The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-07
Bennett and Snlyth Bro
theirs Acquitted After
Full Hearing.
STORMY SCENE
DURING SESSION
Sweeny's Character Attacked
by Witnesses, Lie Being Free
ly Passed-Nothing to Sus-
tain Charge That Bride
Was Paid in Mule
Trade for City.

Complete acquittal on charges of bril-
berry brought by Veterinary Surgeon
Thomas Sweeny was accorded TO Al
derman ~. w. Bennett. of Leo Ward,
and j. c. Smyth, of the stock yard cor
poration of Smyth Brothers McCreary-
Mcclellan by the Council Committee on
Street Cleaning last night. After q
hearing. which was not concluded until
after midnight. the committee adopted
the following:
"Resolvcd by the Council Committees
ON Street Cleaning thut charges prc-
ferrcd by DIR. Thomas swecny uEnipst
Alderman n. w. Bennett and u G..
Sm!th, inter having been thoroughly
Investigated by this committees, have
not hccn sustained"
The vote was taken after Assistant
City Attorney Anderson. who appeared
FOR the city. had stated that no Jury
could convict on such evidence, and
AFTER 1t was announced, DR. Swceily
himself admitted that the charges he
had brought had not only not been
sustained, but had been utterly dts
proved by the evidence
No Evidence to support Charge.
Except by his unsupported word DR..
Sweeny utterly failed to support his
charges made hitherto to II subcommtt 4.
tee mat an attempt had been made to
bride him in connection with the pur-N
chase OF mules for the Street Cleaning
Department. Evidence seriously oues-
tioning the character OF Dr. Swecny
was introduced. the veterinary being
characterized as having been either
drunk or "doped." while 1t was shown
that his financial condition was mad
and that the Police Department hau
been consulted in regard to checks
drawn and unpaid
The lie direct passed several tiines.
nrst between Dr. Sweeny and Mr.. Nell
son. horse trader of South Richmond.
"na asatn between the Smyth brothers
ana Pr. Sweeny. At one time it looked
as though the matter would end in &
blows, Captain Mcmahon and
Sergeant Arms Ruskell holding tha
Smyths and Sweeny, while the horse
men vehemently defended the honesty
and integrity OF their firm and the ut
terly unfounded character of the
charges which had been brought againsr
them Alderman Benefits statement
on the witness stand was clear and
convincing. and several OF Dr. Sweeny's
statements he branded q S utterly with
out foundation In fact s
Statement Holly Resented
Or. Sweeny's general statement that
no horse trader could continue in bus
mess without offering payments and
Inducements in selling mules to the city
was hotly resented both by many deal
H.
cilmen. and DIR. Sweeny withdrew tha
statement. producing no proof of the
assertion. On the stand the veterina-
ran was mysterious. limiting at many
things he could tell s to prior transact
lions, and refusing point-blank to an
awer many of the questions put TO him,
hut nnally admitting that he knew or
no other sale 10 the city in which MIR.
Bennett inquired III any unfavorahla
light.
MI Hirschbers gave the sole dissent
ins vote when the question came on
the final resolution offered by Mr.
Blake. and he merely asked additional
time TO consider the matter in allIit
phases. proposing q postponcment until
next week. in order 10 hear from the
attorneys.
w. kirk Mathews. who represented
AIR. Bennett, said he wanted no argu-
ment, ana Colonel Anderson, for tho
city, stated that no sane jury could do S
otherwise than acquit on the evidence
furnished-that the charges had utter
~ failed of proof Mir. Ratcline and
Mr.. Bennett were excused from sitting
as members of the committee. Mr.
Brown, OF the subcommittee. was not
present, but was summoned by the SER
Seant-at arms from a theatre to give
his testimony. He corroborated MIR.
Ratclife's statements.
Tells of Purchase.
Mr. Ratcliife told in some detail of
the purchase Of the mules on December
% by Mr.. Bennett and himself as a
subcommittee, Mr. Brown. the third
member, not being present He related
that Or. Swceny had been employed rs
veterinary surgeon to examine tour
mules II was proposed to purchase.
Tho price OF the mules was quoted at
$500 each. which he had considered
high and had asked DR.. Swccny about
II. whercupon the veterinarian had
said that they were not worth IT, that
SIZE $lS5 to Sa00 was an ample price.
The next day Dr. Sweeny had come 10
see him and stated that the city had
been 'iiimilammcd" in its purchase OF B
mules. that while lie WAS out at the
stock yards MIR. Bennett had instructed
him to pass the first four mules and IL .
81 tiat Sweeny got the work OF treat- \
ing them at the city stab.es iates
Afterwards Mr. Smyth had taken him Ft
to lunch and offered him 81 FOR each
mule passed. Mr. Brown was SUM
moned and pr Swcony repeated mss
charges In the presence of tho two
committeeman. Mr. Ratcinc said that
while personal friend OF MIR. BennAtt.
he had felt II his duty 10 bring tho
matter to the attention of the com y
mittee He was carefully cross a n
amiued by Mr., Mathews as 10 tho ,ie- \
tails o: purchasing the mules, to which,
FIR, Hatcliifc protested that he way
preferrins no charges and should not
be put in the position OF a prosecuting rs
witness. ~ y. " III
!, Dr.. Sweeny then took the stand ana