Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-09
R. v. West Declares No Commits
sion Was Paid to Counci|men.
SOLO AlMSH0UiE LAND himself
Councilman kellum Had Property in
Charge, But Gave II Up When City
Negotiations Were Pending, Asserss
One Of the Former Owners.

The charge made on the floor u.
the council Tuesday night that a for
4 mer member of the almshouse ana
poor committee of the council re-
ceived commission on the deal by
which the city purchased the much
discussed almahOuse site, causea
widespread discussion yesterday.
Mr.. x. W. West. who was enc OF
the owners of the property in ques-
ton and who appeared before the
committee TO arrange for the sale,
declared to Daily Press represen-
tative that the charge was utterly
without foundation. He went on 10
say that Mr.. G. T. Kellum. now "a
member of the board OF aldermen.
who was a member of the almsnous5
and poor committee when he was in
the common council, at one time had
the property in charge, but that when
negotiations with the city CON-
mencei the property was taken OF
Mr.. Keilums hands and that he, Mr..
West, conducted the negotiations
without assistance. Mr.. West furth-
er declared that Mr. ,>ellum was not
promised and did not receive COM
mission In connection with the sale.
Mr.. Vests Statement.
Mr.. West asked that the following
statement, written by him, be pub
lished:
/ desire to state that the under
signed in representing the West heirs
sold to the city of Newport News
fcrty-one acres of land, more or less,
for the sum of $500 per acre, and
as the article in the Daily Press
charged graft by some OF the present
members o. the city council. | desire
to state regardless of whatever their
insinuations might be or whatever
might be their opinions, that the
whole charges are absolutely false
and there not one word of truth in any
of their statements.
In regard to the remarks of d. s.
Jones. +. C.. Cox and others implicat-
ed in making such charges. to defame
the characters of honest men. before
they have held an investigation. Dor.
ders on the sensational: and | want
them to distinctly understand as one
of the grantors in the sale of aims
house property that denounce their
charges of graft in no uncompromis-
ing language.
The committee on almshouse site.
which recommended the purchase of
site. and whom | interviewed
nd Of nd In
tegrity IN the community and are un
deserving Of such severe criticisms.
The members of that committee were,
at that time. j. c. Wallace. Geo. T.
Kellum. and Ed Morgan, of The com
mon council. and Capt. Weston, l..
s. Davis and II. b. Walker, of the
board of aldermen
Il believe the public is too we'll &C
quainted with the committee to think
that these men would be capable of
such infamy as they now stand
charged. Furthermore. | dispute MIR.
Whitley's charge that the man who
sold the property to the city worked
rabbits foot on the city council
and in reply to such remarks would
say that il Mr. Whitley is in the habit
OF using rabbits feet in making his
deals that the public should keep a
watchfui eye on him in the discharge
of his official duties.
In conclusion. IL the city has been
taken advantage of through fraud.
graft OF otherwise. then they should
call for an investigation before the
members of the city council should
use such invectives as they charged
Ia the Daily Press"
Mr.. Whitley Says a Word.
Councilman whitley. referred 20 IN
the aboce communication. last night
asked that the following be printed:
Newport News. Va, Sept S.
TO the Daily Press:
You win please allow me a small
space in your paper. for making part
" an explanation in reference to my
statement made at last night session
OF the city council in reference TO
charging some one with graft.
TIE sfstemeu; that I made was
that II the statement made by the
gentlemen who proceeded me could
be substantiated. why then it ap-
peared to my mind that some one
had used the Rabbit foot and I
! have nothing to retract. bat simply
4 wish 70 be quoted correctly.
C ". WHITLEY
/ Mr.. Jones Not Taking.
When asked for q statement IN re-
. u -