The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-14
Electrical In spector
Swears Out Warrant
for Contractors Agent
SUIT OF CLOTHES
If FIXTURES PASS
President Sands Says American
Bank Has Already Ordered
New Lights---Sands's Bro
ther Had Original Con-
tract for Electrical Fit
tings on New Building.

Charged with attempting to bribe j.
Leroy Speights, City Electrical Inspec-
tor. with a s25 suit OF clothes William
=. Johnson. who claims to be repre-
sentative OF the H. S. Sands Electrical
Company, of Wheeling, w. Va, was ar
rested In Murphy's Hotel yesterday az
ternoon by Detective sergeants Wren
and Wiltshire on warrant sworn out
by Mr. Speights himself.
The alleged attempted bribery Is in
connection with the electric fixtures In
the American National Bank Building.
which Mr.. Spelghts declares Johnson
asked him TO approve and accept on
the promise of suit of clothes. The
meeting Monday night at which A. n.
Apperson. electrical engineer for the
southeastern Underwriters Association
was also present. occurred in Johnson's 8
room at Murphy's Hotel. where the al
legged bribery was attempted Speights
refused the offer, and yesterday morn
ing communicated with Z. d. Richard
son, chairman of the Council Commit
tes on Electricity. who. in turn, called
on Mayor Richardson. laying the mat
ter before the city's executive.
Mayor Acts Promptly.
Mayor Richardson was prompt to
act. He called In both Mr. Speights
and Mr.. Apperson. from whom he re-
ceived detailed account Of Johnson's
alleged improper advances. The Mayor
then took the necessary steps 10 nave
johnson arrested, looking up the law
on the case and writing out warrant
to he followed s guide. Mr.. Speishts
went before Magistrate Wilbur Griggs.
and the warrant was issued as follows:
II. j. Leroy Speights, before ". j.
Griggs a justice Of the peace. solemn
ly swear that William z. Johnson olo
unIawfuliy and fcloniously offer TO give
who was then and there an executive
officer in the city OF Richmond. duly
appointed and qualified, to-wit CITY
Electrical Inspector of the city o.
Richmond. aesrtain giss ana gTarni,y, r,n,n,,.
to influence the. act Of said leroy
spector of the city OF Richmond. IN a
certain matter which was then ana
there pending before the said :. Leroy
spsights in his official capacity. to-wit,
the approval and acceptance Of Certain
Electrical fst1rcs for the American
National Bank Building. in the city
of Richmond,
sandx's Brother Had Contract.
Installation OF electric wiring ans
fixtures in the American National Bank
Building cost. 1t is estimated about
$4,000 H. S. Sands, head Of the
Wheeling Arm, which secured the con-
tract. is brother OF Oliver ]. Sands.
president of the bank. On Saturday.
September g. 1t was learned that the
City Electrical Department objected
ixtures and wiring were not Of types
approved by the National Board OF
Fire Underwriters, approval OF which
is necessary under city ordinance.
known as the electrical code.
In the meeting OF the three men
expressly concerned. 1t Is said that
johnson stated that his company was
very desirous Of having the work In
the bank building approved, and. fol-
lowing this talk. the alleged offer is
said TO have been made. 1t was spurned
as soon as offered.
When arrested Johnson showed little
concern. With the detectives he re-
paired tc police headquarters where
NJ. Smith. who will represent hin. in
tho preliminary hearing this morning
Johnson was then taken to the First
Police Station. where he remained with
his attorney several hours before being
able to arrange for bail though a
bondsman was prepared to act as se-
curity. Judge Witt is out OF town.
and Justice Crutchfeld could not be
found for some time. Judge Witt has
directed that IN felony cases case no on one
4
tice crutchf.eld, though a Judge Of enc
Of the other courts could have acted.
Magistrate Mccarthy finally admitted
him to bail in the sum Of $500. with
B. a. Ruftin as bondsman.
Has No. Statement to Make.
Under advice OF his attorney. John
son would make no detailed statement.
He denied. however, that he had made
any Improper advances in attempting
to bribe an electrical inspector. and
said the affair was simply the result
Of a misunderstanding. He was cool
and self f-possessed.
The warrant does not charge that
any approaches were made to 1nspec-
tor Appe.son. of the Underwriters As
sociation. and he appears only as a
the Code OF Virginia has made It a
felony to attempt to bribe city off :
cial. In addition the Legislature OF
1905, n the acts ,,o Ct that It year ehap.
nnti-graft statute, providing a fine and
lmprisonrn for any one convicted
of making any such offer to repre.-
sentative OF @ private concern, as we'll
as to State and city officers
Speights On the Job.
About a week ago. when several
officials We're inspecting the new quar-
ters of the Business Mems Club. on the
top floor of the American National Bank
were hanging fixtures. could finish. So
that the club could move in. A fore
man at work on the job responded sig-
niticantly:
here, these inspectors are so particular.
In any Northern city we could give
the Inspector a So bill and so with
the work. That's how we finish big
jobs in such short time UP there, but
there is no telling when we will get
Through hare Speights has raised a
row about several OF the fxtures.'
The foreman stated at the time that
and that temporary wiring had baen
run up one of the elevator shafts to
supply light to the offices which had
been rented,
When Building Inspector Beck re-
fused to permit the opening Of the
building without the erection OF an.
outside fire escape as Is required by
the Building Code, and In the permit
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