The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-23
ENTIREOLDCONnITTEE
Will Be SUMMONED
Continued from First Page.)

times during Gasser's two hours with the
grand Jury and twice during ]. G. Vein
brunn's testimony When ii the room
and making statement before the
grand Jury the Commemorative Attor-
aey was sworn like any otner WITNESSES
AS 10 IMMUNITY.
r. was coniectured that the calling OF
rba Commonwealth's Attorney during
the testimony of these witnesses had
some relation to an effort on the part or
the Jury to give immunity to these W.T.
nesses from possible prosecution II they
would open up, and aid the Common
wealth with a full statement OF all they
knew. Their statements are oelieveo 70
have been that the contractors did not
offer brides to counclmen. but were held
up by councilmen for different sums Of
money if the contracts were to be Sc
cured.
Commemorative Attorney Richardson
would not and could not state what pass
ed in the grand jury room. but there is
reason to believe that no harm will
come to the contractors who frankly tell
everything they may know of this bust
ness.
technically. they will be liable for pros
ecr,ion for bribery if money changed
hands. but If the ends Of justice are
served the better thereby, the cases. If
instituted, may be nolle prosecuted at any
the letter of the statute, is largely disrre
tio2ary with the judge and the Common
wealths Attorney.
Then. too the friends of the contractors
take the position that they can show that
it has not been bribery. but blackmail,
and that when all the facts are known
the general sentiment of the community
will not support a prosecution of those
who have been the victims.
THREE LINES OF INQUIRY,
The course which the inquiry has taken
indicates that it will probably fall into
three parts-city contracts. street railway
and telephone ordinances. The grand ju-
ry with the hearing of the city officials
on Monday and the contractors on Tues
day. has about ended the first pat Of the
inquiry except~in so far as the members
Of the Street Committee may be able to
throw additional light on the subject.
Mr.. King, the only member OF the Coun-
ell summoned thus far. was in attendance
yesterday and on Monday. but has not
hccn called before the grand jury as yet.
Mr. L. 0. Wendenburg is his counsel.
He sat about the clerks Office of the
Hastings Court yesterday and on the
atairways of the City Hall. Practically all
day he was alone.
The long hold-up by the Street Com
r1ittee of the spur track to the Cudahy
trildirg. on Seventeenth Street and the
committee to general committee and back
again are on Commemorative Attorney
Richardson's mind The grand jury will
ger around to this little matter in due
time
On the outside. Chief of Detectives
Tomlinson is at work gathering up differ
mt interesting bits Of information here
and there.
Police Commissioner Chris. Manning
Jr., who was called as a witness on Mon
day, said yesterday that he had been
excused from attendance on the grand
jury because all the information he ha1
was hearsay. He is still waiting. how
eves Mr.. Richardson says he doesn't
know of Mr.. Manning being excused
Mr.. Wallace yesterday introduced in
the Legislature bills whose purpose II
is to aid in the prosecution of bribery
cases One bill extends the period OF
limitation in such cases from one to five
years. The other grants immunity fror
prosecution to a witness giving testimony