Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-11
KING FOUND GUILTY.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE)

shaw. who was member of the special
grand jury which had found the indict-
ment, was not qualified juror,
as he was not registered voter
at the time that the indict-
1nent was returned against Mr.. King.
He cid not think Mr.. King should be
made to answer under the circumstances
Mr.. Richardson asked that the motion be
overruled. which Justice Crutchfield did.
Mr.. Meredith then demurred to the in
dictmcnt. and on behalf Of his client, en-
tered j plea Of not guilty.
Messrs Charles Gasser. John q. Vein
bruDn. J. a. Guide and J. Taylor STRAIT
ten were called and sworn. and Mr.. STRAIT
ton was first calied, the other gentle
men being sent FROM The room.
Mr. Richardson. replying to the plea
fn Abatement offered by Mr.. Meredith,
said that he did not attach sufficient
Importance TO the plea to Justify other
proceedings, or he would swear out an
other warrant for the arrest of the ac-
cused.
Mr.. ]. Taylor Stratton. clerk of the Street
cpnlmittee, was called to the witness
Gs2ad. He gave his name, residence and
occupation.
He then took UP the record and read
from the minutes of the May 18th last,
when bids were opened for street paving.
ing that John c. Weinbrunn, j. A. GUIDE.
and Charles Gasser were the only bidders.
The bids for the different pieces of work
in various parts OF the city, the prices
and time, We're read, the idea being to
show that the bids were actually in, and
that Nr. King participated in the award.
winch was made at a meeting held June 9.
1872
MIR. Meredith admitted that Mr.. King
rT1e- Of ha1 j.
fed. and that he had been assigned to
the committee on streets. which committee
vas empowered to award contracts. This
was done when Mr. Richardson desired
10 call City Clerk August to testify that
AIR. King was member of the council
and had qualified to discharge the duties
TO which he had been elected
Il long list of bids were read for paving
and guttering. there being only three bid
Gers. named above.
At a meeting on June 9th last Mr.. Whit
tet had moved that the bids be referred to
the city engineer with instructions to
award the contracts to the lowest re-
Eponslble bidder, which motion was
adopted
The bids were first advertised for on
May q. and for reasons of the prices, new
hids were asked for at meeting to be
held June 8. at which time there we've
no new bids
Witness Cross-Exnmined.
Mr.. Meredith then took the witness for
Dissemination. The course of adver-
using for bids. the manner of examining
bids, and the usual routine of the COM
mttee. was explained in detail. The box
IN which the bids We're placed was kept
locked. in the engineers Office. and that
the key was in his possession
alderman Mosby and Alderman KING
composed the subcommittee. together
with Mr.. Frank j. Bates. clerk in the
engineers office. to open and tabuiate
The bids on May 18th. On June
=, when the new bids were opened. Messrs
Peters and Pollock opened and tabulated
The bids. The bids called for paving with
granite spalls. Mr.. Stratton stated that
The same bidders bid for the same KIND
OF work two years ago.
Gnsser Takes the Stand.
Mr.. Stratton was told to- stand asids.
Captain Charles Gasscr being called
Captain Gasser said he was street
payer, having resided in Richmond
since 1873 Had been in business TOT
himself since 1896. During the past Two
or three years Messrs. Goodwin. Wein-
brunn and GUIDE had been engaged IN
the same kind Of work as himself. mr..
Goodwin retired from business Few
Years ago. He said he had known MI
King pretty well for the past four years.
Iii. EcharAson asked the witness Ito