Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-13

which bore upon these matters. The re-
port also spoke OF the large quantity OF
coke taken by the negro Townes during
Mr.. Adams's administration. and charac-
terized the condition OF affairs growing
out OF the purchase Of oyster shells for
the city as outrageous and disgracefui.
Its closing RECOMMENDATION. which mao
reference entirely TO Mr. Grimes. and
which was largely the subject under con-
sideration last night. was as follows:
Your committee feel constrained, In
the light of the evidence before them.
10 recommend that Mr.. Grimes De caiieu
to the bar of the Common Council, Oh
which branch he Is now MEMBER tnal
he be asked whether he desires to o1er
any evidence TO disprove that submitted
by your committee. and that the Common
Council, after hearing such evidence as
Mr.. Grimes may offer, shall, II Mr.
Grimes fail TO disproye the above charges
and the evidence herewith submitted In
support of them. expel him by vote from
among Its members"
MR.. GRIMES IN HIS SEAT.
Just as the reading of the report was
begun Captain George ID. Wise and Hon.
Joseph T. I.awless, counsel FOR Mr..
Grimes appeared in the chamber and
were rendered seats at desk placed In
front OF one OF the reporters tables,
while Mr.. Charles V. Meredith, the City
Attorney, occupied a chair by Colonel
Tanner, of Monroe Ward.
HIS FRIENDS WITH HIM.
During the reading of the report, Mr..
Grimes, the only member OF the Common
Council affected by II, did not sit within
tho chamber proper. but remained in the
cloak-room with number of friends.
The density Of the crowd thickened,
and before the Council really got down TO
business there was not an available inch
of standing-room in the spacious hall or
the corridor in front of it at S:S5 O'Clock,
and the ante-chamber was tammed al
most unto suffocation.
Before Mr. August finished reading the
majority report Mr.. Grimes walked IN
and took his seat among the Marshall
Ward delegation.
IL only took a few minutes TO read
the minority report, which criticised Mr..
y. ]. Warren, the City Auditor, ana
recommended that If Messrs. Grimes and
Mann did not disprove the charges
against them they should be asked to re-
sign by the bodies to which they belonged,
respectively. This report was signed by
Messrs.. John Nj. King and Evan Snead.
THE RESOLUTION RECOMMENDED.
The first resolution from the Commit
tee on Investigation was tnen ieporteu'
1t was as follows:
Re II resolved by the Council OF the
city OF Richmond. the Board of Aldermen
concurring,
81 That by the late w. c. Adams the
city has been robbed of s25,569I4
80 That the stealing could not have
continued for the length Of time II did
had Mr. #. J. Walsh, the foreman, zone
his duty, or had Mr.. ]. +. Meredith done
his duty as book-keeper.
"3 Outside OF the amount stolen, as
above mentioned. the city has been robbed
by the coke allowed to be taken by the
man Townes, with the knowledge and
consent of the said T. j. Walsh.
"a That Mr. w. +. Knowles. the pre-
sent Superintendent, acted properly and
for the interest of the city when he dis
charged Mr.. Walsh.
"5. That the contract with Mr.. Mann
was in violation of law. and that MT.
Mann knew that IL was such violation
"s. That while the evidence shows that
MIR. Mann performed the contract openly
and according TO its terms, yet he de-
serves censure for having knowingly
violated the law.
~ That air. John r. Grimes. although
| chairman of the Gas Committee. assisted
in violating the city ordinance forbidding
employees TO give orders on their wages.
IS That In SO acting he realized on
his money not only usurious, but cruel
rate OF interest.
80 That for his personal benefit he
assisted in having the fraudulent con-
tract for shells made with Mr.. Smoot
80. That under the contract he, while
chairman OF the Gas Committee. sold 10
the city a quantity of shells far beyond
it's needs"
There was a great deal of discussion
as TO whether or not the Council s
adoption of this resolution would not be
TO condemn Mr.. Grimes and Mr.. Mann,
also. so far as the action of this body
was concerned.
The question was called upon the reso-
luton, but before the call of the roll
was started, Mr.. Epps asked If that
resolution carried with 1t the majority
report.
Chairman Gunst, of the special COM
mittee, was promptly upon his feet and
stated that the adoption of the resoiu-
ton did not carry with 1t the adoption oil
the majority report. The paper under
the immediate consideration OF the Coun'
Gil had been unanimously agreed upon
| by the Committee on Investigation.
The Chair here asked II there were
| any ftSOlullOilS eA'N
ty report and received negative an
| swer.
"The Clerk will proceed with the roll
call" announced President Glover.
MR.. GRIMES'S APPEAL.
"Mr. President and members of the
| Council" said Mr.. Grimes, with most
determined expression. Il ask that my
counsel be heard before you adopt any
A1ttffa I
YOU for fair chance. i request OF you
10 allow my side of this case to be
heard by committee of this body; and
| IL YOU give me this, / assure you thai
YOU viii have a very different repor'
from those which have been read. Mr.
President, I only had one opportunity tC
appear before that special Committee OF
| Investigation with counsel. and knew
absolutely nothing about the conclusions
of the committee until the reports were
nlaced upon my desk. All that I ask
! Mr.. President and gentlemen of th'
| Council, is that / shall be allowed
10 have fair hearing. to bring in m,
witnesses, and be heard by COMMITTEES
of three, FIVE, or seven, or any mum
| ber that you may decide, from the Com
mon Council. trust you Will hea
my counsel, Mr.. President before yo'
act upon any of those papers.
Mr.. Caskie here moved that Messrs
wise and I.awless, counsel for Mr.
Grimes. be heard and this was allowe'
| by unanimous vote.
TIME TO TAKE EVIDENCE.
Mr. Iawless then arose and said. befor'
nroceedIng. he would like to know wheth
er the adoption OF the report would no
practically cut Mr.. Grimes of from
| further investigation. He said that. a