The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-20
GRAND JURY TO TAKE
UP BRIBERY SCANDAL
Special List of Nine Men Called
for Tomorrow.
SEVEN WITNESSES NAMED
Others May Be Summoned To-Morrow.
Con,monwealth's Attorney Rich
ardson is Giving the Case
Close Study.

A special grand jury, composed Of nine
representative citizens of the first stand
ing in Richmond, has been called by Judge
to- morrow to investigate the Gasser-
King bribery scandal.
The names of the grand jury may indi-
cate the thorough-going character of the
investigation which will be inausurated.
The following well known men will COM
pose the grand jury:
Mr.. Junius B. Mosby, of Cordes and
Mosby, president Of the Westmoreland
Club.
Mr W. T. Hancock, tobacco manufac-
turer.
Nj. S pabney crenshaw. secretary of
the yirginia-Carolina; Chemical Company
and president of the Commonwealth Club.
Mr.. ". II. Cuilingsworth, coal merchant
and former postmaster.
Mr. A r. Yarbrough. of w. j. 1ar-
brorgh and Sons, tobacconists.
Mr.. Isaac Cohen, of the Cohen Com
pany
Mr. Thomas NJ. rutherford, CAPITALIST
Mr.. c. E. Wingo, of Wingo. Elicit and
Crump.
Mr.. J. E. Philips, of ]. E. Phillips and
Sons.
This special grand jury was called to
meet at II O'Clock tomorrow, and the
matter Will be placed before it a t the
request OF Commonwealth Attorney =.
c. Richardson.
WITNESSES CALLED.
Seven witnesses have been called to
testify before the grand jury. 1t is in
timated that possibly others may be
called on Monday. Those who have been
called are Colonel ". e. Cutshaw,. city
engineer. the central witness in the in
Westigation to whom Captain Gasser..
made the statement, which he afterwards
neither denied nor affirmed. that he had
paid money to Alderman John NJ. King to
secure contracts; City Attorney Henry
r. Pollard in whose presence some OF
the statements of Captain Gasser to Col.
Cutshaw We're made; Mr.. Travers Daniel,
clerk in the City Engineers Office, in
whose presence some of Captain Gasser's
statements We're made; Captain Charles
Gasser, a city paving contractor. who
on Wednesday last, it is alleged to have
made the statement to Col. Cutshaw that
he had bribed ex-Aldecman King: eX-
Alderman John N. King. of Jefferson
Ward. who declares that the charge that
he was bribed is absolutely false" and
Messrs. j. c. Wenbrunn and j. a. Guide,
city paving contractors. Tho have riSor-
ouslv denied the statement of Captain
Gasser to Colonel Cutshaw that they had
also been in the habit OF paying money
to CounclInen in .rder to secure con
tracts.
TESTIMONY IN THE CASE.
Those acquainted with the situation
and the law bearing upon the case re-
gard Captain Gasser's position as more
serious one as regards the POSSIBILITY
Of Indictment and conviction than tha'
of MIR. King The corrohorated test
mony of three witnesses supports the
alleged fact that he made a confession
of having given a brihe. Thls same eVl'
dence, however. in reference to Mr. KING
becomes only hearsay testimony and has
no standing in court. Then, too. While
the establishment of a general confes-
sion of bribery on the part OF Gasser
would serve as ground for Indictment. II
is questioned by lawyers whether Tor
conviction it would not be also necessary
10 establish definite corpus deficit or
specific instance of the offense with
which he is charged.
| Mr. King has been in consultation with
Nr. L. O. Wendenburg as counsel. he
has no statement to make for the press
further than that the charge Is sahso-
lutely false.
Captain Gasser as also consulted. lie
| declined when seen last night TO give
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