The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-08

A nov n fires man and is being coinn1end-
"a on all SIDES for his nnal determination,
10 giye tile grand Jury the benefit OF I'LL
his knowledge on the subject. z.
Great Public Interest.
The atmosphere about the City Han
rient from II o'clock. when the grand Jury
rcrnnyened, uhtil late Iii the evening, and
when tho climax III the seci,nd days pro-
t.aetlsngs was reached. which resulted III
tho arrest Of BacCn upon inforinnuoh
river, by Councilman West, tho news
sprend like wild fire.
Tie grand jury resumed It's INQUIRY INTO
tho matter at IL o'clock a NJ, any ne .1
& continuous session Until $3.50. during az
Of which time Judge Witt was ut MS
nost awaiting d report, and Common
5 yea,ths Attorney Richardson was on
,5 hmisj, afforting all the assistance Ut MS
command. Az.
8 city engineer w. L. Cutsl,aw. Guy
Collector Frank w. Cunningham, ". oiu
Is Wood, Lawyers Phil y. Shelld, !otn
r, Welsh, and Messrs. Otwny $. Alien,
W9,,,a,ns Huber and Bahen, OF the Street
Committee. but 1t was the testimony OF
MIR West, which brought results, ana
which led to the arrest of Bacon Winnie
TIE inry was proceeding with the ex-
nr,inetion Of the above witnesses Hon.
Charles v. Meredith, counsel for Mr.
West, and Dir Jud B. Wood, who has
all along taken a deep interest IN the
case, We're comforting with the couhcll-
man III tie city jail.
Some Plain Talk.
DR.. Wood had repeatedly urged Mr..
West to answer the questions propoundea
him by the grand Jury, and when Mr..
Meredith went down to act rs counsel
fur him, 1t Is understood that no told
the councilman very plainly that this
was his only recourse. and that IN order
e to cxtricata himself from his disagree
able situation, he would have to obey
the mandates Of the court. Mr.. west,
acting under the advice of his counsel.
agreed finally to tell all he knew. ana
q at s.4S p. M. after ~ conference between
X y,,flrt, Witt Messrs. Richardson ana
Meredith, he was brought into court,
amid silence among the anxious spec
tators, BY one iof the deputy CITY SER
Eennts. gF3.y *
Mr.. Meredit n ma6o a brief statement
to the court. In which he declared fhat
his client had agreed to answer the dlles-
lions which might be propouhded nm
BY the grand jury. NJ
( His Honor said 'front.' the bench: Mr..
West, when you shall have testified be-
fore tho grand jury and answered the
4 questions, YOU Will have purEed your
self OF contempt and be released"
Mr. West: having thus expressed his
willingness to- testify, wrought great
change on the situation, and public m
terest at once conferred in what he would
probably say and who he would name
as the man he said had offered him
bribe. at this junctlre, the grand Jury,
having been at work cons family since IL
o'clock, took a recess mt $50 for dinner.
and a brief breathing spell. Judge witt
and Mr., Richardson took advantage OF
the recess as well for a little rest. But
Mr. Richardson. who has been vigorous
and alert In the case from its inception,
did not eat, as he never takes but two
meals day.
Didn t Mince Words.
1t is believed that his pointed talk
about the case had much to do with the
change which Mr.. Vests mind under
went on the subject Of testifying. sc
gave ont the following interview early IN
u the day: s.
4 MIR. West has placed himself IN
IN ysiy awkward position by refusing to
~ give the name Of the man who, as he
d says, tried to4brbe him. He says he de-
nnunced. inBthe severest terms, the man
who had offered To him the gfavest IN !.
suit which could have heen givon To an
honorable man. II this be so. then no
obligations OF friendship should restrain
him. But Mr.. West declines to give the
name In consideration for the family Of
the man, when he goes to jail and let's
his own wife and children suffer, 8
.'The public will hardly appreciate this
sacrifice. but will probably believe either
that the statement made by Mr., West is
false. or that he is afraid to disclose the
name by reason of some former transac-
ton with the same party.
Mr. West cannot pose as hero or
martyr in the course he has taken.
So Told the Witness.
Nit Richardson used similarly vigorous
language in talking to Mr.. West before
he was put upon the stand in pointing
out to the Councilman that it was his
duty TO tell all he knew about the case.
1t was nearly O'Clock when Mr.. West
was called into the grand Jury room, az! and /;
i was 7:15 when. 30 same INTO Eourt Win s,an
his I"anSs ry e hSsa nepora was ts i.sl
When the tail form of Foreman Ashton
Starke arose in the jury box one. NIGH!
the court-room. amid the almost painful
silence which reigned. tyVe have reached
a report" said Nj. starke. Hand II to
tho clerls.W said Jdis Honor In reply.
Quick Work Done.
"Tha jury has examined Mr., Vest"
continued Mr.. starke. and he has made
what we think Is a. very fun and ciear
statement DnOn lHlS Wb HhFo 4ptou6Nt
ii an Indictment against q man whose
name we earnestly trust shall be With
held from the public until he Is appre-
hended and In the hands of the court. :
Your request will be observed, J" re-
Piled Judge Witt. Here His Honor or
dered Clerk Christian to issue cap
for the man named to answer the IN
dctment which had already been drawn
by the Commemorative ATTORNEY, ana nc
latter officer and Judge Witt placed me
paper at once in the hands Of Captain
Alex. Tomlinson for execution.
Mr.. Meredith inquired If Mr.. West was
discharged. and upon being informed by
the court that he was, the councilman
was heartily congratulated on all siuos.
Judge wit then ordered Captain Tom
linson TO execute the capias at once and
bring the man there IN befor him, and
at few minutes to so'clock the Jury was