The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-19
PAID LAWYERS TO
INFLUENCE LEVY
Dairymen Wanted Them
to Have Health Rules
Changed.
WISE DECLINED
FEE FOR 81, 900
Witnesses Testify That They
Expected councilmen to Plead
Case Before Health Board,
Not in Council-Wise EN-
.fa ployed Pollock as
ms IA Associate.

Testimony was taken last night b,
the speeial Committee on Investigation
OF the charges against Councilman
Gilbert X. Pollock and George r. Wise
charged with accepting a fee OF $500
TO secure the passage OF an amendment,
to an ordinance through the City coun.
efl from number of dairymen who
contributed TO the fund paid to the two
the da!rymen were OF the belief that
the money had been paid for services
before the Board. Of Health: others
were Ignorant OF the machinery by
which ordinances are passed by the
City Council. and seemed to consider
the whole matter of dairy inspection
discretionary with Chief Health officer
Il. c. Levy, representing that they had
contributed TO the fund in an effort
to induce him TO consent to the feeding
OF fresh distillery waste. which he had
stated in court was satisfactory feed
for mllch COWS II fed in a sanitary
manner. and before IL was allowed to
sour and become swili.
The negotiations between the dairy
mon and the two Councilmen were
conduc'ed through Mr.. Wise, who CALL
ed Mr. Pollock in as his associate.
Two witnesses testified OF CONVEX
sations with Mr.. Wise as to his en-
ployment, and agreed that he had en-
phatically stated that he could not ac
cept retainer TO secure an amend
Inent 10 an ordinance. but would divide
the fee offered. and appear for the
dairymen before the Health Board and
tAs ralt
TO this interview. Mr.. Dcitrick. who
collected and paid over the money. is
yet to go on the stand
Ordinance Was Ignored.
In the course OF the evidence II was
brought out that the ordinance pro-
limiting distillery waste was adopted
In 1904, and that no appreciable effort
had been made 10 enforce II until 1903.
in 1906 the Board OF Health was
reorganized. DIR. Levy becoming Chief
Health Officer about the beginning OF
1907. The machinery for the inspec-
tion OF dairy farms and the inspec-
ton OF the sources of the milk supply
of the city was organized and put into
operation early in 1905. and it was
in the summer of 1908 that a circular
was sent to dairymen notifying them
that after a certain date the feeding
of dist!l!ery waste, commonly called
swili. would no longer be allowed. and
that violations would be reported TO
the Police Court.
The evidence shows. on their own
tha. number OF the dairy
men openly disregarded this notice and
continued feeding the waste in viola
tion OF the law, and 1t was an OUT
growth of the trial of w. 7. Taylor
in the Hastings Court that the two
councilmen-lawyers ware employed
Mr.. Wise defends the employment as
an effort TO get the Health Board and
the Chief Health officer TO diff
ferentiate between fresh waste or the
refuse corn from which the alcohol or
juice has been pressed in the process
OF distillation. and the soured or stale
refuse, commonly termed swill Many
Of the dairymen witnesses were vague
as to the purposes of the Payment, the
being that it was. to stop
the inspectors from putting them in
the Police Court for feeding what they
believed and what the Chief Health
Officer had said was good feed If
care particularly what means We're
used to secure the relief. They left
that to the lawyers. Several witnesses
had not known they We're Councilmen.
They employed Mr.. Wise because he
was connected With the Richmond
Dairy as counsel, and he employed Mr..
Pollock as associate
Not n Trial, hut An Inquiry.
At the outset of the investigation.
Chairman w. Fred Richardson stated
that 1t was in no sense trial, but an
inquiry for the purpose Of ascertaining
acts. City Attorney Pollard conducted
The examination In chief of each wit
ness, and Mr.. Wise and Mr.. Pollock
we're allowed to cross examine each
n turn. Members of the committee,
\tessrs. Lynch. Ratclirfe. Miller ana
Brown, took active part In the ques-
.ioning.
w. T. Taylor was first sworn. 4 He
,estitied that he had operated a dairy
IN the Williamsburg Road for four
ears the dairy which was formerly
,ented and operated by EN-Dairy In
;pector r, H. Curtis He stated that
he had been summoned to the Police
,ourt for feeding swill; that he had I
nee before paid fine of Sa5 for feed
ng swill, and on his second conviction
he fine was 500 and his license to sell !
milk was revoked He appealed to
he Hastings Court where the case was
ried on December 90 last. Mr.. Taylori
estified that he had employed both
lr. Pollock and Mr.. Wise as attorneys
o defend him in the Hastings Court,
.ust previous to his case being called
man named Henshaw had been con- |
'icted of selling milk without license,
ust as his case was about to come up,
le said, DR.. Levy had come to him and
aid:k" are going 70 be good to you
gain AS a resulti conference the
ase was compromised on payment Of
inc OF $40.
Dlames 1t on Curtis.
IT said at the time that Curtis was
gatnst me. testified the witness "Ia,b
sed to lay around in the woods in tlssfl
ark to catch me. He had 1t in for me.
$ had the place he used to run. Anil
~ neighbors were feeding the swill,i
nd ha made no effort to catch them.
le told me he knew others We're feed
ne It. told Mr. Pollock and Mr.,
(Continued on Twelfth ian pe I1-7-