE ana pre-
eentod TO the Board al It's last meeting
on behalf of Joseph StelWagons son. As
guardians of the city's interest IL ap-
pearcd 20 me that such an investigation
was your duty. and not mine. II my
ureeence is desired 90 aid you In the in
vestigation. { viii cheerfully appear be-
fore your committee and VIII also tele-
graph 10 Mr.. Stelwagon 10 be present on
any day you may designate within rea-
hope that you brought to the atton-
ton OF the committee my application Tor
permission TO see Armitage's original ag-
piicatiOn for the contract, and tht eh
permission was granted.
with the hone that l shall hCai ON
YOU at al early day, and that So v-il
send me written order TO the ciri X or
your committee. directing him 70 allow
me TO see Armitages original Application,
1 am. very respectfully,
Your Obedieut servant.
ID. G. RICHARDSON,
Attorney for Joseph stelwagon's Son.
After a further delay Of two weeks an
other meeting OF the committee was
caned. which Mr.. Richardson was unable
10 attend. a. may be seen from the fol-
lowing letter.
Richmond. Va. June 9. 1880.
Hon William S. Gum, Chairman Com
mittce on Light of the Council OF the
city of Richmond:
Dear Sir-I received this morning a no
tice OF the meeting OF the Committee on
Light on tomorrow CThursday afternoon
at o'clock.
presume the notice was given to me
because the communication from Joseph
Steiwagons son 10 the Council viii come
up for action.
regret that il will be impossible for me
to be present as | will be compelled 10
go 10 williamsburg that day TO attend a
meeting Of the Executive Board Of the
Eastern Lunatic Asylum, of which l am
a member.
As i have heretofore Informed you, l
know nothing Of the matter personally,
and All the information have received Is
contained in the communication 10 the
Council. / hope. however. that the COM
mittee will fully lnVcst tigate the matter,
ae conceive II 10 ho their duty and
make report 20 the Council ! do not de-
sire continuance on my account.
Yours very respectfully,
ID. G. RICHARDSON.
This ended the correspondence in the
premises. and the next step taken was
the meeting Of thc committee; tne pro
ceedinss OF which, togetheT WIN me CON
tents Of the letters Mr.. Gum could not
remember before the Investigating Com
mittee. The letters addressed TO him by
Air Richardson nave been filed away
with the other papers Of the committee.
THE COMMITTEES ACTION.
on June 25 1880. the Committee on
LIGHT met for the purpose of consider
ing the communication of StelWdgcn
Son. IL was Just three days before the
eypirauon of the Council, and, there
fore. also three days before that com
mittee went out OF office. Consequently
mo report has ever been made on that
subject back TO the Council. However,
the minutes of that meeting, which were
kept by Mr Joseph NJ. Shelton, who
was then clerk 10 the committee, have
been preserved. and show the follow
The members present at that meet
ing were Messrs. Gum (chairman), Boz
deker, IL. 4. Davis. Ferriter Grimes, ana
HargroVe.
Mr. H. NJ Smith. Jr, appeared as coun-
sci for Armitage, and Mr. d. c. Richard
son appeared Tor StelWagon's Son. Mr..
Richardson asked that a stenographer
be allowed to take the proceedings of the
committee. On motion of Mr.. Davis the
request VAS granted
The communication Of StelwaFon's Son
was then read. Mr.. Gum asked Mr..
BOdeker in the chair, whom the letter
of August 10th was addressed 10. and
Mr. Stclwagon replied, 10 the president
Mr. Gum. in reply 70 a question by
Mr. Grimes stated that the president
of the Common Council. Mr.. Campbell
denied having received such letter (dr
Thomas y. Campbell on Thursday evening
stated before the investigating commit
tee, that he had never made such
denial)
The Chair, in reply to n question by
Mr.. Feriiter. said he considered Mr.
Campbell to be the president Of the City
Council
Mr.. stelwagon said the letter was never
returned 10 him, and Mr. Gum reiterated
his statement, that Mr. Campbell had
never received the letter.
Mr.. Richardson here arose and made a
statement in behalf OF his client. His
statement embraced principally what was
set forth In the communication Of Mr..
Mr.. Davis suggested that the COM
mittec take up the allegations in the
oroer IN which they were presented In
the communication
]. Has proper contract been made
with Armitage? Mr.. Davis moved that
the question be answered In the affirma-
tive. Mr.. Richardson argued against the
motion.
on motion Of Mr.. Davis and by re-
quest Of Mr.. Richardson. the resolution.
contract. and bond We're read. Mr.. Rich
ardson called attention TO a slight er-
ror in the date. and Mr. Smith stated that
the paper had been prepared I'm the office
of the City Attorney. Here considerable
discussion ensued between counsel in
regard 10 the technical point about the
date.
Mr. Ferriter explained his reason for
voting for the new contract, but Mr..