Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-13
Witness Says A. {. Burcher Agreed
10 Act as 'G0.between' For
Contractor and COunCiImcn.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES TO-DAY
Summons issued For Former Council
man and One-time Candidate For
Mayor, Who Is Now at Lee Hall
Ono Thousand Dollars Mentioned
Jury May Adjourn Over.

Reliable information was receiv-
ed yesterday to the effect that
the grand jury in the Corporation
Court is investigating another
case of alleged graft in connection
with the awarding OF contracts for
paving in this city It Is said that
the case now under consideration
has no bearing whatever upon
the rumors that Councilman Err
nest C.. Cox, of the Second ward.
had solicited funds from the
Cleveland Trinidad Asphalt Com
pany. which rumors were investi-
gated by the grand jury Tues
day.
Details of what transpired in
the jury room yesterday are
meagre. but it is said that witness
testified that Arthur E. Burcher,
a former councilman and one
time candidate for mayor, promis-
ed to act as the "go-between' in
the delivery OF a certain sum OF
money from a paving contractor
TO a member of the present city
council. The sum of money men .
toned by the witness before the
grand jury is said to have been
$1,000.
Summons For Burcher.
At the request of the grand jury.
summons for Mr.. Burcher was is
sued yesterday afternoon and Deput!
City Sergeant C. c. Curtis will go tt
Lee Hall. where Mr.. Burcher nov
lives, this morning to bring hin
here. The grand jury will NEE
again at 2:30 o'clock this after
noon and Mr.. Burcher will be ex
amined at that time.
That the investigations now beins
conducted by the grand jury will no
be concluded for sometime became
evident yesterday when E. B. Demer
est, the agent for the CLEVELAND
Trinidad Paving Company, who wa
before the grand jury Tuesday. wa
to appear before the srant
Jury again on Tuesday October &c
and was recognized in the sum o
81 600 bail bond for his appearance
at that date.
May be Adjourned Over.
In all probability the grand jur.
will adjourn after this afternoon
session until October IS when fur
Their evidence in the paving matte
will be heard. It is said that tn
jury is making efforts to get pos
sessions Of certain letters, alleged L
have been written by councilmen Il
paving companies, and which are SAT-
to relate to the particular cases nov
being Investigated and to other case
that may be investigated later. |
is also reported that a number of wit
nesses from other cities will be sum
moned before the grand jury for DC
tcber 2s.
II is not likely that the jury vii
make any report to the court in tbs
paving matters today and il is rumoT
ed that the jury is delaying reports
on the matters that have been invcs
tssated thus far until other matters
can be Investigated.
Public Much interested.
The Investigations being made b.
the Jury have virtually been the soil
tonic for discussion around the cit,
hall and in the bushes districts To-
hours
When the jury began the invcsuga
tons Tuesday the utmost secrecy wa
maintained and only a few we're awar'
Of what was going on until yester
day morning when the report o th'
matter appeared in this paper.
However. since that time all kind
Of rumors have been curreh; and neS
subject matter on. which 10 vor'
vas furnished the grand jury yester
day.