The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-26
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THE COUNCIL VILE gOTE ON THE
GRIMES CASE HOSDIY.
A Number of Citizens Testify to Mr.. Grimes
Reputation for Truth and Honor
The Witnesses.

" short duration. a number Of witnesses
were introduced to testify to the good
character Of Mr.. Grimes and the case
was then submitted without argument.
An effort was made 10 bring tho matter
to a vote at once, but # was finally de-
cidcd 10 stick TO the original resolution.
! by which the vote Will be taken next
Monday az +. NJ.
When President Glover called tho Coun-
! ell 10 order at $40 i. NJ. the following
/ members answered the roll-call: Messrs.
| BloOmberg, Briggs, Brock, Caskie Davis,
| Don Lcayy, Epps. Fcrritcr Griffin, Grimes,
| Guns1, LanderInl Lawucr, Mcdowell,
/ Smith, Trower, Woody. and President
Glover. Subsequently Messrs. Blanks Car
ter. Cottrell, Williams. Seay, and Waller
stein came in.
THE QUALIFIED TESTIMONIALS.
Captain Charles /. Taylor. who was
first called TO the stand, testified as fol
lows.
have been living in Richmond for about
! forty-sevcn years. have been in the Coun-
ell, in the legislature and am now Il
! momber of the Board Of Fire Commits
| si0ners. j have known Mr. Grimes from
my bOyhOOd up, and have known him 10 be
as honorable a man as ] know, and would
believe him as quickly as l would any
! other man L know.
Judge S. B. Witt said / have known
! Mr.. Grimes well for about twenty years
j have always considered him as en- hon
orabie man, and his varacity is beyond re-
| proach.
Police-Justice Crutchncld said: I know
| Dir. Grimes quite intimately. and never
heard anything derogatory to him prior to
this charge.
Mr.. a. w Harmon, Treasurer or the
| State of Virginia. said:
| i nave known Mr.. Grimes for the mast
ten years, since ! have held my oniciai
position. / think his reputation FOR nom
| esty and Vcracity is as good as that of
any one l know. He carries an deposits
from my Office 10 the banks. and has dis
charged his duties faithfully and we'll
Mr.. John A. Meanlcy. collector OF de-
| hnquent taxes, said:
l have known Mr.. Grimes FOR twenty
five years. 1 can only corroborate what
| Judge Witt and Captain Taylor have
! SAID. i believe him 10 De am honorable
man I'm every respect.
Mr.. James NeihcIwood. who has been
citizen of Richmond for thirty-nlne
! years, said:
1 have known Mr.. Grimes for thirty-fve
or thirty-six years and have been hts
/ noghbor for a number of years. he has
/ always been a vcy upright and honorable
| gentleman and deserves great credit Tor
| the manner in which he has taken care of
| his mother and younger sister.
HONEST AND TRUTHFUL.
Captain JOHN A. Curtis said: have
been resident of this city ever since
1861. and have known Mr. Grimes over
twenty years. He lives within a stones
throw Of my residence. consider him
10 be a very honest and truthful man.
/ think him to Doe as warm a man TO hls
friends as / ever knew. / don't know
1 rUH ri ! 20
more implicitly than on that OF Mr..
Grimes.
Captain George Watt Taylor said:
am one of the fire commissioners
and was the chief of the Fire Depart
mont for eight years I have known AIR.
Grimes very intimately, and regard him
as as truthful and honest a man as /
ever knew.
Captain William II. Curtis said:
/ have lived in Richmond for twenty /
four years. and have known Mr.. Grimes
for about twenty years. and have always
found him perfectly truthful and honest
in an transactions 1 ever had with him.
Senator william LOyenstein said. ] |
have lived in Richmond over forty years,
have been a representative Of this city
ln The House and Senate for twenty-six !
years. ] have known Mr. Grimes for |
about twenty-six years and had business |
transactions with him for about twenty !
years. ! regard him as perfectly honest |
in every respect, and he could get any !
thing 1 have.
WIDE LATITUDE SHOULD BE GIVEN !
Mr. Munford desired TO ask some of the |
witnesses as 10 whether Sir. Grimes was |
"a cruel man, inasmuch as one of the COM |
ciusiOns Of the committee was to that |
effect. Mr.. Meredith objected to it. inas- |
much as Mr.. Grimes had only been /
charged TO have violated city orli- /
nance. and IL was immaterial whether he /
had been charitable in any other direc- |
ton.
Mr. Caskie, who was in the chair at /
the time. decided that the greatest latl- /
tude should be allowed Mr.. Grimes, and /
that the evidence about TO be presented /
should be cdmitted.
Captain John A. Curtis. who was re- I
called, said the people employed at the /
gas-wOrks were very poor. and DE had /
employed some of the men himself whom 4
Mr.. Grimes had loaned tmoEey. Mr.. |
Grimes reputation is that he is public |
benefacior TO the people of Rockets. /
lie added that he had helped these men |
himself, but he admitted. when asked by |
Air. Meredith. that he had never charged |
1O per cent. interest.
SIR. Netherwood stated that he had
never heard Mr.. Grimes called a cruel /
raan.
Mr.. D. c. Richardson said he had 1
known Mr.. Grimes for about twenty-five
years. and possibly longer. lie had
known him intimately and always re-
gardcd him as man Of the strictcst
truth and honor and was so regarded by
his neighbors. lie had never heard his
honesty questioned.
Mr.. George W. Donly had known Mr..
Grimes for twenty-five or thirty years.
His character for yeracity and honesty,
he thought was very good
TO VOTE NEXT MONDAY.
Captain Wise then arose TO state that
the defence had no further witnesses 10
Introduce. and would submit the case 10
The members Of the Council. lie briefly
thanked the members Of the Council for
the kindness with which he and his asso-
ciate had been treated
The Chair stated that there was no
resolution before the body at this time.
the original resolution setting forth that
a vote should be taken next Monday al
o'clock.
Mr.. Davis moved reconsideration in or
der that the vote might be taken at once.
Mr.. Caskie was opposed to the motion.
and desired TO have ample time to con-
slider the matter. lie was not prepared
10 vote then.
Mr.. Davis then withdrew his motion.
and at the suggestion OF Mr.. Bloombere
the Council adjourned until next Monday