The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-04
GRAND JURY HAS
STR.EN|U|.0|.U|S:D|.A ! ! [ ! ] ! { DAY ]
City Hall damned With
Witnesses Anxious
to Testify
STARTLING G sRUMOR
WASIPUBLlSHED
Court Will Hold Somebody Re-
sponsible for Leak if Report
Proves Correct-Grand
Jury Prefers TO Have
Voters Come AS y.
Summoned.
Summoned.

Tho grand jury put In another strcnu-s
GUS day yesterday. examining nearly or
quite 900 voters in the poll being made
by the Jury. The inquisitors kept hard
at It from 1890 a.. M. until about 2 P.
NJ, reconvcned and resumed at p. M.
and remained at work until about five
minutes to P.. NJ. Then the Jury re-
ported ITO tho court Its difficulties to-
day, and asked permission to dispense
with a second session to-day and to-
morrow for the accommodation. OF Jurors
who desired to transact important busi-
neSs before the close OF banking hours
The jury also asked Judge witt to
reEscind his order permitting any voter
from any precinct to appear, be sworn
and testify Foreman Taylor stated that
the Jurors believed they could expedite
matters by taking the voters BY pre-
cincts and allowing fthem TO testify thus,
instead OF swearing voters and letting
them testify; lndiscriminately. s5
asts The court reminded the gjurz that they
aad 'llt1 asked for more work and he had
given It to them. The jury admitted
this, but expressed a preference to re-
sumo the polling by precincts. 1t was
stated that indiscrIminat rolling i'm
posed much extra work on Stenographer
Winston, and SO much time was lost that
better work could he accomplished by
the original plan OF polling each precinct
Did Excellent Work. II
Not"dtulstanding the confusion inci-.
dent to allowing any voter to deposc,
I the jury did the best days work yester-s
TO- 500 voters appearing and giving testi-s
mony. 1t>is estimated that more than
this number were sworn. but many grew
tired OF waiting their turn and left until
a more opportune time. When court
convened the court room and the entire
second floor of the City Hall were lit
orally jamned. SO that locomotlon by
the officers was impedcd and almost pre-
vented. and some confusion resulted.
With this large crowd massed in the
small courtroom and Its approaches, the
atmosphere became dense and foul be-
fore the swarm of'votcrs could be sworn.
At last tho work was accomplished and
the congestion there relieved, and trans
ferred to the third floor where long lines
OF voters We're standing for two hours
or more. Most OF those in the line ac-
cepted the situation phlosophically. only
a few growing peevish or impatient and
manifesting It In words or outward ex-
preston. 1t was a case OF patience on
the part OF the voters, and those who
were deficint had to acquire It,
The court announced at s P. M. yester-
day that "stragglers'' from other precincts
would not be heard to-day, but that the
precincts would be taken up in order, as
follows: First and . Second Henry Ward
Precincts. The Jury Will sit from 1880
A. NJ. until 2:30EP NJ. without intermis-
sion, and will then adjourn for the day
The same hours will be observed to-mor-5
row.
s On Saturday. First and Second Monroe
and First, Second and Third Madison are
scheduled to be heard. This Is good
dEy's work, and 1t is uncertain that the
jury will be able to conclude the list in
the five hours allotttd. On Monday the
Figsst Precinct Of Clay Ward, the largest
in the city. will ~'be called. There are
nearly 900 voters in that precinct alone.
II the precincts named shall have been
disposed OF by adjournment Monday after
noon. Tuesday will be devoted to polling
the stragglers. tardy ones and absentees
from all precincts. 1t now appears likely
that the poll OF voters Will have been
completed by Tuesday evening.
Foreman Taylor announced yesterday
that the jury desired to complete the poll
for the convenience Of citizens before
aE (COntin,Ied on Seventh Papah