The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-17
CHARGES BRANDED
FALSE BY NOEL
Committee Investigates Accuse
tons Made by Editor OF Rad
ford Paper.
REPRESENTS NORMAL SCHOOL
Several Witnesses Examined and
Accused Man Makes Lengthy
Explanation.
Special to TIL. TimesDispatoh.l

Special to The Times Dispatch.
East lsadford, Va. December 16.-fn-
vestigation OF tho charges made some
time ago by Wise Worrcll. editor of the
Radford Record. against Robert y.
NOEL. secretary treasurer of the state
Normal School in I;adford, was made
TO day in the Mayors Office here. by
the special committee of the board Of
trustees, Or. Tucker. of Buckingham;
DR.. Buchanan. OF Marion, ana -. +.
Wilson, OF Russell. Lee Trinklc, Of
Wythevillc. appeared as attorney for
Mr Worrcll. ana Richard Evelyn Byrd,
OF Richmond. appeared for Mr.. NOEL.
The charges We're read and the min
utcs of city Council were drawn upon
in support OF charges that Mr.. Noell
as q member Of Council, had used his
power uulawfully.
Captain j. q. Osborne. "a member OF
the Council WAS called and questioned
in support OF these charges f NJ
tones. sinking fund ccmmi Toner OF
the city. was questioned as to q loan
obtained from tho fund by Mr.. NOEL
Deputy Clerk Smith. OF the Christian MS
burg court. was questioned as to Ger
tilted copies OF records offered TO provo
that Mr.. Noell had been guilty of vio-
lating the liquor laws.
Mr. Hagen, partner in the drug firm
Of Thompson & Hagen. Of Christians
burg, testified rs TO note transactions
and r. l. Jordan, attorney. was qucs-
toned on the charge relating to use
OF post office funds.
Interest particularly centred in tho
testimony OF Mr. Noell himself, under
direct and INSTRUMENTATION, which re-
viewed the whole case. The witnesses
were called Immediately after dinner.
or tho charge relating TO certain
street Improvements. in which his own
property benefited, Mr.. Noell said the
Council had arranged to widen the
street. ana that he was one of several
owners whose buildings were moved
back and put on new foundations at
the city's expense, the owners giving
TO the city q strip Of land needed for
tho widening.
Post-ofice Shortage.
Regarding the alleged shortage in
the post Office funds. he said that some
sixteen years ago. when II" was post
master, he had been away i'll when the
department inspector arrived, and word
Was sent To him that additional money
was needed 10 ba lance the accounts.
AS Mr.. Jordan had testified. he went to
him ana obtained = loan ana then went
TO tho post-ofice and mace the amount
right. The deficit amounted TO $3.50
and was due 10 the fact that as an &C
commodation he cashcd some checks
OF perfectly good people and his clerk
had advanced himself something ON
salary. He was under bond for $4,000.
and was himself worth about $1,000.
He thought some discrimination could
be used in such matters. He had never
taken cent OF government money,
and held MIS- successors receipt for all
due thu government
Mir Jordan had gone TO Washington
to consult Congressman Otcy and Con-
gresham Swanson about the matter,
ana they had taken it up with the de
partment and no report was ever made
on il.
The Liquor cases.
In Tho matter OF the Liquor cases in
Christianshurg, that was about twenty
six years ago, lie said. He and his
partner, on acquiring the drug store
there. followed tie practices which
had preceded them. The law per
mitted the sale OF whiskcy when com
rounded on a doctors prescription. His
partner Or. Wilson, drew prcscrip-
lions, ana the clerk filled them. lie