The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-11
CITY COUNCIL
TO INVESTIGATE
Will See Who is to Blame for
Shortage in Clerks Accounts.
SOME SPIRITED TALKS MADE
Liberty Council Banquet 1o-Nieh. Virginia
Club Will Hear Candidates,
Other Candidates in
the Fled.
SOME SPIRITED TALKS MADE
Manchester Bureau, Richmond Times, |
AE1,- ~ i

Manchester Bureau, Richmond Times,
No. 1l03 Hun Street.
The City Council of Manchester will
have the matter of who is TO blame for
the shortage in the accounts of the former
clerk of the School Board, Mr.. "A Fl.
Fitzgerald, before that body at it's next
meeting. This was resolved upon at the
meeting of the School Board held last
night. The meeting was called to con-
slider the feasibility of extending the
school term for two weeks, and also for
further instruction of the special COM
mittce appointed at the last meeting TO
bring the matter Of the defalcation OF
the clerk to the attention OF the Com
monwealths attorney.
The committee, which was appointed
some time ago to look into the matter
of the shortage, reported that they had
found an additional shortage of S61.25, but
had not met often enough for a perfect
report to be made There was a spirited
talk made by Mr.. W. NJ Lipscomb. a
member of the board. He said the pub
lie were censuring the board for lack Of
business in allowing the clerk 10 get
away with so much money
III the chairman Of the Finance Com
mittee had done his duty, and made the
report to this body which should have
been made" said Mr. Lpscomb, and
the president had used more judgment
and not signed anything that was brought
TO him by the clerk, Fitzgerald would
to-day have been at his home, for after
trying the thing once, he would have
stopped.
DR.. Rucl1cr offered a paper, which gave
a full account of the manner in which
the alleged theft was committed, but
this was laid on the table until the next
meeting. This paper was to the effect
that there had been warrants drawn
during the time that Mr.. O'Brien was
president, and signed by him whether
the same were drawn by the clerk, 1or
amounts the board had ordered to be
paid and to the persons that the
board had ordered the money TO
be paid to, or for amounts that the
board had not ordered to be paid, ana 10
persons thG. were purely fictitious.
DR.. Rucker said he was not gong 10
be censured, for what the president or the
chairman of the Finance Committee were
responsible for He said the chairman OF
+be T7;nance Committee had not examined
the books of the clerk. for If such mad
been the case then all of this trouble
would never have occurred
MR.. wAIlEFIELD'S VIEWS
Mr.. Wakefield said he was young
member of the Board, and DID NOT IN tne
least think he was TO be blamed Tor tne
dcfalcation. He was not gong TO Sholi-
der any Of the blame, and thought some
one who could set tho minds of the pub
liz AZ rest should come out and explain.
,r,is brought Mr.. Rud6t to hts feet, ana
he said, he was not guilty of any OF the
blame. and, furthermore, did not expect
TO take any of it. He said the CITY Cou't-
Gil elected tho members of the Board,
and he thought that body should taho
the matter up and place the blame where
it was duo. and let the public kno" OIL
II.
Mr. Pool. he former chairman of the
Finance Committee was not at the meet
ing. CAPTAIN O'Bren was present bllt
did not say anything i'll the matter. lie
only smoke once and then told the BODY
that the special committee would meet
THURSDAY night. and after that they
could make a final report of the total
amount OF the storage of tho clerk to
the Board
DR.. Rucker, as chairman Of the COM
mittee appointed to bring the matter to
the attention Of the Commemorative
ATTORNEY, said that the committee had
found the attorney sick, and they were
unable to look into tho subject further
without some instructions from The
Board. On motion OF Mr.. Shotwcll, tho
committee was continued, and empo"-
cred to take some steps to recover some
of the money from the property Of the
former clerk.
The question of extending the school
for two weeks longer than the regular
term was argued pro and con, and tao
members were nearly evenly divided as
to whether it would be best to spend the
money for more room for the next term
of the school or to get two more weeks
for thi5 term.
The Building Committee was ordered
TO look after the getting OF another room
,>I,o fI,a !,
ment of the old Central Church was the
place decided upon. This can be rented
for small sum now.
The old building across the street from
the school will be given up, an< at the
next s, ssion OF the school there will be
A room added, which will be of sufficient
size to accommodate all of the scholars.
AT LIBERTY COUNCIL.
Everything is now arranged for the
celebration of Liberty Council Tonight
The exercises will be presided over
by Jr. p. S. C. r. Z. Criddle and will
commence at O'Clock
The funeral of Mrs. Martha Z. Butler,
who died Saturday evening at her resi-
dence in Swansbcro at 5:45 o'clock, took
place from West-End NJ. L. Church Sun
day evening at O'Clock, conducted
bv the pastor Rev. a c. Bergman, as
sisted by Rev. w. W. Sisk, pastor OF
Clopton-Street Baptist Church. Inter
ment was in Maury cemetery.
There will be valentine tea given Fri
day night at the homo Of Miss Katie
Strader 1928 McDonough Street.
rhc preparations for the banquet to be
given by the Business Mems Association
on Thursday night are at this time about
completed, and ono OF the best treats of
he season is promised to those who at
tend
TO HEAR CANDIDATES.
The members of the Virginia Democra-
tic Club are now bestirring themselves,
and another meeting Will be held in tha
near future for the purpose Of getting
all of the candidates now in the field for
the different offices to come to the club
and state frankly what they will do for
betterment Of this town.
OTHER CANDIDATES.
Mr. j., 1. Galloway has announced
himself as candidate for City Ser
geant MIR. Galloway's entrance into the
contest makes it more interesting. Tor
there are now six men-all good men
fighting for the place made vacant by
the death of H. C. Ferguson. The other
candidates are: MessrS Herbert ferguson,
J. G. Saunders. John S. Avis, Claude 5.
Davis, and Cary B. French The contest
is assuming more interesting turn
49,, o,a +,,e c,InnositiOn that there