The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-27
PLAIN TALK By
MAYOR TAYLOR
Makes Grave Accusation
Against Two Officials.
CHARGE Is DENIED.
Messrs. Warren and Mccarthy lndig-
nant!y Declare Statement False,
INVESTIGATION OF EPPS CASE.
Breezy Session OF the Committee, and Per>
saral Encounters We're Narrowly Ayerted.
Dc;aiIs Gwen as TO the Discovery
of the Irregularities and Con-
fcssion-Youug Man is
Said TO Be in Town.
CHARGE is DENIED.
Messrs. Warren and Mccarthy lndig-
nant!y Declare Statement False,
INVESTIGATION OF EPPS CASE.

Said 10 Be IN foWn.
Those who went UP to the City Hall last
night TO hear what the city officials had
TO say about the Irregularities in the ac-
counts of Cecil L. Epps, late of the Gas
Inspectors department. and Of his escape
from the city. listened to some 1Eighty
spicy and breezy talk.
Mayor Taylor had on hand an unusual-
~ large supply of choice adjccsives,
which he freely used. He charged that
.luuitor Warren and SPECIAL Accountant
Mccarthy had coliudeu. or attempted to
collide, in ORDER t-,r Epps TO escape.
These gentlemen. in emphatic ltr1ns
denied The cnafGe. and apparently Made
fine impression upon the committee
By their testimony, going il all the de-
1iais concerning this matter.
The Mayor several times used such Ian
suagc rs to nearly provoke te!sonal diff
cuitics between himself and the officials
retired 10.
10 cap the climax, it was brought on
in evidence that Epps was seen in Rich
lnond yesterday. Treasurer Phillips said
Mr.. w. l.. White had stated that he had
seen ard talked with the accused man on
Main Street.
The Investigation will be continued Fri
day night.
lows: Chairman Nils, Counc linen Peters
and Hobson and Aldermen Beck and Cor
Don.
Those who were summoned TO testify
were invited TO retire while the commit
tee should decide upon the course OF The
inquiry. CityAttorney Pollard ing ask
ed for his advice. suggested that Mayor
TAYLOR be first examined. and that the
committee seek to establish first who
was al fault for the failure to arrest Mr..
ISpps and, second, what if any. meas
ures might be necessary to prevent re-
currence of such irregularities as those
with which Mr.. Epps was accused. This
suggestion was adopted, and Mayor Tay-
lor was called in. and gave IN his testi-
mony. Mr.. Taylor saiG Mr.. Carlton Nc
Carthy called Inn up in the afternoon Of
the day the irr, gularities were discover
cd and said he wanted TO talk with him.
- Mayor was then at his brothers
store on South Thirteenth Street. Mr..
Mccarthy told over the phone what had
been discovered in reference TO Mr.. Epps.
The MAYOR conferred with the CITY At
torney and by his advice swore out the
warrant for the arrest OF Epps. He Went
in person to the Second olice Station,
after having searched for Captain Tom
watch all outgoing trains, and use every
possible endeavor to arrest Epps.
HAD LEFT THE CITY.
The Mayor later at night called on Su-
perntenGent NJ. 2. movies, of the Gas
Department, who was surprised to learn
that Mr.. Epps was accused OF being
dcfaultcr. He and Mr.. hnowIes went to-
gether TO the residence of Mr.. Joe Pow
ell a clerk in the Lower Gas Works. lie
JoF, at -1a "a Pow
ellis residence. and the Mayor went
home. Soon after he reached home Mr..
T. ID. Starke called, and stated that il
he had been in the city during the day he
could have settltd the whole matter The
Mayor told Mr.. Starke he did not think
he could have Gone this.
While Mr.. Starlte was at the Mayor s
home Sergeants Wren and Gibson called,
and stated that cpps had left the city.
Next morning the Mayor called on
Chief Howard. who said that if the Po-
lice Department had been Informed Of
what had occurred when Mr.. Mccarthy
was talking over the phone to the May
or Epps could have been caught.
Later on in The day the Mayor had
talk with Auditor Warren.
Il hope this thing will not occur again
during my administration SAID the
Mayor.
..Oh. I knew / am going to be blamed,
said Mr., Warren "The Auditor appeared
10 be a little nettled,'' said the Mayor
After a little talk he got nlr. Williams
book to show me how easily what had
been done could have been done.
MAYOR MAKES CHARGES.
Tho climax was reached when Mayor
Taylor told the committee that Mr.
Carlton Mccarthy had advised Mr. Epps
what to do.
II charge said the Mayor. bringing
his tis, down upon the table, that Ed
ward j. Warren and Carlton Mccarthy
did coilude, or attempt To collude, with
Edward a. Staf~e in order to let Cecil
L. Epps escape. Had they done their
duty Epps would now be behind the bars
OF the city Jail. This is my testimony,
and You can now ask me any questions
you may wish,
This statement occasioned profound
sensation throughout the ROOM.
On cross examination. the Mayor said
he could have been easily enough found
if Mr. Warren, or Mr.. Mccarthy, hao
chosen 10 have communicated With him.
Tho Mayor Was closely cross-eXamined
as TO his delay in issuing the warrant
for the arrest of Epps lie stated that
he simply wanted time TO confer with
the city attorney TO be certain that he
was right in the presumption that he had
the right 10 take the initiative III seek
ing TO cause the arrest.
The Mayor said he had been informed
that the discovery of the Irregularities
was made about 10 A. NJ: the confess
sion made about 12 NJ. and he was not
informed of the matter until about
p. NJ.
STICK TO HIS GUN.
Mr.. Beck asked:
Mr.. Myor, do you mean to say Mr.. War
rem and Mccarthy aided Cecil Epps 10
escape
q am of that opinion sir. replied His
Honor
Upon what do you base that opinion?,
asked Mr.. Beck
'tp->en.4 of things the auditor and Mr..