Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-05-07
CONNECTED AND
ACCURATE RECORDS
Special Accountant Potter
Was on the Stand for
Half an Hour.

Richmond, Va, Ny Sone
spice was injected into the hearing
before Commissioners Chas. T.. Lit
tlefield In the Virginia-West Virgin
ia war debt hearing yesterday. Spe-
cial Accountant Potter was the first
witness Of the day.
The witness replied directly to all
questions, and explained that the
books, reports and letters in the ar
chives OF the state had furnished
the information upon which his Ie-
port was based In this connection
1t is interesting to note that wifi e
some OF the old records have been
mutilated or are missing, the ac-
counts were kept by the auditor and
the treasurer, and where papers are
missing from one department they
are to be found in another, so that
the accountants have been able to
make up their reports in connect
ed and accurate way. Potter was on
the stand for half an hour.
No Marrow Technical Rules
Attorney General Anderson an
nounced for Virginia that he wouid
not cross examine the witness at
this time, but would reserve the
right to call him IN lebIttal
And we will not stand for any
narrow, technical rules" volunteer
ed Major Holmes Conrad, Major Aa-
derson's associate.
Counsel on neither side will he
allowed to stand for any narrow
technical rules" interposed Mr.. Lit
tlefield
1--WE are absolutely assured Of
the fairness of counsel on the 9TH
ell side" interrupted senator Spoon
er.
And counsel for Virginia have
absolute confidence in their own fair
ness" retorted Major Conrad.
You should say, Major" replied
Mr.. Spooner, that you know that
we know that you are 'ung ill., good
faith"
The first sharp tilt Of the day oc-
CURED when counsel for West Viz
ginia asked permission to submit AFT
davits OF several of their witnesses
who are very old men, the testimony
tending to'show the value Nof proper
ties prior to 1861. Virginia object
ed to the introduction of such testi-
mony unless the matter shall be
submitted previously to opposing
counsel In the connection it was
stated thatInasmuch as West Virgin
ia has already had six months in
which to produce such testimony.
there could be no reason why It
should not have been presented pre-
vious to the opening Of the hearing.
Major Anderson contended that the
records were complete and that West
Virginia had been allowed ample
time in which to gather her facts.
Mr.. Littleton ordel ed that memo
Aohdd VI tOuHotl lOl NebJ NlTRlUli
be furnished counsel for Virginia.
John B. Lightfoot, Jr., who was
employed by the accountants of Vir-
ginia to assist in the work was the
other witness examined. He explain
ed that his WORK was in connection
with the legal phases Of the matter
and that he wanted IL understoo
that he did not profess to be an &C.
countant. The witness was then cal
ed upon 10 explain certain differ
elces in the report submitted BY
himself and the report OF Special A.
countant Potter. These difference
II appeared, were due largely to the
arrangements OF the several accounts
The ground covered was practically
that covered by Potter. The report
dealt in the main with internal i'm
provements in West Virginia. Tic
referred TO many acts of the Cen
eTal Assembly under which they had
been made. Counsel for West Vir-
ginia, in cross-exa mining the wit
ness, sought to have him explain ma,