The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-22


make a gift or to do any act nenehclal
to such officer under an agreement or
with an understanding that his vote.
opinion or judgment shall be given IN any
particular manner upon particular sloe
of any question. cause or prcceedlns
which may be brought upon him in his
official capacity. he Is guilty Of crime
and should be indicted by you should the
evidence before you justify an Indictment.
1T is equally true that those who give
the brides corruptly for the purposes
above mentioned are liable to indictment.
and should be indicted by you upon the
presentation of proper and sufficient evil
dence.
az cannot too earnestly urge upon you
the Importance CT this inquiry. The hon
or and good name OF your city stand chal-
lenged before the world; see to 1T that
this examination is thorough, rigid. impair
tial and fearless. No half-hearted inquiry
will satisfy this community; the people
have a. right to an honest administration
of their public business by those whom
they have honored and trusted.
you shall look into the conduct OF
every officer in the city if occasion or
the developments before you should so
Justify. If there be guilty men among
them, say so by your finding. and mark
the unfaithfu1. rid honest men OF suspl-
cion, and let the guilty be brought to JUS
tice No self-respecting man will held a
place in your city government If he is
expected to bear a portion OF the nuraens
of corruption To honest men. Therefore.
you owe protection from the tongue OF
SANDER by placing this burden where 1t
properly belongs.
.,I'he writs of the Commonwealth are
at your disposal; the records of the city
government are open to your Inspection
and the prosecuting officers stand ready
CT
Gentlemen, this is your business. |
have summoned you thus promptly that
we may have done with this miserable
scandal at once and the good name of
our city vindicated To men of your high
standing I need make no appea! for faith
full discharge of duty. Your names carry
confidence and trust among your fellow
men and commit their interests to your
keeping"
Got Down to Work.
Immediately after Judge Witt read his
charge to the grand jury, there followed
a sudden and distinct pause. The scope
of the document was wider than anyone
had expected, its force caused something
of a sensation. The sudden hush was
followed by a sudden murmur, which ran
through the courtroom, and then jury
man Thomas NJ. Rutherford arose in his
seat.
Il would like to ask" he began. ''if
the grand jury has the right to excuse
anyone from prosecution in this investisa-
ton if valuable information should be
given to the jury"
No said Judge Witt.
~ suppose the witnesses may decline
TO answer questions which may tend to
incriminate them?"
If any witness asserts his rights in
this manner" said the court, the mat
fey CT ha a re1ortp6 n thiC
court"
Then the grand jury retired to its room
on the third floor of City Hall and the
witnesses were sworn in
On the way to the grand JURY
room 6, member of the jury made a
remark significant in that it indicates the
care with which The alleged corruption
will be investigated. This wos the OK
preston of a belief that the investigation
would cover at least :, wes:'s or ter; 4.,ys
Just after the grand jury retired Com
monwealth's Attorney Richardson was
called and remained with the Jury for
half hour. explaining their rights ana
the laws on vague points in connection
with official corruption and bribery. He
then left the room, there followed a
consultation inside and finally just after
noon Colonel Cutshaw, the City Engineer
was called. To him Mr.. Gasser maua
the statement as to the bribe alleged to
have been paid to Mr. King. and on
this matter he was questioned for a con-
siderable time. It is understood his evil
dence was practically the same as that
given before the Street Committee the
other day
Following Colonel Cutshaw. City Attor-
neW Pollard was called to the grand Jury
room. He remained for fifteen minutes
and then Mr.. Travers Daniels, all direct
witnesses against Mr.. Gasser as to his
statement duplicating Mr. King was called.
Later Mr.. Bolton testified and the era nd
jury adjourned until to-day.
Mr. H. ~. Smith. IT., is counsel for
Captain Gasser. and Mr.. L. o. Wenden-
burg for Messrs. King, Weinbrunn and
GUIDE.
One Of the most interesting features
OF the situation is the fact that there is
movement in the Legislature to amend
the code and assist in the probing Of the
local scandal by extending from one to
five years the period of limitation In bril-
berry cases and providing for exemption
from prosecution of any witness giving
evidence in such a case.
The following bills Will be offered by
Mr.. Wallace to-day:
Mr.. Wal!ace's Bill.
A bill to amend and re-enact section
$3.50 OF the Code, so as to extend the period
of limitation in cases of offering or ac-
cepting a bride under sections S744 and
3745 Of the Code, to five years from the
commission thereof:
1. Be it enacted by the General As
semly. that section $3.50 of the Code be
amended and re-enacted SO as to read
as follows:
Section $3.50. Limitation of prosecution
A prosecution for committing or pro-
curing another person to commit per-
jury shall be commenced within two
years next after the perjury was commit
ted; and a prosecution for a, misdemean-
or, or any pecuniary fine, forfeiture.
penalty, or amercement, shall be COM
menced within one year next after there
was cause thereof, except that a prose-
cution for petty larceny, or offering or
accepting a bride under sections 3144 and
3745 Of the Code, may be commenced
within five years. and for an attempt to
produce abortion. within two years after
the offence has been committed; pro-
vided. that nothing in this section shan
be construed to extend to any person
fleeing from justice.
?. This act shall shall be in force from