Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-19
HE WASEXONERATED
KEEPER FRENCH DECLARED NOT
GUILTY OF WRONG DOING.
INVESTIGATION HELD By COxIlrTEB.
"A Number of Witnesses Heard, But
NOT One Could Say Aught Of IN.
own Knowledse-A General md
Specific Disclaimer.

The subcommittee on Cemeteries
which was delegated TO inquire into tn
charges preferred against Mr.. f. A
French. Keeper Of RivervIew Cemetery
met last night and heard all who hoc
charges TO make against Mr.. French. bu
there being nothing In the charges 70 re-
meet on the superintendent, they wer,
dismissed, and he was exonerated.
Ihe entire committec-Mcssrs. Grimes
| Smith, and Minor--were present. and Tn.
charges were fully and carefully gone
INTO. Not one of the witnesses was able
10 testify TO anything Of his own knowl-
edge that involved Mr.. French's good
name. and the vague charges that were
brought were fully and specifically an
swered by the official. e
THE TESTIMONY GIVEN.
Mr.. Mike J. Burgess was the first wit
ness examined. The burden Of his tes-
timony was that he had substituted for
Mr.. Nuchols. an employee OF the GENE
terry, and had received only SIPS per day,
while Mr.. Nuchols's stated per diem was
$3.50.
ID. W. Martin was next sworn. lie
filed an affidavit setting forth that the
graves Of his relatives in River View had
been trampled over in 1896. Mr.. Miner
raised the point that the offence alleged
had not taken place In the last two fiscal
years, and hence the affidavit was thrown
out
Mr.. George w. Edwards followed. In
bis affidavit he set forth that he had
endeavored to buy a section at River
View, and had been told by Mr.. French
that the section he desired had been sold.
He was put TO considerable trouble and
annoyance by this, and finally ascer-
tained. through the fundamentally of the
City Treasurer that the lot had not been
sold. His testimony merely reiterated
what was contained In his affidavit, and
shed no new light on the matter.
Mr.. a. S. Padgett was next placed on
the stand. but his affidavit was not read,
nor was he examined. for the reason that
anything no might have testified TO oc-
CURED some years ago.
Mr.. Oscar l.. Jones followed Mr.. Pad
gett. He asserted that Mr.. Frenchs
family came in competition with outside
turfers and section tenders, and that
Mr. French had solicited work for them
and resorted TO many different kinds of
methods TO assist them in outstripping the
turfers who sought work in the cemetery
He testified TO having offered Mr.. French
money 10 throw work In his way, but his
proffer was declined. Being asked II he
knew personally that Mr.. French had
work from section-owners. he
hesitated and said he conscientiously be-
lieved that he did. The witness grew
very excited as he proceeded. and charged
that by his actions Mr.. French was taking
bread out Of the mouths of his witness - |
six children.
Mr.. n. b. Thomas was called, but his |
testimony would nave been to facts which |
Mr.. French's present term, and |
ne was not examined.
THE DEFENCE OF MIR. FRENCH.
This ended the prosecution, and Mr..
French submitted a written statement
lenying the various charges specifically
His statement was as follows:
Richmond, Va, July IL. 1898.
% the Honorable Members of the Investi-
eating Committee on Cemeteries:
With reference TO the charges brought
gainst me before the Cemetery Commit
ee July -, 1898, by various parties, and
ceiling that I have been done great
1Justice by having such false charges
rought against me. l beg leave to submit
he following statement:
Regarding the charge made. by Mr.. N
;. Thomas, in that l employed him in
,ovember 1899. to turf graves, and that
1hile he was there he learned that I was
iring men at different wages than those
e receiVed: He said Mr.. A. 5. Padgett
tho also worked In the cemetery told
i'm he was being paid only 81 per day, |
'hile the payroll showed that Padgett |
'as receiving $l.S per day. In reply to
his l beg TO say that Mr.. Thomas was
nployed by me on my own RESPONSE
ility to do turing, which at that time 1
as allowed TO contract for; that Mr..
homas received for the month of No
ember Twelve days at sl.25 per day.
.; December twenty-five days pay, at {
.25 per day) $31.25; January, 1894 twenty :
wen days pay, al sl.25 per day. S3375.
aking a total for services rendered by ,
r. Thomas 10 the city $50 Vouchers for ,
lis can be seen at the Auditors office. ;
AS TO the statement made by Mr.. Pad
1T that 1 offered him S. hush money, 1 !
my this most emphatically. Mr.. Pad
1T was paid the same as others received =.
lille in the employ of the city. He was
nployed at the cemetery about nine ;
onths, most of the time by me per- y
nally, and not by the city. This very y
me gentleman brought charges against a
e before in the year 1894. at which time v
ey were examined into, and found to be y
terly groundless. Mr.. Padgett and my s
|
ter he made his complaint before, and I | I;
ere showed him the vouchers, and he n
en stated TO me that he was satisfied
lad treated him right a
OBJECTED TO MIR. TAYLOR.
Regarding the charge brought by Mp W
Il. Taylor that l would not let a man
TO vote-thiS i deny. l have always
en- an ardent supporter of the Demo-
attic party. and have done all in my =,
wer TO get as many citizens to vote as ~
ssible. The party Mr.. Taylor refers 10 h,
{ the ground without my permission, | az
sent this very same Mr.. Taylor TO ~
his position and do his work, which ] he
used TO consent TO, because Alr. Taylor IN
S Objectionable TO me, AMI / did not m
mt him to work there. ] had employed di
Taylor during the month OF February lie,
/ March OF this year, and dispensed ar
n his services when all the other extra tn
n were put OFF. Mr.. Taylor told me at ia
Il time that i never did have any use We
him, which l denied, and said 10 me Mi
t that was all right. He would make YC
smell 'hell" before he got through me
h me. fol-
egardiny tho charge of Mr.. Dennis W. til,
r,in who wrote a letter saying he sol
seen horse tracks about the graves, ]
that he thought Mr.. French lad th'
ned his horse in 90 the cemetery: AS
says, the tracks were about the
YES, caused by stock being turned out
he stable by a negro man, who / ar Nj
ed and brought before the Police
TT. and he was fined by Inc Justice
this offence, copy OF which can be
by the records OF the Police Court. Sta
sgarding the charge made by Mr.. an,
a I burgess that he did not receive -