The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-25
GRIMES AS A MONEY-LENDER.
Several Witnesses Testify That He Loaned
Them Money Without Interest.
COL. MARYE EULOGIZsS The ACCUSED.
He Says He Would Trust Him-In All
Probability the Hearing of Witnesses
VIII End Tonight From
the Decisions of the Chair.


night to continue the hearing
Of the evidence to be submitted
by Mr.. Grimes in refutation OF the
charges preferred against him. The num-
Der Of spectators was not quite as large
as on the first night. Police officer Han
non was placed In charge OF the gate
which admits the members and cher
privileged characters to the floor.
President Glover was again in the chair,
and City Clerk B. II. August recorded.
City Attorney Meredith was on hand to
take charge Of the cross-examination OF
witnesses and Mr.. John r.. Grimes was
again represented by Captain George u.
Wise and Mr.. b. b. Munford.
The only spat between counsel occurred
when the defence took up the charge IN
reference to the loaning Of money OH or
ders. and Captain Wise explained that
the defence did not admit the right Of
the Council to question the amount Of
interest that one of its members would
charge. The City Attorney replied that
neither the committee nor the Council
had ever claimed such a right. All tney
did claim was the right TO punish mem
Der for violating any or the city orul-
nances through malfeasance IN oIlce.
When witnesses were introduced 10 tes-
tifv TO the money transactions prior 10
the time when the city ordinance IN ques-
lion was passed in November lS9i.. Mr.
Meredith advised that such evidence pe
ruled out. as irrelevant ana contrary 10
tho rules of evidence. President Glover
differed with him, and ruled that the
evidence be heard. AT the same 'lnlc' nc
urged that any member VINO oiu not sha'e
mis- views on this point appeal from 'he
doc,sion of the Chair. This was done ny
Mr.. I.anderkin: but the chair "aS S"9
tanned by a narrow Margin
A, the beginning OF the session. the
o,,s,er-shell contract was once more
a,ay,p into the examination ana Messrs. .
Iahn u Grimes. Joseph NJ. shelton, ana
III u Roudar. were heard on the SUBJECT
,rhan followed the evidence IN regaru "
,ha leaning of money. when Messls' H.
~ craop Nathan Whitlow, Ropert Jor-
don and j. j. Childress, all iornei e'
,,,o,,as Of the Gas-Works, had oeeh u,"'
- Ltrdt, nv Mr.. Grimes. Ihey nj h"
GU e.aatodi., borrowed money from hlin' ana
~ but one of them still o"eu "'p'
money So, ,he Auditor of
public accounts, was the ias' ~,
calIed who gave testimony az -
hlameIess character as an empioyc "a ~ r,,'
oeice during the past twelve yea ..ts,,
n,obt several other witnesses WIZ ',.-.'' 'S9s's
ir regard 20 the character OF Nj 80 10
but the taking of evidence ""l than
90 s,,ort duration. The case wiz 'lsn
~ ,,hro,fted 10 the Council prooapiy
,.to,,t argument by counsel, ana 'nc
IL, discussion will then be carried OF py
~ members preparatory TO the tahins
90 ~ vote In regard 10 the final disposi- 70
H. ~ the charges. In all probability the
case will he ended Tonight
MIR. GRIMES RESUMES.
r,,o.r,n,Iv nj $50 O'Clock, President
l.,a,.or called the Council to order but
oni,, tuo or three members being present
- ~ ,ine a recess was taken until s'-V
o'clock when the proceedings were ior-
lii, onened The following members
nns,yered TO The roll-call: Messrs. Bloom
horo Briggs. Brock, Caskie, Cottrel'
Dovis Diacont. Don Leavy, Epps' er-
ri,or Griffin. Grimes, Gunst, HoDson,
IarderS,n. Lawder Mcdowell. Williams
page Wallerstein, Woody ana fresiueh'
Glover. -. NJ.
NJ Crimes was first recalled by Mi.
Meredith. He said he was chairman ?'
tho Committee os Light when the pui
chase Of lime from Mr.. Lee was maue III
,be snring of 1895. He saw the lime dump
"a there. If was not an unusual purchase
rIa d,d not see the report OF the superln-
,endent stating that 2.i7S bushels OF lime
were on hand on December 81, leSo'
The report OF Mr.. Walsh showed 'ha'
8 5St bushels were made during the month
of January. 1895. so that 9Obz oushelS "','
on hand that month, ana ',zN pusheis
nsed leaving a balance Of l.S0 bushels.
Witness could not tell why under the CIR
c,,mstances lime had been bought. lie
otso remembered that about that time,
orce or twice, complaints were made as
10 the large quantities Of shells purchased.
Witness confessed his surprise when he
vas Informed that pyrtes had first been
used ia November. 1893 and not In Jan
nary 1895. Witness could not, account
for the fact that the purchase was made
at the time.
Questioned by Mr Murford. Mr.. Grimes
said: had nothing TO do with the running
Of the gas-wOrks, and the Committee on
Light only followed the recommendations
of the superintendent.
Mr.. Nunford stated that he did not
think the chairman and the other mem
bers OF the committee did anything wrong
in connection with the Smoot contract.
MR.. JOHN W. SHELTON.
Mr.. John ". Shelton was next called.
/ was clerk of the Committee on Light in
October. 1894. he said. The members OF
the committee were Messrs. Grimes, Hard
wicke. Vaughan. Caske Wallerstein,
Starke. Noble, Carter, and Davis. The
chairman presides over the meetings and
signed warrants after being approved by
the committee. He cannot make con
tracts. Witness then described how bill
have 10 be approved by the foreman and
superintendent. next by the Auditing Com
mittee. and tlien by the full committee.
when the chairman was authorized TO
sign the biTls.
Witness next read from the record OF
the meeting on October 4. 1894, how thr
bids for oyster shells were opened. The
bid Of Mr.. Smoot called for 10000 bushels,
more or less, to be delivered nj such times
and in such quantities as the committee
y '~h' 9i~orf NJ - cents Der hUShcl The
bid Of Mr. Montgomery called for all the
oyster shells needed, 10 be delivered as
the superinte ndent might desire. All bills
OF Mr.. Smoot. witness said. would first
be audited by the auditing committee.
which was then Mr.. r.. u. Starke, be-
fore they reached Mr. Starke. When the
warrant was approved and the chairman
signed Il, the same was left with the
Auditor.
Cross-examined by the City Attorney.
witness said: / cannot tell how Mr..
Smoot could make out bill for shells
n he never delivered any. The bill would
have 10 be started in some other way. |