The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-03

paigns for pure politics, following q
grand jury investigation OF the city
primary, all of which resulted In the
resignation of the electoral board and
the appointment of new election off
GERS.
Chairman Miles NJ. Martin. OF the
City Democratic Committee, was intro
duced for time, but withdrew on OBJ
jections, to be introduced later, when
the way has been paved to show that
he was an attorney for certain street
car interests. and at times paid saund.
ers and others for assistance In Sc
curing votes in the Council.
Thought Hin Corrupt Politician.
John Garland Pollard, on the stand.
said he had heard Mr.. Saunders FREE
quently referred to as political
boss" and believed he was generally
regarded in the community as a cor
rupt politician.R He himself regarded
him as an improper representative on
the City Committee. He said he had
run for the Constitutional Convention
and had been opposed by Saunders.
Former Mayor Carlton Mccarthy was
sworn. He had no direct evidence, he
stated, that Mr.. Saunders had opposed
him in any OF the three campaigns he
made for Mayor. once against Tay-
Tor, once when he was elected, and
once when he lost to Mayor Richard
son. Asked what was the general
reputation OF Mr.. Saunders in the
city. he answered:
Among people with whom i assoc
cIate, 1t is the universal opinion that
he has an evil Influence on city poll
tics. My belief is that no has q
mysterious and undue influence In
political matters. and that view is held
among the people generally. 1t is my
belief that Saunders has always OPP
posed me. We represent entirely dif-
fcrent elements. and in my first cam
pa!Sn 1 denounced him and his asso-
clates. I was not elected, but was
satisfied that Mr.. Saunders opposed
me at that time. In the last campaign
1t was not SO prominent an Issue"
No Boss, Says Royal.
William L. Royal, the last witness
of the evening. proved something of
boomerang for the Yoder side of the
case, since it was his belief that since
the revelations OF 1905. and the clean
ing up OF city politics. and the induc-
ton into Office OF new electoral
board. honest men had had control of
city politics, and that Mr.. Saunders
had little power since. and at the time
OF the Yoder publication was mo boss
at ALL
1T was the general idea" said Mr..
Royal. "for number of years, that
Saunders was the political boss OF
Richmond. That was his general repu-
tation, and had exceptional opportu-
mites for finding ont during an in
vestiEatton j made preliminary to a
meeting of the grand jury in 1905.
His reputation was as described by
Mayor Mccarthy and Mr.. Pollard. He
was believed to DO political crook
by all classes. L called the two meet
!nss held IN the Capitol Square. I was
not paid to solicit signatures or to got
up those meetings. l was later retain.
ed as lawyer by Joseph Bryan to
gather evidence to present to the grand
jury. j saw the foul conditions which
existed and probed the situation to the
bottom. and found tho state OF corrup-
ton that existed. I consider that one
OF the greatest services a citizen had
ever rendered this city. claim the
entire credit, butI never got 1t.
City Now Clean.
That investigation ended fraudulent
elections in Richmond. After that we
got clean electoral board. and put
In office set of honest men. I have
never heard OF frapdiient election
in Richmond since. or Of Mr.. Saunders's
power. T don't believe he is any boss
at all since that time.
Then he hasn't been a boss since
1905, asked Mr.. Scott.
No. was the answer and the Wit
ness was excused, and court adjourned
to this morning at IL o'clock. Under
the rulings of the court all matters
which do not directly relate to Mr..
Saunders himself, and all sections of
the pamphlet not having direct bear
ing on the alleged libclous charge,
will be excluded from the jury.