Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-14
WHOM DID HE CONTROLS.

WHOM DID HE CONTROL.
Pending the appeal OF ex-Alderman King
from the decision of the Police Court
there has been not little talk about
popular sympathy with him. more or
less exploitation Of the optimism Of his
friends touching the final outcome and
here and there an ingenious intrusion OF
the hypothesis OF conspiracy against him.
This accentuates the challenge to neWspa-
per discussion of the case conveyed IN
The fact that Mr. King stands in diff
ferent attitude from that In which would
stand the vast majority OF men charged
with the same grade OF crime The DIFF
ference IS that he was a public servant
ct the time the crime was alleged to have
been committed. We would say, however
phases of the case first referred, to above
II Mr.. King is guilty, and the testimony
elected so far would certainly appear to
justify the decision OF the police justice,
there is no room for popular THY
to play any part in the matter. The Of
l6uCS " dS C0lO-DlOOuSN OOOulIl6. 1ao ~
the optimism of Mr.. Kings friends, Of
course, they are optimists. No one can
blame them for that It's their business
to look on the bright side and make every
one else do the same, SO far as they can,
legitimately Sorry friends they would
be If in anything they let drop they took
pessimistic view Of the situation and
the outlook. The intelligent public ought
to recognize that If they do not. Last,
but not least, the conspiracy hypothesis
can hardly fail to impress as very thin
the thoughtful reader. who has followed
the developments in the case. Conspira-
CIV pre-supposes motive. and no motive
on the part Of the contractor for con
spiracy against King Is anywhere in evil
dence. Tho fact seems to be that Mr..
Gasser let the "cat out Of the bag in
moment of sudden irritation and unpre-
meiitatedly. In all the circumstances no
process Of reasoning leads anywhere near
the conclusion that Gasser, GUIDE and
Weinbrun conspired against the defend
ant
However, unless Mr.. Gasser swore false
~, most disgraceful conspiracy did fig
IRE In the case. Tho witness stated that
King affirmed that he controlled the sit
uation /" That could mean only that he
controlled some other members Of the
committee. And now the pregnant ques-
ton is, whom did he control2 For whom
was he acting besides himself7 The
phrase Controlled the situation is sig
nifcant. 1t has become classical ex-
preston in the world of boodlism. One
man, as the agent Of the conspirators, is
generally trusted to do the negotiating,
or Matchmaking, and is dealt with by the
parties OF the second part with the I'M
derstanding that he controls the situa-
ton" Whatever the fate Of ex-Alderman
King, upon his appeal-and he is entitled
to a suspension Of final public judgment
until the result of that appeal is known
the people should not be salts
fed to let his alleged confidant boast rest
where It is. They should demand.
and we believe do demand that regardless
of the King appeal the implication Of
conspiracy involved in Mr.. Gasser state
ment be probed to the bottom. II, per
chance, in the appellate court the Com
ilonwealth finds no case against King.
nothing will have been lost by acting upon
the suspicion raised by the contractors
alleged use Of well-known boodling
phrase. If the contrary, much will have
been gained. perhaps. in the direction Of
making a complete job of Furnishing all
who may have engaged in jobbery. and
Of clearing the municipal atmosphere Of
all tEint Of corruption that may linger
from the last Council and the rumors in
connection Herewith.