The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-03
Alderman Bahen Enters a
Sweeping Denial
WANTS SEARCHING
INQUIRY MADE
Gasser is Phinx-Like in His Silence,
. But Will Likely be Star Witness
Before Both Committees-Deep-
est Interest is Manifested in
the Matter All Over
the City.

The spasmodic turn which the municipa.
investigation proposition took in the Cons
mon Council on Monday night was the
talk of all Richmond yesterday, and ills
evident that when the joint committee
shall have been named and the matter
taken up, the inquiry will be spicy and
far-reaching In its scope. Broad as
would seem the mowers of the proposed
committee under the Crenshaw resolution,
they may become broader yet, and, ac-
cording to what seems a popular view,
tho quest for wrongdoing may reach into
many of the departments OF governments
before 1t Is over.
No one save Mr.. Gasser seems to be
making any allegations, but revolutions
do not so backward. and while no sus-
picion is thought to rest anywhere, IT
would cause no surprise should the prob-
Ing be carried beyond the scope ot even
the Crenshaw resolution. The committee
to be named under that paper will not
get to work for many days yet. for MI,
Pollock. In his anxiety for Wind ation on
from the allegations said to have been
made by Captain Gasser against himselfs
and others. secured an amendment to the
Crenshaw resolution providing that there
should be no procedure hereunder until
the 1oint committee to be named under
the Pollock resolution should have res
ported. 3g
G The Board Of Aldermen will meet to-
morrow night and will probably concur
in both these resolutions, and then the
tfoo, will
Pollock committee. to be composed OF tive
members, will likely proceed to business
early next week. and may be aole 70 re-
port within ten days. The other cons
rpittee, whose scope will be much broader,
viii contain nine members, and at both
the Investigations Captain Charles Gas
ser will undoubtedly be a star witness.
All the men said to have been named
by Gasser have now spoken. save tha
late Councilman Woody. whose voice was
hushed by the icy hand of death. long
ere the alleged conversation was had be-
tween Gasser and Assistant Engineer
Taliaferro. and they have all entered
sweeping denials rl the subject. It should
be stated that one Of the gratifying
features Of the whole thing is the unani-
nous voice with which the people who
knew Captain Woody resent the insin-
uation against his good name
AS soldier. citizen and public officer ne
was praised everywhere on yesterday
and around 1.he harnts OF the City Hall.
where he SERVED his people with so much
fidelity, his memory was tenderly res
ferred to. and all agreed that his innate
honesty had much to do with his pow
erty In his last days.
MIR. BAHEN DENIES.
Alderman James Bahen. OF Jackson
Ward. was the last of those named to
speak out, for he was In Newport News
49,, yI,l,a,, 1,n cra n
proceedings were sprung on the Council,
the other night. Mr. Eahen hurried back
to learn what 1t was all about. and talked
freely concerning tho Tnliaferro letter
when seen at his home last night.
"The account OF the whole thing came
n sa shocking surprise to me When saw
1t In the morning papers" said Mr..
Bahen. II have never had any transac-
tions with Gasser and all our relations
have been merely to greet each other IN
passing. know Of no combine, nor did
ever know of any. am on record "a
having voted twice for an investigation In
the Board of Aldermen and now since my
name has been dragged into this matter
In such an unfair and uncomplmentary
manner. l demand that thorough ana
speedy one shall be had"
Mr.. Bahen will attend the Board meetr
ing on Friday night, and will vote TO
concur in both the Common Council res-
olutions and he may have something
to say upon question of personal priyi.
lege.
GAssER WON'T TALK.
Captain Gasser was seen last night and
asked for statement concerning the
matter, with the precipitation OF which he
is said to have had SO much to do, but he
was as silent as a sphinx. He would only
say that he did not see why he should
be prosecuted but positively declined to
go into, any detailed discussions of the
affair.
Neither did Mayor Taylor care to dis
scuss the matter further than to say that
his communication to the Council spoke
for itself,
There are very many interesting aues.
tion us to the probable turn the invest:ga-
tion may take, and what will be the
exact line of proceedure. OF course. In the
embryo stage in which the matter now
Is nothing of definite nature has been
determined, and this will be true until thu
Joint committees shall have been named.
1t is matter of interesting spacula.
tlon as to whether Judge Witt win turn
over the record In the grand jury pros 4
ceedings TO the committee, according TO
the request in tho Crenshaw resolutions,
or whether ne viii simply give the City
Attorney access to the Important docu-
ment.
His Honor says the court will aid ths