The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-07
Judge Witt Sends Him.
Down for Contempt.
WILL NOT TALK TO
THE GRAND JURY
Says He Was Offered Money,
But Declines toName the
Would-bc Briber.
INVESTIGATION BEING
VIGOROUSLY PRESSED
Witnesses Testify That West
Told Them That He Was Of
fercd Considerable Sums in
Connection With Street
Paving MatterPro-
found Sensation.

Tho sending OF Councilman John =.
west. OF Madison Ward. to jail by judge
8. B. witt for contempt OF court. be-
cause he refused to tell the grand jury
tho name OF the person whom he said
had offered him n.10 to absent himself
from meeting of tho Street Committee
IN connection with the 10000 contract
for smooth pavement recently awarded,
and tho summoning OF all this members
OF the Street Committee to appear and
testify to-day at II O'clock. were tho
first developments In an investiga ton
started in the Hastings Court yesterday
and they created thrilling sensation in
municipal circles.
The situation is most interesting one,
aud the vigor with which Common
jwealth's Attorney D. G, u Richards son is
pre- ssing the inquiry before the grand
jury; and the nrm stand taken by Judge
witt In tho matter. would seem to indl-: Ind !:
cate. that dr. " est viii remain IL jail
indefinitely unless he indicates willing
ness to testify. and that. .it he shall finally
agree to tell the narne OF the party q al
legged to have offered him bribe there
viii be another startling sensation, st
There have been ruulors OF offers to
pay money in connection with the con-
tract recently awarded for some time,
and about week ago some Of them
came to the ears OF the attorney for the
Commonwealth.
Specially Charged.
Yesterday was the first day OF the
June term of the Hastings Court. and
Mr.. Richardson brought the matter to the
attention OF the court. and His Honor
in turn charged the grand jury to make
diligent inquiries on this line.
II had been told Mr.. Richardson b,
witnesses, who subsequently testified that
west had said in their presence, that he
had been offered money to remain from
meeting of the Street Committee at a
critical time in connection with the
awarding OF tine contract for smooth
paving on Grace and Franklin Streets.
The following citizens compose the
grand fury: Ashton Starke. foreman ~
a. BauKhnan, e. e. Woodfln, j. B. Lam
hert George scheon and r. T. Hill (col-
aored. When they had disposed OF the
routine docket and came to deal with the
special matter. the first witness put or
reiterated the statements made to hir
Richardson and Mr.. West was sent fol
and examined.
He admitted that the alleged offer. o.
81, 500 had been made him to absent him
self from the final meeting OF the Street
Committee on the smooth paving matter
declared that he Indignantly refused tht
proposition. but positively and persist,
entity declined to dtvulge thes name O
thes person who had made the Offer
Prompt Action.
The grand Jury then, through Foreman
starke. made the following reports to thu
court:
Court:
.The grand jury respectfully report tina
John r. West. a witness duly sworn ane
sent before 1t to testify In q certain mat
ter now pending before 1t. has refused t
disclose before the grand jury the nam
OF a man whom they suspect OF hhY1ni
committed a. felony.
"AsHTON STARKE, Foreman"
eve desire also to say that Mr.. Yves
stated that certain man had onere'