The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-28

In reference to a suit which Is
pending IN the Law and Equity court
tending to reflect upon the Office Of
building inspector, and which places.
according to publications., the newly
nominated inspector in q bad light
Mr.. John f. Butler yesterday Issued
q statement.
The suit was brought by Douglas
Il. Taylor, q real estate agent, againss
Harvey C. Brown. another real estate
agent. for $4,000. The cause for
damages Is alleged to be that a GER
tain building purchased by Mr.. Tsy-
lor from Mr.. Brown for a certain
sum was not up to the regulations
contained In the building code. 1t Is
alleged that the building had wooden
walls, where brick or concrete should
have been 1t Is further stated that
the building was supervised in It's con-
struction by Deputy Building lnspec-
tor Butler. and that 1t was passed by
him az having been constructed &C
cording to the code.
Mr.. Buffers Statement.
In reply to this published charge
that Mr.. Butler was responsible for
the misoonstruction and the implica-
ton that, therefore. the city snoulo
become a party to the suit. MIR. But
TO the Public:
I have tried to submit quietly to all
the unkind and uncalled for things
that have been published concerning
my selection as building inspector
Just because / had proper aspira-
tions and desired to have the oppor-
tunity OF redeeming that which an
unfortunate act caused me to lose.
The statement In the Times-Dis-
patch CT today was written upon in
formation furnished by some enemy.
distorted, arranged and presented in
an unfair and misleading way, and
with no other purpose than that OF
doing me an injury and for no other
reason than that dared to become
q candidate for the position OF build
ing inspector because Mr.. Beck de-
i-ed some one else
Mt liz a fact that I made an error
I'm examination Of the plans for the
es In question belonging to MFR.
-. and for which Mr.. Henry p.
III The building inspector, issued
Mrnit--a fact that he will not
Ind II was i that caught up
~ /, mistake and caused the work
lie until the plans were cor
and the work done In obedi-
Mo an understanding had between
thrown and the building lnSpeC-
MIR. Beck. and at it's finish. the
.~urk having been done according to
the agreement betwees. Mr.. BecA and
Mr.. Brown. I passed the Job.
! am not infaiiible and do make
mistakes. ] suppose Mr.. Beck Ii not
guilty OF such folly. And. as he
signed and approved every permit
that was issued from his Office, that
he In not In the least responsible for
this or any other errors; and I want
to say that l have heard that other
mistakes have crept In and that they
were made by another than John E.
Butler.
Now. I am not going into any fur
Their discussion. know that l am
capable OF performing the duties of
the ONCE to which have been nomt-
mated. and ask q generous public
to withhold Judgment until I shall
have been given the opportunity 70
prove my assertion.
While II Ia true that ut one time
did drink, desire to say that. by the
grace Of God. have not touched a
drop for more than a year, and that,
by his help, never will touch an
other drop. With this have done
with answering anything more In the
press. ! promise to give to the city
the best there Ia In me and prove 10
friends and foe my worthiness for the
responsible position. Yours.
JOHN r. BUTLER
Richmond, Va. Dec. q, 1919.