The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-04

matter of common knowledge that
saunders was political boss ana
expressed his belief that yoder was en-
gagged III exposing evil" He said foder
had .ngreed to accept contributions
10 aid In defraylns the cost of his de-
tense Rov. Hcnry p Atkins. president
OF the Anti Saloon League OF Virginia.
testified that from what he had heard,
air. saundcrs's general reputation WAS
lad.
Thc surprlsc or the morning came
when Mr. Meredith, counsel for foder,
left the bar aud took the witness stand
to make a personal statement in re-
gard to his employment by Mr.. Bemiss
MS counsel for the Traction Company
In n franchise fight. He knew that
Saunders AID Manning had been eni-
plcyed as lobbyists. He described the
fight made by the Traction Company
for entrance into Main street, but de-
MED that he had told Mr.s Manning
that lie should receive compensation
for his services, and said that he knew
nothing personally of what services
were rendered by the lobbyists. r.. l..
s1setiiss. MT THAT time head Of the Trac-
ton cotrp.ny said Mr.. Merediths
statement was correct, aud added that
he himself had no knowledge of any
improper acts or that any one in his
employ was guilty OF anything inn
proper. Ar-'-
Williams TcstiHcs.
Rufus C. Williams. senior member OF
the Williams Printing Company, party
to the suit, took the stand and told
OF the original bids for the printing of
the Yoder pamphlet. AS to his rela-
tiSns with Saunders, he said they had
been friendly; that Saunders had ask
cd him to vote for him when Edward
L. RYAN vas opposing him for the
committee
He told me once added Williams,
that he made more money from poll
tics than lie did from printing" Wit
ness said he had stopped printing the
Yoder pamphlet to avoid the notoriety.
The witness insisted that he had no
malice against Saunders, but in an
swer to {, direct question said he had |
never offered to make any apology or ,
retracton for the articles distributed.
lie was never the publisher of the |
pnper he said, merely the printer. and |
at times had not known what was in |
the copy" furnished. On cross exami- |
nation Williams reiterated his friend 1
ship for saunders, but admitted that I
he had considered linn Il political i
boss
Did YOU tell DR.. Darlington few
DAYS ago that you were looking for
evidence AGAINST Saunders. as Yoder
did not have proof of his charges
II think, / said / wanted proof in
case Yoder did not have IT, answered
the witness.
Yoder was then placed on the stand,
and remained under a sharp fire OF
cross examination throughout tho af-
ternoon session. He was still in the
,t,, -1o,, fIa Irf 81 d.
journed until this morning at IL
O'clock.
Yodcr Takes stand.
Al the outset Yoder said that every
thing he had published about Saun-
dcrs had been based OH what he re-
rarded as reliable Information. and
that he bore him no personal III Will.
Questions to show his object and pur-
pose in Issuing such q pamphlet at
all aroused 4 storm OF cross firing be-
tween counsel, Later Yoder acknowl-
edged the authorship OF certain ar
tlcles. and assumed the whole re-
sponsibnity for the publication, which
had gone out over his name.
Al the afternoon session Mr.. Scott
began a gruelling cross examination.
taking up copy after copy of the
Yoder pamphlet and probing tor the
EDITORS proof of his assertions. Many
objections were made by Mr.. Moredith
but within reasonable limits the court
ruled that questions might be asked
to show the reliability Of the witness
and the policy and purport of his pub
lication. The first article was one IL
which reference was made to Anthem,
Griffith as a policy king" with the
inplication that Saunders, who is thu
partner Of Griffith i'll the dairy bust
II ness and who with him owns string
OF race horses, might be using his pc.
sition to protect Griffiths alleged
policy interests. Tho witness said his
description OF Griffith as policy king
was based on general reputation, for
the same reason that he had called
Saunders a boss. He did not start It.
lie had found the terms commonly
used when he came here.
In answer TO u series OF questions.
Yoder said that his office was at 9Oi
J. Capitol street, that he rented 1t from
j. Marshall Atkinson, at one time pro-
prie,or of the Park Hotel; that he had
lived at tbs Park for about three
months tSter Coming to Richmond;
that heshuT Known Marshall Atkinson
for about ten months. but only init
lnately since coming here. Atkinson,
he said had come to see him in Lynch
burg in reference to coming to Rich
,nond, and moving his office of publ
cation from that city to this.
Did you have promise of financial
support from Marshall AtkinsonS'
asked Mr.. Scott
borrowed Money From Atkinson.
NO. Not exactly But l borrowed
money from him with which 10 move
and start publication of my paper
here"
He Is the man whose bar license
was taken away on conviction OF his
having sold liquor to boy and girl
under iage?'
II object" interposed Mr.. Meredith
and the jury retired While the aues-
ton was argued. Mr.. Scott wanted
the witness TO retire also. but the
court ruled that foder, being party
defendant. had right to remain II
the courtroom at all times. ioder. OF
the question being raised, declined t.
go, and Mr.. Scott said 1t would be n
use 10 follow the proposed line o
questioning III the witness knows II