The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-22
.CHAS. GUNST INDICTED
With LOVENSTE|h
Charged Jointly by Grand
jury With Conspiracy
to Defraud City.
CASE GOES TO
POLICE COURT
Indictment Contains Three
Counts, Charge Being That
They Opened Wood Con-
tract Bids subcontract
Matter Is Con-
demned.

Matter is Con-
denned.
Isadore Lovenstein. former Assistant
superintendent OF the City Home. aud
Charles Gunst were Jointly indicted ON
three counts by the grand jurS in the
dustings Court yesterday. Within an
hour they were put under bond ii, the
sum OF $500 each for their appearances
netore Justice crutchfield in the Po-
lice Court on Saturday, where the case
will be tried. 1t is charged in the In
dictment that Lovenstein and Gunst
consplred, first, to defraud the city;
second. to defraud bidders, and third,
to obtain the wood contract. amount
Ing to about $780, for Charles. Guust.
, Along with the indictments, the
gran. jury made It's presentment, which
deals with conditions existing hereto--
fore at the City Home. and taking up
specifically the matter of subcontracts
tor certain work at the institution.
Broadly interpreted, ft shows that the
fault is due somewhat to the system
of municipal government. regarded by
municipal experts as antiquated and
cumbersome to q degree. Referring
to the matter to which Dr. Ennion G.
Williams called the attention OF ths
committee the presentment says:
Must Amend Statutes.
"If the present statute does not
prohibit city official from enter-
Ing Into transaction like the
above, 1t permits him, by indi-
rcction, to do wlint 1t forbids him
to do directly. Such a principle
may readily be more vicious In its
rcsults than no restriction Mt all''
The grand jury urges that the mat
ter oe called to the attention Of th<
proper city representatives that they
may take such steps as are necessary
to have this statute amended and ems
larged SO as to fully and unequiyoca-
bly, cover such cases"
Grand Jury to Meet Again.
No names were mentioned. Theirs
were few persons in the courtroorn
when the Jury filed In. Foreman q. L.
Bemis read the presentment. after
which he and his asso ciates. who have
worked hard to unearth graft. Vera
permitted to go until November 1st,
when they will assemble again to take
up questions the nature of which Were
not made known.
Mr.. Hiram Smith. of counsel for Low
enstein and Gunst. Immediately got
In communication with them. and they
went to Justice Crutchhsld's office to
give bond. The case Will not be tried
until Saturday. as Mr.. Harry NJ. Smith.
who represents the defendants, is busy.
in the Hechler' trial in Henrico.
They Expect Acauittal.
Gunst and Lovenstein We're apparent-
ly undisturbed by the indictments. ex-
kto1 r., ~
grand Jury room the benefit OF the
doubt is given the commonwealth. and
at the trial 1t is given the defendant.
For this and other reasons many per-
sons familiar with the history of the
case expressed the opinion that there
would be no conviction. AT all events,
however. the charges recently preferred
by Mr.. Graham B. Hobson. and the
statement of DR.. Williams.
along with the presentment OF the
grand Jury. will have q most wholesome
effect.
Telling of Conditions.
Following is the full text OF tlla
grand jury's report:
Richmond. Va. October 81, 1907.
To the Honorable Judge OF the
Hastings Court:
In examining into the charges
OF wrongdoins in connection with
the administration OF the City
Home. we have earnestly and pa
tientty followed each line OF inves-
tlgation suggested by the evidence vi
presented to US.
We have found much OF this
testimony built upon idle rumors,
and springlng from the propensity
of men to Join In the cry when the
full pursuit is on.
Because we had to deal with
conditions that have been the
gradual growth of number OF
years, the task has been hard and
productive of scanty results OF
well defined character. Many
things worthy Of condemnation
have insidtously established them.
selves and perhaps have come to
be taken as matters of course.
Under such circumstances we nave
experienced difficulty in fixing the
blame.
Found Evil Practices.
We have found reprehenslble condi.
ions and evil practices which we have
sought to determine whether to be the
'esults of the unlawful acts of one or
more individuals or the consequence OF
/ long period OF lax and improvident
administrations. sR8
In different measures we have found
10Th factors operating. \
At the outset, however. we desire to Z
ay that we have found nothing OF In
entional wrongdoing to be imputed
o Superintendent Davis. His respon-
ibillty chiefly lies In his failure 70
lee and check petty wrongs he might
lave seen IL he had Kept more closely
n touch with the details OF the affairs
II the Institution. To great extent
his failure Is due to a system which Il
equires him TO spend ona-halt OF eacl,
lay in his Office at the City Hall, ani
hus to be absent for the larger part Y
Il every day from the home. s5
We believe that the superintendent
hould be more Immediately and con-
itantly In charge OF the institutlpni
hat his committee should give HIM "a
nipple authority and stronger support.
nd then hold him to u stricrer personal
for the operation OF all
departments OF his Institution.
The superintendent had full conf.
sJ,,s 80 SIsfa aud - -