The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-15

But Grand Jury Begins Search
ing Inquiry Under Orders
From Judge Richardson.
Court Directs That Examination
Should Be Thorough, Not
Perfunctory.

oIduO JuE ihsSSksSotaVh o& tbS 1855
Of persons in Richmond who failed
to pay State income and other taxes
or who made Inaccurate returns. be.
gan yesterday morning in the Hust'
ings Court After disposing Of sew
eral criminal cases. the jury wa.
charged by the court.
Your examination into this matter
should not DC perfunctory." said Judge
Richardson, but must be tnorO-gf
and searching. You nave evidence De.
fore you in the form Of printed re-
ports. and original papers may be mac
upon your demand. charge you t
give tuil and fair consideration "a
tnis matter. It is the duty " every
citizen ~ bear his burden Of the STATE
tax"
Judge Richardson expressed the De
lief that IL citizens bore their jus,
taxes the rate in Virginia would b
reduced 70 a large extent. The court
also brought out the fact that tax.
dodgers are not SO prevalent in Rich.
mond a. elsewhere In the Common.
wealth. This city pays s2 per cent OF
the total income tax and lover $1,000
moro than the one hundred counties
together.
Many Cftasens Uneasy.
Although conditions hers are not %
bad - In other Virginia eities, there
are many citiSsns who are uneasy
~ to tho result Of the grand jury's
work A list OF names Of persons con-
cerned has been given. to the City
Sergeant but their identity is closely
guarded for the present They will be
summoned to appear before the jury
at the proper time. This will not be
for several days. at least
Automobile owners who have re-
turned to the State under-valuation OF
their cars will be one class Of citizens
to whom the jury will give close at:
tention, it being asserted that many
have returned ridiculous figures in put
ting a value on their cars. Judge
Richardson directed that strict atten'
ton be given these cases.
Commissioner OF Revenue Henry q
Tresnon and Commemorative Attorney
Folkes were called as witnesses yes
terday. but that was principally for the
purpose Of obtaining records from Mr.
rresnon's ONCE. which were produced
The jury will probably wade through
the mase Of figures before calling cit.
liens before it. This part Of the PROBE
Il iss expected, will consume constd
cradle time. 8
The Jurors will get down to WOO
in earnest this afternoon at O'Clock
Judge Richards IN adjourning them un
I'll that hour.
llemAesA - ExAAA Jux. -
( The following citixens. most Of then
prominent, compose the jury: Charles
=. Taylor. foreman, president of. thu
Board Of Fire Commissioners; Frit'
Sitterding. vice-president Of the Wiz
Einia Railway and Power Company
JOHN w. Harrison. president Of large
coffee house; Frederick H. CARRIER. gro
Ger and former member Of the City
Council; B. p. Walden. hardware mer'
chant; James R Sheppard, retired mer-
chant; Frederick S. Valentine. business
man; n. B. Rosenbaum, business mar
and director Of the Planters National
Bank.
Not only in Richmond, but In othel
cities Of the State and in numerous
counties, grand juries are now probing
the tax-d odgers' cases. This activity u
due to figures given In to State Auci'
tor c. Lee Moore, and which were pup
lished in The Times Dispatch.
The apparently large number OF per
sons who have evAded the State assess
ment, especially on incomes. has peel
the source Of deep interest 1t Is FUN
expected that throughout virginia SEN
sational disclosures will be made