The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-28
Town OF SUFFOLK

iet MN see the statement and with
nm thcV very kindly went over It, Mai
WRIGHT had gone from New York 10
Sonthcrn Pines y. c., in the meantime
mlthess' III company with c. II. eau
sew went to Southern Pines 10 see their
client. who was still sick When he saw
the report he said II was wrong and al
WAYS denied that he owed anything
After some time Major Wright was tele-
sraphea by counsel To come to Suffolk.
me Town Council had frequent meet
lnGs and one night about O'Clock he
witness, was sent for. He was inform
ed that resolution had been passed de-
handing the payment of $500 at once.
ana without conditions. They had
claimed II shortage OF $4,000. hut since
had given Il credit which reduced the
amount.
Witness said the Councils demands
appehred as a threat to him, and the
amount of S6.i12,S5 was paid TO avoid his
eilentS arrest. with the understanding
tnht IL should be refunded If 1t were
shown TO be wrong. He said Major
Wright was In II bad condition physi-
callV and the money was paid to pre-
vent an arrest. whose results might
nnve been disastrous. Neither Major
wright nor any one else had known
the amount to be paid until an agree
ment was had with the Council wit
ness ala not know himself how figures
s6;ll2.S5. had been arrived at.
witness then read report of McAngc
and Holland. committee appointed BY
Council to audit Wrlghts accounts after
MS retirement from office. They had
found accounts I'm good shape, and had
SIGNED names 10 the report
ON cross examination Briggs said that
the payment was advised by him with
out knowing how the accounts stood.
, The sum was not arrived Mt by calcu-
lation. Major Wright had made a mil
lion figures and always brought the
town In debt. He did not demand n
resolution from Council regarding their
agreement To refund money in case of
nm error. His agreement was with DR..
| lcleY and Col. Mncleary, members of the
committee.
j. G. Bell testified that he was one
of the members OF the Suffolk Ice Com
DanV They owned factory on which
axes had been assessed, but were al
terwards exempted by the Town Coun-
ell. lie did not know with what amount
FACTORY had been assessed for the scve-
| raj wears Of its operation. They had
| never paid any taxes.
Major q. w. Wright, the defendant
was then introduced. a ripple of exI
pectancy passed over the audience as
Nc cleared his throat and began speak
ing He had been Treasurer from Au-
gust j. 1883. to August I. lS95-scven
wears and seven distinct. separate
terms. He had rendered monthly and
annual statements as cont ernDlated in
The town ordinance. He had six an
nunl rece!ots from chairmen of the
Council Finance Communicative from
w. III. Jones' Jr. and four from DIR. A.
W. !.lev. His last report had been ex-
amincd by n special committee McAnge
and Holland. Reports had been accom-
rnnicd by vouchers for each and every
disbursement During the last exaIni-
nation Mr. Holland had called off
amounts. which were checked by Mr.
McAngc. He did not believe to the best
of his knowledge and belief that he
owed the town or Suffolg l cent.
The details Of his payment OF $6.412. S5
were then gone into. Much OF the tes-
tirnony along this line was q repetition
and confederation of Mr.. Briggs. He
had first been informed OF the inyesti-
cation. while in New York, by his wife
who had received n letter from n friend.
Tie said money was paid with the dis
refunded If wrongfully collected. not be-
cause ne owed il. bur because he feared
arrest which in his then condition
might have resulted fatally.
Regarding his books, about which
mncb has been said, he stated that after
he settled he had taken them home ana
had not been careful of their prcserva-
ton. He thought there was another
COPY of the commissioners books. He
said ledger had been destroyed BY his
little boy while lie was III New York.
Pages had been used Tor drawing pur
poses by the boy.
His testimony regarding the sale OF
bonds for the town was lengthy. He
had beer advised by several attorneys
that he WIS entitled to q per cent.