The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-14
TRIAL OF
FIRE CHIEF
Question Of Jurisdiction Will be
Raised by Counsel for
$780,, Defense.
THE CHARGES ARE SERIOUS
Head Of Newport News Fire De-
!: partment Accused Of Drunken
ness and Neglect OF Duty.
THE CHARGES ARE SERIOUS
,yn.e,a, "a 1ha Timos. dispatch -

Especial to The Times. Dispaten)
NEWPORT NEWS. VA. Nov. 1s.--An
Interesting question has arisen In the
oass Of W. K. Stow. the chief OF the
fire department, who is on trial BEFORE
Mayor Moss, charged with drunkenness
neglect Of duty and unbecoming conouct.
II IL said that when the trial Is resumed
to.rnorrow morning the chiefs attorney,
r. q. Bickford. will raise the point tnat
the Mayor has no legal right to try the
care and will ask that the Investigation
be discontinued.
TIE claim will be that, while tho new
Constitution gives tho Mayor the au-
thority to investigate the acts OF ire
and police officers. and 70 suspend anu ~
move them. the Legislature mas never
taken action to put the section into et1ec..
Attorney Hunter Boyd Cold, VINO. Is
prosecuting the charges. sta'ea . aJIa,,:,
that he. also, had q card up his sleeve
which he Intended to play Tomorrow,
hut refused to make any statement con-
earning the case.
The trial Of Chief STOW begun yesterday
morning ana the entire day was spent
n hearing evidence for the con,plainnnA.
Some OF the testimony was very damas'
frR Fireman Lenz testified that me me
chief was in the habit OF entertaining
disSolute characters at the central ensihe
house; that he was too drunk on the
Hav A. thA Confederate parade to turn
out With the department etc. Council-
man Burcher also testified that STOW
Ms drunk on the day OF the parade
a number OF witnesses gave evidence m
regard TO tho assault made upon Palmef
billiard by the chief 1t fire sevaral
weeks ago
About twenty witnesses were examined
and there were stili many on the com.
plAinants' list when the Mayor ADJOURNED
court at 8 o'clock in the afternoon. 40. 40,
morrow morning alto o'clock was inc
time set for resuming the trial.
SMALL AMOUNT. .Isa
The ,urv in the ease Of Ottowa st. CAR
AGAINST The citizens Railway. Light and
Powe. Company, which has been on
trial in the Corporation Court for TIRES
days. brought IN a verdict for the plan.
tiff to-day, giving Judgment for si3. Ihe
amount sued for WAS $4,000. and It Is
probable that the plaintiff will move 10
set the verdict aside. The plaintiff Is b
sevef,-Ysar-old boy, who was seriously
injured by falling from OBS OF the oe-
feI,dant compapy's cars
The negro residen-, OF East End are
prepar1nr to wage war against the social
clubs which have invaded that section.
The residents succeeded In keeping sa'
looms out. but have not been 50 success t!.
full in the fight with tho clubs. -
President Jones..,of the acitysAC Council,
has refused to comply with the reauest
Of Mayor Moss that special meennE
Of the Council be called to take action
looking towards bringing the Chesapeake
and Ohio ofices here In case they arc
70 be moved from Richmond. Mr.. Jones
says he does not believe the company VIII
move the Offices from Richmond. and that
if such thing should be done, any 40
ton OF tn. Council would not influence
the officials IN any way
The Chamber OF Commerce discussed
the matter at its meeting tonight.
Tho largest indoor carnival ever hsld
here IS being held at ths corner OF
Thirey.seeond Street and Washington
Avenue BY the Knights OF Columbus,