Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-11
ABSENCE UF WITNESSES
CAUSES THE CONTINUANCE
Mr. King Testifles That He Smsliee
Whisky on the Breath Of the Of
cer--Mr. Cameron says He Heard
the Policeman Curse King-other
witnesses Give Reverse Testimony.

Because OF the absence of several
witnesses which Mr.. King desired TO
give testimony. the hearing OF the
charges against Officer John West
Cunningham, as the result of the in
;erview given by Psysica! Director
King. of the Newport News Y. NJ. C..
A.. was adjourned yesterday untp
next Monday night by Mayor Thorn
ton F. Jones.
The investigation was taken up in
the mayors Office yesterday morning
and a number of witnesses were
heard Mr.. King acted as his own at
torney. while Mr.. Burdette A. Lewis
appeared as counsel for the accused
officer and City Attorney William c.
L. Talieferro was present to repre-
sent the interests of the city.
Mr.. King testified that he smeled
the odor of whiskey on Officer Gun
ningham and that the officer callet
him C d. robber and thief" He
said the conduct OF the officer was
not at all gentlemanly.
Mr.. Cameron, OF Newport News.
said he heard Officer Cunningham cal
Mr. King a d. robber." but was I'M
able to say whether the officer was
drinking.
Say Officer Was Not Drunk.
DIR. George W. McAllister. Secre-
tary Charles Heffelfinger. Physical Di-
.rector w r. Flanders. Officer Henry
K. Curtis, Mr.. NJ. o. Lackey and sew
eral others testified to having seei
Officer Cunningham at the basketball
game and all declared that he was
rot drunk and not drinking. None
OF them heard the officer use any
Lrofane language. though they ad-
mitted he called MIR. King a '-robber
and thief" The men were all with
Or near the officer when Mr.. Flanders
objected to Mr.. Cunningham having
words with Mr.. King.
Officer Cunningham took the wit
ness. chair in his own defense He
admitted that he called Mr.. King "a
rcbber and thief" and also that he
invited the Newport News man cut
side to settle the differences, but posi-
lively deried that ne was prcfane. Mr..
Cunningham declared with emphasis
that he had not taken drink before
the game and that he was net drunk.
He said he had no reason to change
his opinion of Mr.. King from that
expressed on the night of the basket
ball game.
Ladies Willing TO Testify.
About forty other witnesses were
present to testify in behalf CT the Of
ficer. while several well known ladies'
were willing to come to court and tes-
tify to the fact that the officer was
ret drunk. These may be summoned
tc appear later.
Mayor Jones, during the hearing.
sent fer City Attorney Taliaferro, as
mis- honor wanted to safeguard every
right Mr.. King may have TO prove the
charges made against the officer.
On the witness stand Mr.. King adj
nlitted That he wrote the interview
published In the Daily Press. saying
that the only changes in the publish
ed interview VERT the words Mr..
King said" which prefaced his inter
view.
The board of directors of the Hamp-
ten Y. NJ c. A is awaiting the action
of the Newpor; News board and there
seems to be no longer any doubt that
all athletic relations between the two
associations are CT as long as Mr.
King is connected with the Newport
News association.