Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-12
Mayor Jones Oismlsses Complaint
Against NJ. Aarwood.
MANY WITNESSES ARE EXAMINED
City Engineer Pearse Testifes in Sup
port Of Neglect Of Duty Accusation
While Witnesses For Defense
Vouch For Good Work Of Defendant.

The charges brought against Super
intcndcnt OF Streets Shelton J. lia"'
wood by Councilman Ernest {. Cox.
of the Second ward wcr" dismissed
by Mayor Marquis Jones shorty after =:
O'Clock yesterday afternoon after a
hearing which consumed more than
four hours
City Engineer T. r. Pears", who
was tn" principal witness for IN"
prosecution. admitted, under Gro s
examination by Attorney j. Winston
Read of counsel for Mr.. Harwoon.
that he had assisted in drawing tn"
charges, He denied. however. that
he had helped in securing Witnesses
for Mr.. Cox. Throughout his t"stl
mony. the city engineer showed con-
siderable i'll feeling toward tn" de
PENDANT. and in spit" OF warnings from
Mayor Jones and the objections OF
the attorneys for the defense. h" III
sisted on giving hear-suy evidence in
he case
Crowd to Hear Proceedings.
Much interest was felt in this case
and ihrought the hearing the Circuit
Cour, room was filled with city Of
hcials and other Interested parties.
| About 80 witnesses were examined.
all except six of these being for the
prosecution.
Before the hearing was gone into.
Mayor Jones announced that all "N'
cept one of the charges were based
on acts of the accused alleged TO have
been committed during his las, term
of office and that under the law they
could not be considered However.
at the request of the attorneys for
Mr.. Harwood. those charges were
taken up and the witnesses eXamip-
ed ~clative to them The defense
put on Witnesses to prove that Mr.
HARDWOOD saved the city hundreds OF
dollars annually and did work Tor the
city which ne did not have to do in
the conduct of his duties.
Mr.. Harwood on Stand
| Supt. HARDWOOD took The stand In
his own behalf at the afternoon SEES
sion. He admitted that he had put
a city employe to work painting his
home in North End. but said he had
hired and paid another man to do tn,
work of hat city emplOye. He proved
that he did send load of wood &c
the home of Police Officer Samuel
Pearson as directed The wood was
taken TO Mr. HarwOOd's home by tht
driver of the wagon and Mr.. HARDWOOD
Immediately had !, resent TO Mr.. Pear
sons hCme.
The charge OF general neglect and
Indifference to duty was supported h'
testimony Of City Engineer Pears"
while Witnesses. including council
men and city officials. for the defense
Testified as 10 The faithful manner IT
which Mr.. Harwood performed his du
ties.
| After the testimony had been con
cluded, Attorney c. {. Mitchell. com
Gil for Mr. Cox. mad" a lengthy argu
ment in support OF the charges Al
ltorney Read replied briefly and then
Mayor Jones announced his decision
Messrs. Ashhy and Read. and w. I
Moss represented Mr.. Harwood
| The witnesses examined in the cas-
Iwere: For the prosecution -lSra"
Sidney. Tom Carey. $. East. Jim
Daugherty. J. jefferson. X. II. Aries
Floyd Johnson and Henry johnson. a!
lrmployrS Of the street department
lire Chic! W. n Stow: CITY Nudito,
~. W. Read. Engineer James bragg
of the North End fire company. VI. X
lPyIand. c. White. W r. Bailey. T. r.
Pearsf. J ID. Godsey. Ed R"bins"'
land NJ Penny: For the defense
Aldermen F. W Robinson AMI {. L
IHoskins: Councilman Gee rye r Via
,pr. J. W Aylcr. the CITY physician
~ W Davis and Sanitary lnSp"ct0i