Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-29
BIG CROWD GATHERS
TO ATTEND THE Trial
Justice Brown Finds II Necessary to
Adjourn to Circuit Court Room
City Engineer Pesrse and Clerk
Hudgins on Stand to Prove city's
Relations With Cleveland Company.

Councilman ERNEST =. toA NdS W
raigned before Justice Brown yester-
day Afternoon on two indictments.
containing "a total OF thirty counts.
charging him with soliciting a bride
from President NJ. +. Bramley ana
General Manager II. b. Demarest. of
the Cleveland Trinidad Paving Com
pany. Rather slow progress was made
In the trial. only two witnesses being
placed on the stand, and the case
may not be disposed of before court
adjourns today.
Lcng before the hour set for the
trial, crowd gathered around the
court house and when Justice Brown
arrived to open his court he decided
TO hold the trial in the Circuit Court
room so as 70 accommodate the crowds.
Among those attending the hearing
yesterday were Mayor Marquis Jones.
board of aldermen and several mem
bers OF the city council. Several
prominent business men also were
prescnt.
Accompanied ~ his attorney, Fay
S. Collier. of Hampton. Cox was on
hand early for the trial. While wait
ing outside OF the court before the
trial began. he conversed with n num-
Der or friends aud seemed to be IN
a happy mood. During the hearing
he sat beside his attorney and In the
course of the afternoon he spoke 10
several of his friends in khe cour,
room. He did not seem to be at all
worried about the charges against him.
Gives important Testimony.
Important testimony was given late
yesterday afternoon by City Engineer
Pearse. He verified copy OF let
ter which he received from President
Bramley. of the Trinidad Paving Com
psny. acknowledging the receipt or
about sf,S0G from the city in payment
fer certain repairs which the COM
pany made on the sheet asphalt on
Washington avenue and on Twenty
fifth street. This letter was of date
Of June 81. 1909. four DAYS after Cox
wrote letter 10 President Bramley
asking him TO send him lCox) $500
expense money" Is soon as possible.
Before this letter was produced as
evidence. Commonwealth Attorney
Berkeiey had shown that Cox was at
tfat time member O. the city coun-
ell and of the cornell committee on
highways snd sewer and that all bills
Tor repairs 10 the paving were pass
ed upon by the committee en- high
ways and sewers and recommended
to the council committee on finance,
which committee directed he city
auditor 10 pay the bills that had beea
recomme nded.
Cox Pleads Not Guilty.
After Justice Brown convened court
Attorney Collier. waived the reading
OF the indictments and entered a
fcrmal plea OF not guilty" on behalf
OF his client
tommonwealth's Attorney Berkeley
announced that he wished TO have a
certified copy Of the paving contract
between the city and the Cleveland
Trinidad Paving Company admitted
as part OF the records. n ocyeron-
cd that the contract was in pTinte,,
form with certain intcrlineations and
Captain Berkeley said ne would hav-
Mayor Jones and City Clerk Hudglp~
Serufy copy Of the contract.
m order to expedite matters T.,
defense admitted that on January 1.
1908. Cox was duls elected anc
qualified member Of the common
council Of this city and q ...cm9er OF
the council committee on Highways
and sewers whose term of Office a.
such councilman would expire on
August 81. 1910
oer,vss to Indictment
Attorney Collier formally denmrrcd
10 the two indictments on the ground
that the statute does net make n IL
Legal tor a councilman 20 accept a
bride as only legislative ana judicial
officers are designated IN the bri5cr-
statute Of the code Of Virginia. I've
would. he said. argue The demurrer
on its merits after the evidence had
BEEN submitted.
Upon the request Of Attorney Col.
Ter al witnesses summoncn in the
case we're cx-iudcd from the ,orr,
room. They wer,. CITY Enxlnce,
Pcarsc- Y. " Barclay. street Com.
missioner : , IIaruvoa. r. y NJ.
marcst. ". c. Wilson. J 2. Fraiey. W
Hidrn. y y Davis. g Y Wood. J.
=. Poole and CITY AUDITOR J W
Read
CITY Clerk rirrt witness.
city Clerk HudEins was the ar,
witness called Tie defined Dis duties
a. isic down IN the CITY charter. tha.
section - the charter being ad.
uiftcd into the rccorC
re vas exsmirrd 81 some length
~ Captain Ferkeisy In rrpiy u
qreftinas he sid that he hid beer
rity clerk Tor three years ard TIA
ever sincc Ne had been IN once Their,
bsi bcrn orrazicnal Negotiations DO
tween Tie city and thc Cleveland