Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-10-06
Decision Of Mayor Moss Render.
ed Last Night.
HIS SUSPENSION RECALLED
His Honor States Hrs Rea,ons ~ T,n.,n
Sums Up tho Result uf the Inv.rttgn-
tion. sustico 70 the City and tho
Individual His Am.

oAiS%@i, hi 1dCt OIL the city.
he has been acquitted and exoner-
a'ed Of the charge Of s.1alfeasance in
office after as thorough investigation
as could be made.
HIS indefinite suspension ended last
night when His Honor. the mayor, sent
MIN mis- fnding-the result Of a trial
$nat lils extended over a period OF
over ten days. interim ttently.
n rendering his decision. the mayor
said:
vt has been my sole a.r7 and purpose
70 DC Just to the city and to Dr.. Bag
ey. In the investigation which I closed
last night, got every atom of lnforma-
ton could on the case I adjourned
Vie investigation several times in or
GER to get further information
In the light of the evidence submit
TED to me, there was absolutely no
other decision I could have made.
knC" there are perhaps, many who will
c!,itlclse me- but they are those who
nave not heard the evidence or if
1ney nave. have not weighed it without
prejudice. l cannot help it if there is
adverse criticism. I have tried to be
just I am sure l have been just I
would have violated my oath Of office
RAD acted otherwise. My written
"1lnlon and decision Just Forwarded to
I'r. baSby explains, l believe. my reas>
ems Tor the action 1 have taken'
RMS opinion and decision is given he
low iri full:
Mayors Office
Newport News. Va. Oct. s. 1899
Dr. John r. Bagby. H ealth Officer for
City of Newport News. Va
Dear Sir: l find af.cr a thorough
investigation OF the charges made
against Vol ;ssr,, J,,o
ard neglect of duty during the yellow
fever scare on July 3lst and August
lst, 1899, the following facts:
1-That you did issue passes to go
out ard in the city from jury 31st to
august lst, at - O'Clock. M and that
said passes We're ordered to be issued
by the Board Of Health 1T its meeting
OF July 3lst. which order was to Be
put into effe>t by you.
y lind no passes or persons re-
ceiving passes. who were rot entitled to
them under the resolution adopted by
the board regulating passes.
81 find charges made for a few
passes issued by you at the rate OF
twenty-five and fifty cents each, such
charges being made for time consumed
IN writing same and not for gain by
selling them to those who We're not en-
titled to same
"4-I find that you did on account OF
the press Of business appoint one Will
liam Hoskins, NJ. D.. as your clerk 10
write passes for you and sign your
IEane and charge twenty-five cents for
writing same. but I further find that
IN writing such passes eight workmen
from the city We're admitted on one
pass for twenty-five cents showing
said charge was for time used in writ
ing pass only, no one being admitted
On said passes from an infected lis
trlct or who We're not entitled to admis-
SION under the resolution Of the board.
81 find that the quarantine lines
as raid out by yoursels and the board.
while not as strong as 1T might have
been was a correct one and was not
changed by acting president, D-. Hob
son, or Mr.. Bckford, chief of line, but
vas strengthened in numbers as neces-
sity demanded, showing 20 my mind
that YOU We're doing the best that
Gould be done in-the time that you had
to make your arrangements without
heing prepared With an organized
force 5
"6-I find that in the city Of Rich
nlond the officers of the Board Of Health
charged for certificates UP to 1898 and
received the compensation themselves
as an extra. This information was cb-
tanned through a letter signed by DR..
Gppenheimer, president IF the board
find that the health officer Of Norfolk
county charges for each certificate is
sued. the money being compensation
f1! the extra work. THIS information
was obtained through a letter signed
by DR.. Frank II. Harwood president
OF the board. I find through a letter
signed BY Dr. c. Y. Robinson, president
Of the board, that in Petersburg the
Ecalth officer makes a similar charge.
after an advertisement in the daily
papers for ten days asking any and all
persons knowing OF any viola ton of
the quarantine laws and rules as laid
down by the Board OF Health Of this
city during the yellow fever scare on
July 31s't ana August lst, to appear
before me in my Office at the court
Eouse Of this city a .1:30 O'clock on
Saturday, September Is. 1899, to give
evidence in the case for the removal CT
DR. John iR. Bagby as F.calth officer for
misconduct in Office or neglect Of duty,
and after serving written summons on
a large number Uf persons to appear;
and further. after adjourning from
day to day making four hearings.
Thereby giving all persons who appear
ed q chance to testify | find no evil
dence whatever to show THAT DR.. Bag
by has violated the erust and conf
dencc placed in him by the Board of
Health or the city council, but has
carried cut to the best Of his ability all
the rules and regulations laid down by
the board.
II therefore exonera-e him from all
charges made against him by an ex-
cited public during the time of we'll