Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-20
SUSTAIN Mr.. WALTON
un rs ExoNERArEp ny THE
BOARD or HEALTH.
CITY FORCE WORKED FOR HIN.
evidence Given I'm Connection with
This Charge-Thc Officers ExpIana-
lion satisfies the Board That He
hid Nothing Wrong.
Did Nothing Wrong.

sanitary-Inspector Johnson ]. Walton,
81 me Third District, is a competent
health officer, and has not used the city
arts and hands for his own purposes.
\, least. so decided the Board OF Health
last night after long and searching
investigation
Changes were made 20 the Council
committee on Health that Mr.. Walton
had used the city hands and carts to do
work on his private property during
working hours. These charges were pre-
ferred by +. p Ford, whose brother, r.
II FORD. had been dismissed from the
beslth force by Mr.. Walton Out since
relpstated). and referred by the commit
Tee 10 the Board OF Health for investi-
sation. The board. consisting OF Drs.
w T. Oppenhimer presidenO, II. ID.
Garcin. and Benjamin Harrison, took up
the charges last night. heard all the
witnesses on each side consuming more
tbon four hours in painstaking effort
for the truth, and finally found the OFF,
car not guilty OF the complaint. This
will be the sense of the boards report,
soon TO be made 10 the Committee on
Health.
The board met in DR.. Oppenhimers
once. the three members being present.
Nr l. L. Ford was present throughout
Inc Investigation, and vigorously pressed
tbe charges he had made. Mr.. Hill Mon
tague appeared as the friend and counsel
FOR Mr. Walton, which he was permit
ted 10 do.
MIR. FORD TESTIFJES.
Mr. Ford was the first witness, and
rsplving TO a question from DR.. Oppenhi-
mr. II he knew that MIR. Walton had
ps,d the city hands TO DO private work,
stated emphatically. Eyes. sir i do know
tbat Mfr. Walton has used the city carts
and hands for his individual purposes. L
have seen the city hands working on his
house"
How long ago was this asked DIR.
Garcin.
The first time 1 saw him use them
was over two years ago, soon after he
was appointed to the position" Continu-
ing. ne said that after ne had seen the
man working around Mr.. Walton's house
for some time ne went TO Chief-of-Police
Howard and asked him who had the APP
rointment and removal of the sanitary
officers remarking that Mr.. walton
ought to be returned TO the police force
and another man placed I'm his stead. lie
explained that he went to the Chief De-
cause he thought that as Mr. Walton
was a police officer he was under the
Chief Major Howard told him that the
sanitary officers were under the Board OF
Health.
10 another question about the nature
of the work. witness replied that he had
seen the carts hauling dirt 10 the lot.
This was when the property was in the
possession of Mr.. Walton, he having
bought it from Mr.. Delaney. Mr. Ford
further stated that the lot had been filled
by the city carts. and that Mr.. Walton
received payment from Mr.. Delaney Tor
the work.
HAD TO BE PAID FOR.
Here the clerk Of the board, at the in
stance of the president, read the following
letter from Chewing & Rose:
Richmond, Va. August 6, 1920
To Whom il May concern; houSo
was served upon us, as agents Iol -,
A Delaney. the former owner OF the
premises No. south Haryie street some
time before 1t passed into the hands Oh
MIR. Warton, 10 abate nuisance existing
upon said premises, said nuisance was
CHEWING q ROSE
THAT is all right" said Mr.. Ford, 1.-The
note says that Mr.. Delaney had 10 pay
for it. and now that is just what l
said. Mr.. Delaney told me that he had
paid Mr.. Walton"
well. then" remarked DR.. Open
himer. ''Mr. Walton becomes responsible
TO the city of Richmond for receiving
payment for this work done by the city's
hands"
DR.. Harrison: Are you and Mr.. Walton
on good terms, Mr. Ford?
yes, sir, we have been good friends,
and have no prejudice against Mr..
Walton / did all / have done because
l saw that Mr.. Walton was getting into
trouble and not doing the city right"
Here Mr.. Ford was questioned by Mr..
Montague, but vigorously kept to the
statements he had made.
MONEY NOT TURNED IN.
Mr.. Montague asked witness If he
knew that the sanitary officers had a
right to contract with citizens TO I'LL up
lots and do hauling. II certainly do
know that such is the case. but when
the matter came up before the Commit
tee on Health, / asked Mr.. Walton to
show where he had paid into the city
treasury for this work. and he declared
he had nothing to say. But the city
does not / think, clean out from under
houses and raise houses with jack
screws. and 1 certainly saw a jack
screw under the house and the city
hands using It,"
Here DIR. Oppenhimer explained that
the nuisance referred TO in the note from
Messrs. Chewing & Rose was pool
Of standing water under the house now
occupied by Mr.. Walton. No. south
Harvie street.
OTHERS BEAR HIM OUT.
Nj E. p. Johnson testified that he had
known dirt to be hauled TO Mr.. Waltons
house and charged to the public dump.
He kept account OF the loads hauled.
A number of other witnesses were ex-
amlned. testifying, In short, that Mr..
Walton had used the city hands 10 take
a roof 20 his house and to put II up. con-
Stunning. witness said. several hours;
that dirt had been hauled TO the lot
after IL had been bought by Mr.. Walton,
and thrown under the house by city
hands; that city hands had taken in
city carts a iack-screw, and with IL had
raised the house; Furthermore. that he
had caused the carts 10 haul copper
wire and brass from the Jefferson Ho-
tel and barbed-wire from the late Major
enters residence, on Franklin street,
70 his OWalton's) house: that Walton per-
mlttCd some men OF the force TO get
drunk ths "boot-licks" witness SAID,
and were nok suspended. while others
were discharged for nothing.
Those testifying TO these statements
and others OF similar trend were
Messrs Johnson. G. Kennedy, II. III.
Ford Va II Hola A 1, ROhfnsOu-fheSe