Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-23

caused the committee to take recess,
otherwise the sittings would have been
continuous until a decision was reached.
The committee met at 10:30 o'clock
yesterday morning in Committee
Room No. /. at the Capitol. with Messrs.
Boykin, Fairfax. Letcher, Maynard. jeff
rles. Barley, and Reddy present, the
same number that conducted Tuesday
nights hearing Senator Morris withdraw
ing from the committee and four of
the House members having gone to their
homes. There were several persons in
the committee-roOm besides those imme-
diately interested. the interest in the
case being general.
MP. BUFORD on THE STAND.
Ar Buford was at once put upon The
stand, and Senator Flood, VINO appeared
as Judge Turnbulrs friend, read the
charges formulated by Mr.. Buford ana
submitted at Tuesday nights hearing
aIr Buford then stated that he was COM
PEELED TO return home yesterday. ana that
II the committee would continue the IN
Vestigation until after the holidays ne
could secure additional evidence.
Senator Boykin, chairman of the com
mittee. said he hoped Mr.. Buford would
remain as long as possible, as long as the
investigation was pending, in fact.
CROSS EXAMINED BY MR.. FLOOD.
Senator Flood then began to cross
examine Mr. Buford, and by rigid ques-
tioning brought out the fact that the lat
ter's clients had been paid all that was
decreed them in the Beckwith-Clayton
suit. but he did not know whether the
claims of the remaining parties had been
satisfied or not. He could not say
whether or not Judge Turnbuu's attention
had ever been called TO the balance oi
Se2OS due in the consolidated suit OF
Morgan McIlwaile, CT ais, VS.. Bairanu'
Harrison, et ais He said Judge Turn
bull was present at the October term OIL
The Circuit Court this year and mace no
execution 10 the commissioners report
The report that Judge Turnbull owed
$3.50 was confirmed at the Aprll term TINS
vear. Witness said there was no eNi-
80. 6ted nv Commissioner X. y. Bu-
ford that Judge TurnbuH oWeu 'ho
amount in question. The receipts were
evidence of the amounts paid by the pur-
chasers. but It did not find It stated IN
the report that the purchasers had eX-
bibited receipts to the commissioner.
DID NOT SEE THE PAPERS.
Witness did not see the papers on whicf
4he report was based, but the charge tha
Judge Turnbull owed $3620S was sustained
bv the report Of Commissioner Buford
though this report had never been con
frmed. He could not say whether Juds'
TurnbuU ever read the report, but M
1,new II had been submitted to Senator
Turnbuu and other counsel in the case
Ga October. and was not confirmed, OWNS
10 the commissioners failure 10 specify
the defendants upon whom the lien shoul'
fan. Judge Turnbull had every oppor
tunity at this term of court to except t'
any Incorrect statements in the report
but he did not do So
Witness did not call the attention Of th'
Court TO the arrearage, for the reasor
mat ne was deeply engrossed with othel
business matters. The report filed by
Commissioner X. Turnbull at the October
Term showed $500 delinquent taxes OF
the land. but whether the money hat
been paid by Judge Turnbull he could no
say.
THE BRIDGE CONTRACT.
Regarding the charge that Judge Turn
bull had acted improperly in awarding tn
contract for a bridge over Nottowdl
river. at Kennedys Mills. witness saiS
that bill asking an injunction was pre-
pared, setting forth the facts. and swori
10 by the Supervisor Of the district
Brunswick. Nottoway, and Amelia coun
ties have a joint road law. which pro
vldes that a county judge can in vacation
order the road superintendent 10 receiy'
bids for the construction Of a bridge
and that the court may also confirm th'
contract for the same. An objection L
building the Kennedys Mill bridge wal
that the old one could be repaire,
so as 10 take the place OF
new one. The road superintendent re
ceiyed the bids. the County Court con
nrmed the bid. and certified IL 10 tn
Board Of Supervisors On June 30th tn
Court ordered the supervisors to contrac
with Mr. G. S. Barrow. The contrac
with Mr.. Barrow, written by himself. wa
on blank OF the competing firm, tn
Roanoke Bridge Company, and as sooi
az the contract was signed Mr. Barrow
transferred his financial interests in th'
contract 10 this company.
In response 10 a question from tn
Chair Mr. Buford said he did not charg
that Judge Turnbull knew of collusioi
existing between the bidders.
HE WAS NOT SURE.
witness did not know whether Juds
Turnbull had heard from the Board o
Supervisors OF Notioway when he con
asmed the contract Judge Turnbulfl