The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-07
DECREASE SHOWN
IN CITY BUDGET j. I.
Measure Introduced in Council
Calls for Appropriation
of $3o5,ooo.
NEGRO HELD FOR MURDER
James Mel. Ruffin Appointed
Manager Of Fair Association.
Other News.
Times-Dispatoh Bureau.
100 North Sycamore Street,

Petersburg. Va. June s.
The city budget. introduced in the
Common Council this evening, with
the unanimous approval, of the Finance
Committee, and passed, fixes the ap-
preparations for the next fiscal yeaI
at s3o5.ooo or $4,000 less than the
budget of the year now closing, The
city Will save $4,000 year In Inter
est by the cash retirement of sl65. 900
of its bonds which matured on June
|. and nearly all OF which have been
already presented al the treasurer's
Office for redemption.
All of the municipal departments are
very literally provided for In the new
budget. and they are all satisfied. Two
of the departmental oncers-City En-
gineer Budd and Health Officer Martin
arc given an increase IN salary.
The annual tax ordinance. presented
by the Finance Committee. makes no
change in the present tax rate. which
is sL4o on the hundred dollars OF
values. On account OF the large in
crease In taxable values under the
new assessment. this tax will this year
Yield an income to the city OF about
$4,000 more than the fixed expenses
as named in the budget. but 1t is be-
iieyed that most OF this excess will be
needed to meet appropriations already
made and carried over and to meet
special appropriations that may pa
called for during the year.
| The Finance Committee is planning
Important permanent public improve
nents which in the future may neces-
state bond issue. but at present no
such Issue is in contemplation.
Colored High School Exercises.
X The commencement exercises of the
Peabody fColored) High School last
night attracted an audience that filled
the Academy OF Music. a number of
clergymen and visitors sat with the
members of the School Board on the
| stage. The essays, oratiops and adj
dresses By the members of the gradu-
ating class were highly creditable Dis
tlnctions were delivered by Rev z. E.
Miller. rector Of ST. Stephens Episco.
pal Church, and the diplomas to the
seventeen graduates we're presented by
PRESIDENT }. r. w. Smith, Of the School
BOARD. a medal for eXcellency was
presented to Charles C. Wyatt by SUI
perintendent r. r. Jones. The address
OF the evening was delivered by Major
Robert r. Alotan. commandant Of
Hampton Institute.
samuel Croker, negro. about twenty
Two years old, was placed on trial in
the Hastings Court to-day. charged
with the murder OF his wife. Eva
Croker. The evidence was concluded
about ! o'clock. instructions were given
by the court. and the case was argued
before recess, Witnesses for the pros-
| ecution told OF the separation of Crock.
or from his wife. Of their family disa.
greements, and finally. on the night of
February 20, of his sudden visit to her
home. and OF his going into her room
and shooting her three times, and OF
mas statement afterwards that he In
tended TO kill her. The woman was
paralyzed by one of the shots and
fingered for some days
Srocker was the only witness In his
pehait. he told OF the troubles of his
married life, and OF the unfaithfuInese
of his wife. which drove him TO mad
ness and to finally killing her In
throwing his arms around the woman.s
neck in the effort to shoot her in the
ear, Croker shot himself in the arm
the jury in the case of Samuel
Crocker rendered a verdict tonight of
muroer in the second degree. and fixed
his term OF Imprisonment at eighteen
years In the penitentiary
appointment of Manager
James Mel. Rufin has been appointed
manager OF the Southside Fair Asso-
citation and has actively gone to work
preparing plans for the fair. The con-
tractor Is now at work on. the build
ihgs to be erected.
General Newa In Brief.
iroy T. Livesay, aged firty-four
years. died last night at his residence
on Grove Avenue. He is survived by
.hree daughters and two sons. all Of
MISS Emma Hunt teacher of Ger
| man and French in the Petersburg
Hish school, left for New York this
morning. when she will sail for Paris
tomorrow TO spend the summer. She
VIII return 10 her duties in Petersburg
| In the early fall
Generai Stitli Boiling has been SELECT
ca S chief marshal OF the veterans and
ihliltary parade here on June o, Con-
.suerate memorial Day He will an
nounce his aids later t1
Councilman F. G. Stratton left this
morning for Boston TO attend the