The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-22
A COUNCILMAN In A FIGHT.
Mr.. ]. N. Blanks Strikes Witness Ford
in Committee Meeting.
At THE WALTON INVESTIGATION.
Dr.. FORD Testified That the Councilman
Had Told an Untruth When the Lat
fcrRushcd at Him and struck
Him in the Mouth.

The called meeting of the Council Com
miitce on Health which was held
in the city Han last evening
brought forth the liveliest scene
that ever tronspired In that
building. The gathering was called Tor
tae purpose Of investigating the cause Of
the discharge OF FIVE mon from the Health
Department A number Of witnesses were
heard and everything went on smoothly
until Mr.. +. r., Ford appeared before The
committee.
In his testimony he alluded to certain
statements made by Mr. j. NJ Blanks, Of
clay Ward. at the recent meeting Of the
Common Council I'm connection with this
matter. lie characterized this statement
as untrue but had hardly Gone so, when
Air. Blanks hit him O. severe blow in the
mouth This was the cause OF the great
est disorder. which prevailed for several
minutes and 10 required the united efforts
OF a number of persons TO restore quiet,
when the proceedings were again taken
up The investigation win be continued
this evening.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Il was 7:l5 o'clock when sub-Choirman
Burton called the meeting TO order with
the following members in attendance:
Mossrs. Cutchins. Jones. Blanks. Haw-
kns Sncad. Moore and Williams.
The FUN proceedings of the previous
meeting was read by clerk Mcdowell.
The meeting was held i'm Room No. g..
and the room was crowded with those
interested in the outcome.
Hon Henry r. Pollard and Mr.. llill
Montague wcrc also present as counsel
for Mr. walton
Thc first business transacted was the
reading Of tho resolution referred by the
Common Council 10 the Board Of Health
recommending that Messrs. John B.
Branch. r. IT, Ford. j. n. Johnson, q.
Kennedy and W. d. Cole. be reinstated
in the Health Department and that they
be paid for the time SO lost.
The recommendations Of the Committee
on Rctrcnchmcnt and Reform 10 the
same purport were also read. as was the
petition of the men asking that the mat
ter Doe inYe ugated.
1Ir. Jcnos moved that tho charges lead
me up to the discharge Of the men be
taken mp.
This was adopted and the privilege Of
asking question Of witnesses was extend
cd to the counsel and % Mr. CasNe' who
qprcnrcI off his own vOlit0n TO have the
men rcinstated
n was moved that AN who had been
summoned or who were present FOR the
purpose of tcsuiying ON either side should
Dec oxclrCcd from the room. This was
adonfed aa.a.-a.
DIR OPpENHEIMER.
Dr w ~. Oppcnhcimer president or
the Board of Health, was frst called upon
to make "a statement. lie had been tod
hy Mr. Walton that while he was away
on vacation a movement had been inau-
rurated to have him (Walt0m removed
and Office H. NJ Angle substituted. He
thon told officer Walton 10 inform the
men that they were discharged. lie
made mo- investigation but took the state
ment Of officer Walton in the matter.
Me requested Of the committee mt the
time 80 was reported that fun investiga-
tlon be made He was doubtful whether
two Of the men should have been dismiss
Cd IIe had discharged them for being
reported drunk lie held the officers un-
der him responsible for the work
under them special resolution
bv the committee gave him fun
ANA discharging men. lie heard officer
Nyau0u's report thoroughly before taking
action. The mon had never been report
cd heretofore for amy serious breach OF
tho rules. though Dee was under the im-
ureseion that one or two of them had
boon reported for some slsAt iniracuon
of the rules lIe spoke very highly OF
AIR Walton ana the work he had done
orFlCER WALTONS TESTIMONY.
Air. Walton the sanitary officer was
next called lie gave the reason Tor dis
charging the men, lie said that MT
James Condrcy had told him tnat MI.
Buck Angle bad approached dr. Coie am
..lcG how the gang" would like 10 have
him CAuel0 FOR boss. and that Anglo
had told Caudrey that If committee
,,ould wait on thc chief of Police, he
thought that ho anglo could get the
nlacc a committee went among the men
, tnd ATTEMPTED To- create a movement IN
behalf of Angle.
Major Howard chief OF police stated
that q man whom he did not know come
to him ana asked him IL he had the power
90 remove q sanitary officer iie after
wards heard the man say his name was
Ford Three men next appeared ana
asked if he recognized either ol them as
thc one who had previously questioned
him ilIIMNlNl fNi.ltiNiNh lNf itiilNfAA va
. "a sanitary officer He told the men that
Dc could suspend am officer for cause, ana
he told them that III there were charges
against Omcor Walton. az was stated 20
him. the way TO proceed was 10 make the
charges in writing 10 Dr Oppenheimer
as president of the Board Of Health.
40 MEETING HELD.
Mr. r. u Ford. one of the discharged
men. stated that only on one occasion did
he hear amy reference 60 the removal Of
Mr. Walton. and that was the day before
he was discharged. Tie did not rcmem-
member who it was who spoke TO him,
li, Thought that Mr.. Walton was report
cd lie said at thc time that he was told
80 fhc movement To have Walton re-
moved and said ne was willing 90 30 for
ono. Hc knew of no meeting held 10
have Mr.. Walton removed ar Angles
name was mentioned as The one who
would likely succeed Mr. Walton lie
ala not havo vacation either during
June or July. Tie was sick during July.
Tie had heard u0 charges made against
Mr. Walton Mr. Walton bad dis'hnI ~"
"a mar for taking drink at dinner uhe'
and De had paid the fine of another man
who was locked up at the station mousse
Tor drunkenness ana the man was allow
"a 20 RETURN 40 work. The man had SINCE
hoen discharged for drunkenness.
Nr John +. Branch. who was next
called in as witness said ne was on