The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-30
MI, EPPS' Charges
NOT Being SUSTAINED.
Partial Evidence Does Not
Fully Sustain Allegations.
i;OTHlNG AGAINST LEANAN
So Far No Material Point Has
Been Scored Against Him.
WAS PRESENT WITH COUNSEL
No Witness swore to Anything to Con-
aect Him With Wrong Doing-Much
Hcarsay, but No Direct Evi-
dence of Fraud-Mr. j.
w. Camp Refutes
Charges.
OTHlNG AGAINST LEAMAN
WAS PRESENT WITH COUNSEL

Charges.
Tho contest of Epps VS.. Smith Tor Inc
3,emocratic nomination for City Sergeant
was commenced before the City Demo-
cratic Committee at Murphy'sa Hotel last
hight. The session lasted from p. M
TO llO P. NJ. and the hearings will be
resumed at o'clock this evening.
1t was IL o'clock before any witness
was put upon the stand, three hours nav
Ing been consumed in the reading OF the
declarations and in cross-firing by coun-
eel Mr.. Smiths answer was read Tor
the first time and is regarded as a very
strong paper. 1t is printed below in full.
about half of MIR. Dpps' witnesses were
examined and not a scribbie Of evidence
was addduced to establish the charges
made against Mr.. w. p. Leaman, the reg
sstrar in Fourth Jackson, against whom
allegations are made, and nearly all the
witnesses, on cross-examination, testi-
s fed that they knew nothing Of their own
Knowledge to connect Mr.. Leaman with
any wrongdoing. Men alleged not to ex-
LIST and others charged with living out
of the State were present as witnesses,
And stood UP and showed themselves when
asked to do so by Mr.. Meredith.
Only one Of Mr.. Smiths witnesses was
examined This was Mr.. J. w. Camp.
and was put on cut of his order because
IL would be inconvenient for him to re-
turn- His testimony was very clear, and
Impressed the committee and all with the
toeas tEat he completely answered the al
legations against him. It was ALLEGED that
ne lived IN Tennessee and that he had
seteo from No: 5l2 North Seventeenth in
ronrlh jackson. and from some other
number in Second Jefferson. He swore
tllat he had lived at the above number
sihce last January: that he had never
nVed IN Ienenssee. and that 1t was his
tai'er' whose name is also ]. w. Camp
Mo mo haa voted at Second Jefferson. 1t is
'ikelN That the investigation will not he
concluded until tomorrow night.
MI EpDs and his counsel came in carly
.Ha f1eid a conference in the rear of the
nan. MT. Meredith was the first of tho
smith contingent to arrive. but In a few
moments his client came in, accompanied
h% Mr.. Nelson, his junior counsel. Mr.
w. r. Leaman. clad in a long Prince Al
osft coat faultiess linen and white vest,
occupied a seat beside his lawyer. Mr. lI.
\, Folkes. There was a great drove of
witnesses on hand and the street in from
OF the hotel was thronged with local noli-
ticians.
COMMITTEE CALLED TO ORDER.
1halrman Doherty called to order at Sis
o'clock p. M, and twenty-five members
answered to their names. and several
others came in from time to time
Mr. Peyton. from the special committee
to report a plan of procedure. submitted
the same. and 1t was read. 1t recommend
ed that the general rules governing con-
tested election cases be adopted with some
slight notifications, and that the inves-
tisation be behind closed doors Mr.
Meredith suggested that all witnesses be
allowed to remain.
The report allowed one hour and thirty
minutes to each side for argument, the
contestant to open and close. 1t conten-
plates the Introduction of af1idavits as
well as verbal testimony.
Mr.. Wendenburg wanted the witnesses
separated and Mr.. Meredith wanted them
all to remain. The attorneys had consid-
cradle cross-flring on the subject The
vote was taken on the report and it was
adopted.
The question OF allowing witnesses to
remain was taken up. and Mr.. Dance
. moved that all witnesses be allowed to re-
fmain in the hall during the investigation.
This was adopted-ayes. 10: noes lS
This brought matters down to business
standpoint, and it was o'clock. The
counsel and parties drew up around a
table and the witness chair was placed.
Mr.. Folkes stated that he was present
Us COunSet sior MT. Lehman against whom
charges had been made Counsel then
sead lists of their witnesses. most OF
them being those named in their respec-
hive declarations. Mr.. Smiths list was
great deal longer than that Of Mr.
Epns. Prominent among the witnesses
called by Mr.. Smiths counsel was Rev
Or. j. 8. Hawthorne, but he did.not an
swer Here the secretary proceeded TO
:ead The notice of contest filed by N1r
\ - hF,,= -, ,St,
shch was only completed and handed
.he chairman and contested yesterday
afternoon. The notice OF Mr.. Epps has
Acen heretofore printed in full in The
lSnes and the answer Of Mr.. Smith is
given in full in this issue.
It's. reading of the petition and answer
eonsa.hed a great deal OF time. but every
ane listened with interest. especially to
the latter, which was laid before the COM
nittce fer the first time.
STATEMENT FOR MR. EPPS.
When the reading Of the paper was con-
:luded 1t was 10 o'clock. After a bricf
ntcriam OF consultation, Mr. Wenden-
burg arose to make the opening statement
.or his client. He briefly outlined what
he and his colleague proposed to prove,
snd 1t was in conformity with the charges
set out in the petition Of the contestant
he first took up Clerk Wiley. of Fourth
Jackson. and said.they would prove that
ne did not live IN the precinct. He review
cd tn. charges made against MrSW. r.
t.carnan as judge and registrar in the pre-
:inct, and contcnded that he would be
able To sustain them all. Mr.. Nenden-
burg touched briefly upon the charges
made against MI. j. r. syrc!e, and passing
10 other allegations in his petition told the
comnxittee that he and his colleague
would prove them. His speech was some
thing of a treatise on honesty IN cleo
tions. and had much to say about "throt-
ding the viii OF the people,
REPLIES FOR MR. SMITH.
MFR. Meredith replied for the ccntcstee.
Pie said the throwing out OF a preclast
was last resort IN contested election
1ases a nd hA5 l1ergAdl ff submit TIM 40