The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-02
Manchester School Board En-
dorses MIR. Pages Action.
HIS LETTER OF EXPLANATION
Sets Forth in Detail Why Mr.. Fitzger-
aid Was Not lndicted-ShouId Be
Arrested First-Other News
from Manchester.
Manchester Bureau. Richmond Times.
No. l102 Hull Street.

special meeting held last night. received
from Commemorative Attorney Charles
J.. Page n letter. in which he explained
40 the entire satisfaction of the oody
why no indictment had been fou1lo
against r H. Fitzgerald, late clerk OF
the board.
The letter was in reply to the criticism
passed upon Mr.. Page at the last ses-
sion of the board for not having caused
the Indictment of Fitzgerald. DE- Rucker
and Mr. Pulliam fully confirmed the
statement of Mr.. Page. and President
Bayley and others expressed the OPINION
that the commemorative Attorney had
pursued the proper course. The entlTe
board took this view.
MR. PAGES LETTER
The letter of Mr.. Page was as follows.
e'To the President and Members OF the
City School Board City of Manchester
Gentlemen: Having been Informed
that at a meeting of your body held on
Thursday evening last, oath instant. some
complaint was INDUCED Of the Common
wealth.s Attorney OF the city for what
was termed his failure or omission to
have indictments returned at the recent
grand jury session against F. Il f5tz-
gerald ] desire. in justice to myself, to
Ian before you the facts in this connec-
tion. in order that you may be enabled
TO form YOUR judgment fairly and upon
full promises.
.'y,iow me TO prefa ce my statement OF
Nha facts. however. by saying. hrs'
that upon learning of the crlucisIn 70
which ] had been subjected ] sought Mr.
>Sunnaily your secretary in order 10
lear-l from him and your records upon
what Information had been judged.
learned from him for the first time that
n committee of three members OF your
BODY had been appointed some tune IN
February last to confer WITH me .oii'
rnonwe3lths Attorney and the judge OF
4 he collrt relative to the case mentioned,
composed Of Messrs. D. i. Pulilam }.
b. R;Idd and DR.. j.. L Rucker. ana
that so far as the records disclosed TINS
committee had never made report
back. of having seen or had cohVersa-
zion with me AS a matter OF TACT the
lcomr1jittee has never been to see me OF
had any communication with me on
the subject of their appointment mel
DIR Rucker. one OF the committee, cesu-
islly in front of the Leader building
about the 18th of March. and he there
Informed me of the Fitzgerald defalca-
,ion. and stated TO me the desire OF your
lI,oav to present the matter TO the grand
Iiurv ! told him that there would not
be a grand jury at the March term, but
that there would be one at the April
I,eri,l of court and mat the door OF me
I-,,r,. room would be open to the COM
I,mittae then to make such presentation
of The matter to the grand jury as they
thought proper. ] added. moreover ti't''
ltt was useless, in my view OF the mater.
Ito curnber the docket with indictments
E,-,;rs1 an abscon6incs criminal unless
some active measures were taken 10 ar
rest and bring him TO trial. ana ADVISED
him therefore. to apply to the Aouacll
hi once to offer a reward Tor the aiIeSt
OF Fitzgerald. He left me- saving liia1
he would do this. The conversation, !
distinctly recall closed by my telling lor-
Ducksr that his committee could nave
free access TO the grand jury room at inc
fapril term He did not tell me at the
time what course the committee Wouiu
take and left me under the impression
that he did not feel at liberty then 10
rom,ri, them but would see them ana
lot me hear from him further. l heard
nothing further. however, from MN OF
his committee. and from TINS 1ac' anu
the further fact that two members .!
,,our body were members OF the Aprh
Grand Jury and neither MADE a Piesen'
Er,e.,, of the matter Gas they could nave
done of their own motionl, or mentioned
the matter to me in anyway, ellhei "
TciaIly or otherwise, ] inferred 1hat your
ghody or your committee, We're not III
readiness to act-had concluded 10 ueler
the presentnent of the mater. either
with a view TO endeaEoring first TO Sc
cure an arrest by the offer OF an aoe-
ICuate reward. or for other reasons Sdti9-
factory to themselves. Such are me
Facts. If there has been any derehctioh
OF uHlN, LHciSiHiNi . -
1t is not mine.
> " WOULD DO NO GOOD.
Permit me. however. to add, that l
can see nothing in the mere omission ~
.ndjct T. IA. Fitzgerald at the April term
81 corrt TO iustifysa,ly Very severe cf1ti-
c;s,n Of any one The cuIpri; is not now
an custody, and there seems to be little,
s. any, prospect mat he ever Will be, I'M
less some active steps are taken TO secu1 e
his arrest by the offer Of an adequate re-
ward There is already out against nm
|, warrant for felony il Manchester, which
a. or will be Just as effective for secuf-
trr his arrest as would fifty indictments.
fun investigation of his delinquencles
.yould require probably a week S contln-
NOUS session of a grand jury, or more u
believe 1t took your committee much long
Crl would necesstate the SumnoMnS OF
witnesses from distant States, at large OK
penses and altogether would cost the
State probably several hundred dollars,
with no resulting good whatever 10 any
pre unless and until the criminal is ap-
,-,chended and brought back here for trial.
in view of this fact, the more practical
md sensible course, it seems to me, with
warrant already out adequate for secuf-
ing his arrest and ext,aditon, would be 10
.ndeavor first to arrest the criminal. rath-
<r than without such an effort, 10 invest
,,,-e-sl hundred dollars in the mere pas
time Of finding indictments which may
,evcs he tried. Such. ] would say mas
been the course in the city of Richmond
Fl: the case of similar defaication. COM
,nittea by the same party, although the
witnesses in that case are all, l believe.
&, easy reach. and they have grand Juries
there monthly.
.Stili if YOUR body desires an immediate
rrcsantrnent of FitZgerald's ,delinquencies
tc the grand jury, ! have nothing what
over to urge against it: and If you VIII
but indicate your desire TO me of1!claliE'
,yill renuest the Judge of the court to con-
pene a special grand jury for the pur-
pose at as early a day as possible:
"PeEring to be informed on this point
therefore / have the honor meanwhile TO
remain.
Very respectfully yours.
.'CHAS l. PAGE
ATTY. for Common'th.
STREET COMMITTEE.
Members of the Street Committee spent
about two hours strolllnG about through
iiifcl el,t parts of the city yesterday at
tern.on and determining what nm
could be made to the streets