The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-20
MR. WALTON EXONERATED,
The Board Of health D C.dS That He
Has Done Nothing Wrong.
dsNY WITNESSES WERE HEARD.
The PoIiceman's Explanation as to Dump
ing Dirt on the Premises He Afterwards
gourht satisfied Those Who Investi-
gated His Case Last Night


Ger Johnson J. Walton last night
II will be remembered that he discharg-
ed five men from the street cleaning
force, they being afterwards restored TO
their position by the Council Committee
on Retrenchment and Reform This
committee referred Mr.. Waltons case to
the Board Of Health.
The investigation resulted in the com
plete exonerauon Of Mr.. Walton.
Dr. W. II. Oppenhimcr called the Board
TO order az o'clock. All the members
were present as follows. Drs. Oppenhi-
mer. (presldenO, Garcin and Benjamin
Harrison.
Papers sent to the Board from the
Council with reference 10 the charges
against officer Walton were read by
Clerk Mayo.
Mr. Hill Montague stated that when the
matter was investigated before the Couh-
eli Committee ON hedltn, ne was per -
mitted as a friend Of Mr.. Walton-hol AZ .
paid counsel-and he asked the priNIleso
OF questioning witnesses ana OF ninn'i'7
a few remarks at the close OF the 'eS''
mony. .,.,. Tho roouest Of
MT MfIAdHhf hN
tion was carried.
MIR FORD OBJECTS
Mr. +. z. Ford arose and pt''es' ca
against lawyers being permitted 10 'aAe
"a hand i'm the matter 10 be lhNeSu sa'eu'
II in were intended 10 nave ltS@l ''''
sgstion the case should Doe before lhe
tIs,',I,,~s Court lie thought the Board
amply able 10 settle lhl7 Hlll'''
the aid Of attorneys. ",
DIR Oppenhimer stated that MT. "dl-
ton was the only man against "houh a
charge had been made and there was Ho
one else entitled TO have counsel
Mr. Ford insisted that the boaId vas
,roceedinglv irreguiarly. He thought J
a.. xVsIton was To have counsel, city Al
iornev Meredith should be present
Dr Onpenhlmer said he thought every
,nfns would move along all right anu anu
maj the Board would weigh S"''''"'
all the evidence. ,....,,,or
Mr. Montague disClaImed any iiton''g,. a..
~ seex 10 Influence the commit .ee ~
reaching a conclusion. lie WdS 49,
g. .id the committee ii possible IN sali'.
ing light I'm order that the uouy "'7"'
render "A proper decision. ,,....u,,,
n was decided that Mt Mon'as uo
...,,t4 ,or,ain as "A friend Of Mr.. dlloH'
Mn FORD TESrlFlEs IND
NJ Ford then took the Wlt.es7 a'.i,' ~"
and told the story he ield,eu "a NIr
Committce on Health lh IelSi ti,e ,b. -ity
N-'iton using men employed pt 'ur .,[
~ ~ ,io ,,ork about the policeman prlNt1,..
r,.fforce Mr. Ford was po7l'if' 't
Walton used the city HANDS al,'' ,,'. ion
rer had bought the property ln 49,
Tbere WAS some question ~ to 90
.,,,f,e, the time Of Alr. walton p o.
cupancv OF the premises aooG,. W. -,,i
Ce'fiI c1nfroyersy arose, ana Mr. Walton SUD-
mitted the following ,.,,,t 9 tNq-
Richmond, Va, August O' -''''
To Whom IL May Concern . ..,,,,,t .
notice w4s gerycd upon us az dNrht .
,or f Delaney the former owner OF
nremises No south HarNle street. So',ls ~,
iirne before IL passed into the haIus ~
Mr. Walton. to abate nuisance eNlslins
ltnon said premises. said nuisance ""'
abated al the cost Of Mr.. Delaney; ;,,,
d"N''N "' CHENNING n ROSE.
,rto e,o+s contained in the within paper
are tr,ie }. VI. DEI-ANkl.
tob@r Ise7 j. BOOTEN HILL,
'opiirbmoli Va. Notary Public.
kED Up THE HOUSE
Mr. Ford ala not think there was any
Significance attached 20 this paper.
"a s"fd Nr Delaney could be secured as
witness. Mr. Ford had seen clty
hands placing dirt under MT. NatVH >
house and once he saw the men efnp.og
.d in hacking mp Mr.. Walton house.
Mr Ford said he regarded IL as a very
Isj examnle for Mr.. Walton TO use ine
citv's hands on his private property. ne
went TO sec chief Howard about MI
Walton for the good OF the ldltel- IT.
vss his opinion that Mr.. Walton was
Toino "a thing that would bring him into
frnWila and ne thought the sooner the
matter was complained or the ueltti
would he for Mr.. Walton. Tor whoHl ne
had the kindliest feelings Mf. oIu
said he went 20 see the Chiel at leas1
two weeks before certain men were uls
charged from the sanitary DepartIhelll' L.
Mr. Ford was asked by MT. Mont : Vc W
IL the dirt had been placed III lhe l9i III III
question and the books or the Auuliot
should show that the city had been palot
Tor il. would he believe Mr.. walton hau
Mr Ford replied that that would, OF
cn,-rse make a vast difference. But he
couid not understand that it TINS were
true why Mr. Walton had not given eNl-
dsnce of the fact before the touucll com
mirtcc. lie recalled the fact lhal lh ne
former investigation Mr.. Walton ha9
-" ,.l,ed IN thc dirt had been charged
10 the public dump" and be did not an
S"''' FORMER FOREMAN.
Mr.. J. r. Johnson, formerly foreman ~,
the sanitary force testified that he had
seen dirt hauled 10 Mr.. Waltons house
and il had been charged 10 the punnS
oump." hc had known the hands 10 io"u
a roof for Mr. Walton.s mousse on ~as
on al Elba station. The Work looH uI
an hour and Alr. Walton rev Gay >
LATER let the men OF an hour carrier on
account OF the service the men rendered
him. one man. he stated, spent nearly
an entire day at Mr.. walton mouse 40
ing some work. he did not know Wnat'
exoept that he was shOvelling dirt. Mr.
Johnson on crOss-eXamnatlon SAID Mr.
Walton sometimes excused the men iol
brief periods for good reasons. MI;
Walton did not tell the men VINO assisted
i'm loading the roof on the wagon that
they could have an hour OF some Gay
until the day after the roof was loaded
MIR. KENNEDY'S INFORMATION.
Mr. G Kennedy cOTrobOrated Mr. john
son with reference 10 loading me io2l
Tor the house and stated that Mr. Wal
ton had on other occasions used the city
hands for private purposes. lie a 10
Mr. Ford. the foreman at the time OF
the loading of the roof on the wagon
before the men went 10 the car said they
could nave an hour OF somo othtr
Mr. Walton. the witness said, on ore
occasion gave him an hour of for going
after working hours To ask Mr.. Mike
FOLEY 10 cor~a and work FOR the city.
A FORMER FOREMAN.
Mr.. X. II. Ford who was foreman un,
der Mr. Walton few years ago, testined
Mr.. Walton's house and assisting in
lacking" the house up. lie had Dy or
ders OF Mr.. Walton sent men 10 work az
Mr.. Walton's house. No dirt had been
dumped AT the house where the men Were
sent 10 lack" the building up; Mr.. Ford
said after the men had assisted IN loading
The roof. Mr.. Walton told him TO give
each man an nour on At some Other time.
ri. WAS sure Mr. Walton never said any.
thing about the hour OF until after the
roof mad been loaded on the wagon. The
shed upon which the roof was placed was
used in part the witness said, for shelter