Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-06
The Sworn Affidavits Of Witnesses Who
Were Present.
They State Under OATH That Mr. East Was Interviewed at
the virginanPiIos Business Office, by the City Editor
of the Vrginan-Pilo on Tuesday, October 9th

AS Mr.. East denies that he ever had
the interview referred to below with
the city editor of the Virginian-Pilot
this paper submits to the public two
aiidavitS of witnesses who were pres
ent at the business Office of the Vir-
ginian-Pilot at the time of the con-
versation between MIR. East and Mr..
Foote. These speak for themselves.
They are as follows:
MIR. Albert Fl. Grandy, Managing Edi-
tor Virginian-Pilot:
Dear Sir-On my return from Michi-
gan l notice MIR. East's denial of the
Interview on telephone rates that had
with him. He says in lete. in the
Peoples Forum" The only inter
view that ever had with a represent
tative of your paper on the subject
took place about the 10th of October,
and under the following circum-
stances" He then refers to an effort
that L made to converse with him by
telephone while L was at the Office OF
the Farmers Manufacturing Company
and he was at his. cottage at or near
WillOuGhby Spit. His bookkeeper, Mr..
J. II. Simmons. did most of the tele-
phoning, and, as we could not commu-
nicate distinctly or satisfactorily I did
not use this conversation or any part
Of IT.
did, however, have n personal inter-
view with Mr.. j. Frank East in. the
business office of the Virginian- Pilot
on Tuesday, October oh, 1900. Mr..
east then and there stated that he ia
vored the fixing of maximum rates by
the councils in the Bell Company's
tranchise-such rates as would protect
telephone patrons from extortionate
changes and yet permit rates that
would give the Bell Company a reason
able interest on it's capital invested in
Its plant in this city.
Mr.. East may recall the interview
when he remembers why he was in the
vicinity of the Virginian- Pilots bust
ness office. On October Sth he caused
to be inserted in the Public Ledger an
article on The Telephone Matter"
signed "Councilinan.'
After this appeared 1t was so clearly
shown to Mr.. East that his statements
were entirely unfounded that he called
Ut the Ledger office and had a notice
inserted in the Ledger stating that his
previous Ledger article was incorrect.
From the Ledger Office he entered the
Virglnian- Pilot Office and then and
there gave me the interview that we
published. L. S. FOOTE,
City Editor.
City of Norfolk, to-wit:
This Goth day of November, 1900 l..
S. Foote personally acknowledged be-
fore me the above as his signature, and
made oath that above statement is
true. ~. j. DALTON. j. p.
WITNESS TO INTERVIEW.
Mr. j. Frank East made the follow
ing statement before the councils Tues
day night:
AT no time during the day October
9th), so far as l can remember, did
see or speak to the city editor (NIr.
Foote): certainty did not talk to him.
nor have | seen him since until yester-
day"
My knowledge OF the matter differs
very materially in the most important
features of his statement, and is as
follows:
noon of October 9th l succeeded in
finding Mr.. East and convinced him
that his memory wassat fault. and that
his card in the Public Ledger OF Octo-
Der Sth had mlsstated the facts. Mr.
East very promptly acknowledged his
error and went with me To the Vir-
ginian- Pilot Office and prepared a cor
rection to be inserted in the Ledger
When the correction had been written
1t was about p. m, and there was
some uncertainty as to whether he
would be able to get it published that
afternoon. but Mr.. East said he would
try to do so. and took the article per-
sonally into the Ledger Office next
door,. AS Mr.. East went out Mr..
Foote came in the Virginian- Pilot office
and we were talking at the counter
when Mr.. East returned and stated