Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-26
CONDUCTS HIS CASE.
Warner Suffers Accuser Is
His Own Attorney.
CHARGES DISCUSSED
SUPERINTENDENT OE STREET
CLEANING MAY BRING SUIT.
Stock in Patent Broom Clamp is Bone
Of Observation-Disclosures With
drawn From Board Room.

OIdWu EIOu oOdIu xsOOIAs
| A number of witnesses-inspectors in the
| STRENGTHENING Service-were In the boaro
| room at the District building at $50 o'clock
| this afternoon, when the Investigation INTO
| the charges Of maladministration in office
against Superintendent Warner Stutler OF
the street cleaning department was re-
| sumed before the District Commissioners.
The records of the street cleaning depart
| ment and of the auditors Office during the
| period covered by the allegations of Royai
| Robinson were piled upon the table ABOUT
which were seated the Commissioners.
These records have been examined by Mr..
| Robinson. permission for which was granted
| him by the Commissioners yesterday after
noon. During the investigation they Will
| be consulted by the attorneys and members
of. the investigating tribunal.
The witnesses summoned to appear before
| the Commissioners at the investigation this
| afternoon include the following inspectors
! in the street cleaning department: J. l.
| BarrIck. Ebert Claggett. c. o. Rockwell.
| Gustav Book, Webster Beemer. E. e.
! Barnes A. H. Pruitt and former Inspector
| James Henderson,.
for machine street sweeping. was present
| at the hearing this afternoon. together
| with Mr.. Bailey. his agent 49,.
| afternoon the witnesses were requested 70
withdraw from the board room until caiieo.
Robinson Complains.
when Commissioner Macfarland called
| the court to order this afternoon he read
| letter from Royal Robinson, who preferred
| the charges.
| In the letter Mr.. Robinson stated ne
! supposed when he preferred the charges
| that he would be allowed to conduct his
case against Mr.. Stutler.
The rule adopted by the Commissioners
yesterday, Mr.. Robinson says in the letter:
| deprives him Of that right as we'll as OF
| the ability to sustain the charges.
What was at first the duty OF good
| citizen to the Commissioners ana 10 the
public has become matter OF grave I'M
portance to me because OF Mr.. Stutler
| threat to have me arrested and prosecuted
| for criminal libel just soon as he shall
have been INDICATED by the board"
Mr.. Robinson asked that his views be
adopted.
Mr. Mcfarland asked Mr.. Robinson to
| further explain his views. Mr.. Robinson
| desired to have a better opportunity to con
duct the case. He said he was not able
yesterday to hear all the questions and an
swers.
| Being given the permission. Mr.. Robin
son asked Mr.. Stutler II the stock in the
| broom company was held by him or in
| trust for him.
Mr.. stutler said at first the stock was
| held by Judge Cole but subsequently trans
ferred to him. He said the stock was first
| held by Judge Cole for him, because Com
missioner Ross advised it.
Second Charge.
| There Icing no further questions relative
| to the first charge, the board proceeded to
| take up the second charging Mr.. Stutler
| with permitting Mr.. Rusk to furnish an In
| competent force in the street cleaning ser
| vice, g. -.
Mr.. Robinson was the first witness rela-
| tive to the allegations under the second
| charge.
The examination Of Mr. Robinson was
| just begun when The Stars report closed.
| It Is expected that the investigation will
| be resumed in the morning at IL o'clock
but that point had not been definitely deter
| mined by the Commissioners when The
! Stars report closed this afternoon.
| After The Stars report of the investiga-
| ton closed yesterday afternoon the Com
| missioners continued their consideration Of
| Mr.. Robinson's request for permission to
| examine the records that might possibly
| have bearing upon the charges against
| Supt Stutler Mr.. Robinson explained that
| he did not wish to delay the Investigation
| and said he could examine the records sat
isfactorily in the board room during the
| hearing, and at intervals when the inquiry
| was not in progress. Thereupon 1t was
decided to proceed with the examination OF
Mr. Robinson made oath to the truth
| of the charges and was also sworn as a
| witness by Commissioner Mcfarland The
| Commissioners stated they would take up
the first charge relative to Mr.. Suffers
| alleged interest in the National Brush and
| Broom Company in 1898.
| Mr.. Robinson requested that Stutler be
| sworn q witness on that charge, which
| was done. Mr.. Stutler. however. objected
to testifyng the charge prior to the
| examination OF his accuser with regard to
! the matters alleged. The Commissioners,
| after consultation, decided to first examine
| Mr.. Robinson. who at the request Of the
| Commissioners. made a general statement
| covering his allegations in the first charge
| Mr.. Robinson said that when he and Mr..
| Lilly became contractors for machine
street sweeping in the District in 1898.
| Supt Stutler asked him to buy brooms OF
| the National Brush and Broom Company.
| Mr. ,Stutler, witness said, informed him
| that he held a large block of stock in the
| company and he mentioned that he tStut-
ler) was the inventor of clamp attach
| ment for brooms. Mr.. Robinson said his
| firm bought all its brooms of the National
| Brush and Broom Company, but after
| about a year he noticed that the bills for
| brooms were made out on blanks of X. F.
| Rusk.
Mr.. Robinson Examined.
In answer to questions Mr.. Robinson
| said his firm bought brooms Of the COM
| pany mentioned because Mr.. Stutler re-
| quested It, He said there was no other
reason and he also stated that during the
! four years his firm held the sweeping con-
|
cost The company purchased about SO
| worth of brooms a month, he said
Attorney Cole then examined Mr. Rob
| inson In response to a question Robin
| son said that Stutler never asked him to
| buy brOOms of r. V. Rusk.
Mr. Cole: Did you make any inquiry at
| any place In Washington where you might
get the particular kind of broom needed
before buying Of the National Brush and
| Broom Company?
| Mr.. Robinson-I did not.
| Mr. Cole-Wasn't the price at which you
| purchased brooms from the company here
| cheaper than what you would have been
| required to pay for brooms elsewhere?
Mr.. Robinson-No. sir.
Witness said he bought brOoms of Bal
timore firm subsequent to buying brooms
| of the local company.
Mr. Cole-Why didn't you continue buy
Ing of the Baltimore f1rm7
Mr.. Robinson-The brooms were not sat
| isfactory.
Mr. Cole-The brooms were not as good as
those you bought of the National Brush
and Broom Company?
| Mr. RobinsOn-Not on the average.
Commissioner Mcfarland proceeded to
question Mr.. Stutler with reference to his
relations with the broom company.
II 4 IL =