The daily sentinel., 1914-04-18
COMMITTEE OF MAYORS
INVESTIGATE BRIDGE
tContInued from Page ID

issue and is set for trial before Judge
Cayender on the 25th Of May next.
The case is. in my judgment OF
vital importance 10 the people OF
Mesa county. IL is also OF great inn
portauce 10 this board as a board.
In view OF the fact that your honor
able body VIII be called upon to Is
sue $4,000 in additional warrants
II seems TO me that as there is much
law upon both sides OF this question.
that il would be to the interests of
the board 70 have a decision upon
this question from the highest court
In the state. 10 could serve no wrong
lul purpose TO say right here that l
have hoped all along to accomplish
nothing in this suit except to procure
some kind OF a satisfactory settle
ment with the Patterson -Burkhardt
people for the loss OF the original
pier b. / have been glad to do and
have done a good deal of personal
work in the accumulation Of author
tiles for a brief and in preparing the
pleadings In this case. The county
attorney has put in quite a little time
with me, familiarizing himself with
the matters involved, but he. like
myself. has other official duties. and
cannot expect to put too much of
the burden of responsibility and la
Dor OF the trial upon his shoulders.
The defendant company has practi-
cally unlimited resources at its dis
posal wherewith to prepare for and
present its defense. and 1 feel that
some qualified attorney ought to
have absolutely uninterrupted time
for considerable number OF days
to devote to the preparation for the
trial of this case, and to take my
brief and acquaint himself Herewith
and also brief up and put In proper
shape the authorities which ! now
have at hand
Your honorable body, OF course. is
aware that my official duties are
paramount to all others, that | must
be present TO prosecute offenses
against the criminal laws of this
state in the seven counties of my
district at all hazards, and that my
labors in this suit have been entirely
voluntary. and as | believe without
the scope of my duties. Several muir
der trials. several white slave cases.
three felonious assault cases, several
cattle cases, besides other lesser
criminal matters now claim my at
tention and which must be disposed
of by me within the next month with
III AAAt ulAAEl tll lldltH Vi llAh hlNlllEAs
Pressed for time as | am, | feel that
this county cannot afford to pay
these warrants, neither can your
board issue additional warrants upon
the ruling alone OF a nisi prius
judge. but that the board should
make provision for the employment
Of counsel who can devote themselves
entirely and uninterruptedly TO this
case, and its preparation for trial.
and ! can only say that If the board
sees fit to procure such an attorney
he shall at all time have my aid and
assistance without any additional
cost to the county OF Mesa so far as
my service is concerned.
! believe. in conclusion. that the
county attorney agrees with ME as to
the advisability of the final hearing
in this case.
Respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM WEISER,
District Attorney.
Mr.. Welsh stated that intimatlons
had been made that the bridge work
was not up to specifications. that
other charges had been made: that
the one pier had been found up to
standard in spite of the testimony
before the grand jury, and that the
commissioners must soon be In posi-
tion to decide what they intended to
do in regard to paying the warrants.
Personally, he said, he felt that II the
bridge was up to specifications the
company should be paid; If not. the
case now pending in court should
be appealed and payment resisted by
every step possible. even to the ex-
tent of employing additional coun-
sci as suggested by District Attorney
Weiser, TO devote his time to an ap-
peal.
las l view the matter" said the
county attorney "if the bridge com
pany did its work honestly aud up to
specifications, it is entitled to be
paid; II not, the county commission
ers do not want to pay these war