Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-14
Alleged Paving Graft Will Be Prob
ed Further Before Any Report
Is Made.
A. {. BURCHER CALLED As WITNESS
Former Councilman Denies All
Knowledge of Matter Under lnves-
tigation, and Declares Witness AS
sertions Concerning Him Were Un-
true-A Conference.

After examining two new witnesses
relative to the alleged paw
ing scandal which was taken
up Tuesday, the grand jury,
which has been sitting in the Cor
poration Court since Monday morning,
adjourned yesterday afternoon unti
Tuesday, October 26 when 1t VIII con-
tinue it's investigation into the paw
ing matters. In asking that the Jury
be continued over, Foreman Clarence
G. helms told Judge Barham that the
Jury wished 10 get some letters which
are alleged to hayC1in Sse. sfHetweeh
Councilman Ernest with hav- the
Second ward, and tn on. Notice .rinl-
uad Paving Compan. uas which are
said to relate to thv rumors that
Councilman Cox had solicited FUNDS
from the paving company for the re-
turn of the retainer now held by the
city. These letters are said 10 be IN
the possession of the company ana
are TO be supplied to the grand jury
At the adjourned sitting, the jury
also will examine additional witnesses
relative TO the allegation that former
Councilman Arthur Z. Burcher was
alleged to have promised to act as
go hetWeen'' in the delivery of GER
tain sum OF money from paving con-
tractor to a member of the present
city council One or two witnesses
that have already testified in this
matter also will be recalled by the
jury.
Burcher Before Jury.
The investigation into the report
that former Councilman Burcher was
TO receive a certain sum OF money
from a paving contractor was begun
by the jury Tuesday afternoon and
was continued yesterday afternoon,
Mr. Bursher being called before the
Jury. He denied the entire charge
and discIaimed any knowledge of the
matter. He was before the jury only
about ten minutes.
Shortly after he left the jury room.
MIR Burcher held a conference With
Councilman Cox in the pool room in
the rear Of Theodore Annas' saloon,
Washington avenue and Twenty
fourth street When Mr.. Burcher
walked up from the court house to
Washington avenue. Councilman Cox
was standing at the corner OF Twenty
fifth street and Washington avenue
They did not speak and Mr. Burcher
turned down the avenue and went d.
rectiy to Annas' saloon.
A few minutes later, Councilman
Cox crossed Twenty-fifth street and.
after standing there very short time,
he walked hastily down the avenue
and turned into the saloon where
Mr.. Burcher was at the time.
Approached by Reporter.
a reporter of the Daily Press saw
the mon enter the saloon and he fol-
lowed them to the place When the
reporfer entered the bar room. the two
men were seated in the pool room,
shere a number of negroes were play
ng pool
: The councilman and former council
can were engaged In a very animated
conversation when the reporter IN
erru2ted them.
Previous to this, Mr.. Burcher had
fated that he wished to see a re-
sorter of this paper to give him a
statement. and he was askedsfF that
tement.
test the outset. Mr. Burcher pro-
need against the story which APP
mo-ed in the Dafiy Press yesterday
meniug and in which his name was
graricned in connection with the
ed II Jury Investigation Of the alleg-
the avirg scandal He declared that
tho -. OF the witness before
TO that he had promised
fer7,l between in the trans
a "a from a contractor to
AZ ~wlful lie
la fre is Some
ouaH ne conservation H.
Inc tment By saying that
the the witness before
the r.. MS at variance with
,s ar-.A - then said there
whate Y ne never nniSneo
Thr ntendeo 20 saE-
pu-ch. = l,onversation. Nj
nanor = h he story that this
esoht aad seemed 70 lose
nrirtee that the paper had
sore A ..ress had said be-
minded 80 M on being re-
he IN Ct. he replied that
end roeeedings In the
sec-et " n. re supposed to BE-
COurt
charges l icre stated tnat inc
,-.,d 10 sst him before the
- -.ou i- ss~ and that moth
rynalI. hem.
1er told the re-