The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-18


He EN- I: 4. EsI:: Is y OF
her Of the Board q. All ermen for receiv-,
{ Ing a contract
Mr.. Gasaer:.'1 nave no statmeent to.
make whatever 500
Mr. Nhittet: Mr.. Gasser. have you
Gilman or exc ouncilman?s'
{ any charges to bring against any Coun-s
Mr.. Adams 81. Mr. Gasser, dc you claim
your constitutional rights in answering
questions not to incriminate yourself p
Mr.. Gasser: II don't comprehend the
question:.
Mr., POLLARD EXPLAINS.
Mr. Pollard: BY way of explanation, i
will say to YOU, Mr.. Gasser, that the.
Constitution provides that no person shall
be compelled by "a court or other body
to answer questions which might lay
them liable to criminal prosecution. AS
81 understand Adams, he desires to
know whether you place your refusal to
answer some OF the questions you nave
failed to answer upon the ground That
you cannot be compelled to answer them,
as YOU might incrininate yourself.
MI. Gasser: Il claim everything that
an American citizen can claim.
Mr. Blanks: MIR. Gasser, have you ever.
been approached by a member OF the CITY
Council on Board Of Aldermen, asking for
tips in order to- secure aEcontract, winch
was refused by YOU 3
Mr.. Gasser: II will not answer that
question.
Mr. Allen Z .'Mr. Gasser. you claim every
right Of an American citizen. Is that the
Tea son you declined to sign a written
statement proposed not by the City En-
gineer, but by Colonel Cutshaw?''
Mr.. Gasser: 81 don't know just how to
answer that question
Mr. West: ..Mr. Gasser, do you deny
telling Colonel w. e. Cutshaw the state.
ment that said Colonel w. T.. Cutshaw
has made to this committee in your pres
ence and that Of the committee sto-night?''
Mr.. Gasser: II refuse to answer that
question
6sTENoGRAPHERs EMPLOYED.
On motion Of Mr.. West, at this point it
was decided by a vote Of six to five to
secure stenogra pher. Mr.. Thomas 3.
Owen was employed. The cross-queStion-s
Ing of Mr.. Gasser was then continued.
Mr.. Burton: Ibid any Councilman or
member Of the Board of Aldermen, or.
any one representing any one Of them,
ever make any proposition to you IN re-
gard to receiving contracts in which they
E Mr.. Gasser:. Mr.. Burton, have been
asked that question before"
Mr.. Burton: That is your answer. then,
is it?''
Mr.. Gasser: THAT is my answer
Mr. Allen: tMr. Gasser. is there any
truth in the statement of Colonel w. E.
sCutshaw that you are now in debt to Ger
tain Councilmen for a pending contract?
Mr.. Gasser: st will not answer that
question:.
Mr. Pollard: "I will ask Mr.. Gasser
whether he denies the statement made oys
Colonel Cutshaw in his presence and Ill
the presence of the committee in regard
to what transpired in Colonel Cutshaw's
office yesterday. in the presence of Colo
mel Cutsha.w and the young man who Is
clerk in the City Engineers office, and in
my presence ?''
MR.. GAssER REFUSES.
Mr.. Gasser: II simply refuse to answer
thai question:
Mr.. Pollard: 'Then, as I understand
you, you neither deny or affirm the truth
of Colonel Cutshaw's statement as to that
interview"
Mr.. Gasser: II do not exactly know the
gravity Of that question that you ask
Mr.. Pollard: IT ask If you will deny
what Colonel Cutshaw said in regard to
thai interview, or whether you admit it,
or whether YOU simply refuse to make
any statement regarding 1t!
Mr.. Gasser: It will not admit anything;
I have nothing to admit
Mr.. Pollard: Then you do not deny?'
Mr.. Gasser: IT have simply nothing to
admit
Mr.. Pollard: .'Is it your position that
you simply refuse to admit or deny the
truth of Colonel Cutshaw's Statements
Mr.. Gasser: 81 will neither admit nor
deny =.s 80
MR.. wE1NBRuNN QUESTIONED.
This ended the examination of Mr..
Gasser. and Mr.. Weinbrunn was invited
to make a statement to the committee.
Mr.. Peters: Have you any statement
to make before the conmttee?"
Mr. Weinbrunn: II have nothing what
ever to say. 1T is something entirely
new to me. It is news to me-
Mr. West: IT would like to ask Mr.
Weinbrunn one question. Mr.. Gasser
has made the statement to Colonel Cut
shaw that you and he have been in the
habit of giving brides q don't know
whether he used the word bride or not)
to councilmen.
Mr.. Pollard dn explanatory: Paying
consideration.
Mr. West: Paying a consideration
for contracts?"
Mr. weinbrunn: NO., sir; never
have
Mr. West: you deny ftp,
Mr. Weinbrunn: Eyes, sir
s. Mr. West: ''Mr. Gasser then made a
false statement in making that state
nent as far as you are concerned. did
hep
Mr.. Weinbrunn: Eyes, sir.
MR.. GUIDES STATEMENT.
Mr. GUIDE was then invited to, make
a statement to the committee.
Mr.. Peters: Have you any statement
to make in regard to the statement made
by the CITY Engineer?''
Mr. GUIDE: II hardly know what to
say about it. I don't know anything
about Captain Gasser's case at all. It
is something new to me-
Mr. Pollard: Captain Gasser stated
that you and Mr.. Weinbrunn and him
self were in the habit of paying con-
sideration to certain members of the
Council for the granting of your con-
tracts by the Committee on Streets. Is
the statement true so far as you are
concerned %
Mr. GUIDE: NO, sir
Mr. Pollard: Were You ever applied
to by any member of the Council with