The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-14
City Electrical Inspector Testities
Against W. +. johnson in
Police Court.
CASE STILL PENDING
Witness Says He Told Many Peo-
pile Fixtures Could Not Be
Approved.


spector j, Leroy Speights, was de-
iayed for a long time Wednesday
in police court on account OF Mayor
Richardson. who Is the chief prose-
cutor.
The case was finally taken up at 2
O'Clock and the taking of testimony
was begun.
spciehis on stand.
MIR. Spetghts was the first witness
called upon to testify He stated that
he fills the office OF city electrical in
spector and that his duties include
the inspection and approval of cleo
trio wiring and fixtures and 20 pass
upon them as provided by city ordi-
nances.
Witness said that his first official
act in connection with the fixtures for
the First National Bank was ~ con-
versation with Mr.. w. II. jerks. an
electrical contractor. who applied for
a permit to install the fixtures and
whose application was refused,
Mr.. Speights said that he had an
interview with Mr.. Goodrich. who was
In Richmond some time ago, repre-
senting the II. S. Sands Electrical
Company, of Wheeling, w. Va He
told MIR. Goodrich that the fixtures
could not be installed In the bank until
all requirements OF city ordinances
were complied with.
lie also told President Sands, of the
American National Bank. that the
fixtures could not be installed until
they We're approved by the National
Board of Fire Underwriters.
THE fixtures did not meet with the
requirements of the specifications. and
the Morreau Gas Fixtures Company.
who made the fixtures, do not appear
az ,,f Fa cf,,
of fixtures.' said Mr. Speights
Details of Interview.
Upon being questioned by Common
wealth's Attorney F'oikes, Mr. Speights
gave fun details of the interview i'll
whsch the bribery is alleged to have
been made
II first met Mr. Johnson Monday
night in Murphy's Hotel" said the
witness. Il went there in answer to
telephone message from him. Mr..
A. II. Apperson, electrical engineer for
the Southeastern Underwriters Asso
citation, was with me. ! found Mr..
Furr johnson and he introduced HIM
self and then asked me how Ar APP
person was interested In the matter,
II explained that ! had invited Mr..
Apperson and that he was equally
Interested"
Witness testified that they went up
stairs into MIR. Johnson's room and
that there he explained that before
the fixtures could be installed the
| Moreau Gas Fixture Company would
| have to be approved as manufacturers
| and that the fixtures would have TO
| be approved in Richmond by the Ma
| tione Board of Fire Underwriters.
! Witness said that the arms of the
/ fixtures were not fastened and not
/ resmed and that the canopies We're
| not properly insulated.
MIR. johnson said: Il win remedy
! the defects and make it all right with
| you boys" The Interview terminated
| when 1t was arranged that Mr.,
Speights suggested that he write a
| letter to Mr.. johnson advising him
| about the conditions under which the
| fixtures could be installed Witness
testified that Mr.. Johnson then said;
| II am obliged to you boys for your
| proposition and want to make you a
present of s25 suit of clothes" MIR.
! Apperson said Stop right there; we
did not come here to entertain any
such proposition from you and you
have gone far enough"
Witness said that Johnson replied;
THE proposition has been made and
accepted, and / want to make you
boys a present of suit of clothes. -
| This terminated the interview.
Statement of MIR. Sands.
officials OF the American National
bank. disclaim all know ledge OF the
alleged transaction between Johnson
and Messrs. Speights and Apperson.
President Oliver j. Sands, of the
bank. has issued a statemtnt declaring
that the fixtures of the concern which
Johnson represents have long since
been rejected. and that orders for
new fixtures have already been placed
with another concern.
President Sands also denies that his
brother, Mr. H. y, Sands, whom John
son declared on Tuesday, he repre-
scented, had anything to do with the
alleged attempt at bribery. or that
he was in anywise concerned in the
acceptance or rejection of the fixtures
The brother. President Sands declares
merely acted as an agent, In securing
the contract. This contract once Sc
cured, he turned over to a manufac-
turing concern.
The statement of President Sands
follows:
las far as my brothers having any
connection with the case. II Is absurd
MY brother Is engaged in the cleo
trical business at Wheeling. W. Va as
the Sands Electrical Company, and
he acted as the manufacturer agent
in securing the contract for the fix
lures for the bank building. On Sc
curing the award he promptly turned
It over to the Morreau Gas Fixture
Company OF Cleveland. O., manufac-
turers of fixtures. This company de-
livered and installed its fixtures, APP
parently entirely satisfactory in APP
pearance, but In some respects they
failed to meet the requirements of
the inspector. and the bank declined to
accept them. ordered them out, and
has contracted for fixtures with the
Mitchell-Fanc Company. of New
York. Both companies are standard
houses. and are well known. l have
never seen this man johnson. who, ac-
cording TO all accounts has come here
In the last day or two as the agent
of the Morerau people. He IL not en-
pioyed by my brother or by my
brothers concern, but by the manu-.
facturers. and 1t would seem from
the charges brought that he has been
making some effort tn get his fixtures
approved. The bank has nothing what
ever to do with Is movements, as we
have already declined to accept his
fixtures and ordered them from an
other firm"