The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-18
FORCES BARNES INTO
DAMAGING ADMISSIONS
Switching Printing job. Due 10
Political Ability.
WINS TAKEN BY SURPRISE
Roosevclt's Lawyers Force In Evil
dence Along Printing Lines In a
Sort OF Flank Attack on Albany
Boss.

I ~ faAu%F. hGN - tie
sstuteness of John NJ. Bowers gained
an important advantage for Colonel
! Roosevelt this afternoon, and forced
| William Barnes TO endure a trying half
hour,
( Suddenly. Unexpectedly. dramstiCal-
| ~ Mr.. Bowers threw before the jury
J the full weight Of evidence that
{ Barnes, an influential politician in
/ 1899 received 100000 for passing a
rich State printing contract from
! William A. Mccarthy to James b..
! Lyon
Mr.. Barnes was required TO admit
that he had gone to State officials in
I Lyons interests. that he had written
to Senator Plat in Lyons interest.
that he himself was not then bidder
for state printing work. that he had
no stock in the Lyon Company at the
time. aud that the $4,000 came 10
him merely for his ability 10 get the
contract into Lyons possession. He
even volunteered the statement that
he had received an additional slf,n0o
from James r.. Lyon for his interest
in the contract.
Comes As Surprise
Mr. Bowers successful stroke was
delivered at time when everybody
supposed that n would he impossible
to get before the jury any printing
evidence designed TO bear on Mr.
Barnes alleged connection with crook
cd politics and crooked business.
Justice Andrews had ruled decisively
that the printing evidence VAS not
sufficient to show that Mr.. Barnes was
rorruptiy concerned in public printing
contracts. Mr.. WINS had settled back.
thinking the fight won. And then, all
Of a sudden. MIR. Bowers brought up
the printing evidence aud insisted that
he had the right to cross examine Mr..
Barnes about 1t for the purpose of
Mt Barnes crdihiiity.
Justice Andrews ruled that Mr..
bowers had the right to go into the
evidence on the general purpose OF
discredting Mr. Barnes veracity.
1t was a hard blow for the Barnes
side. all the more disagreeahle be
cause of it's unexpeetedness. Mr..
Wins was very tart about II. He was
mp every few minutes with sarcastic.
furious objections. He insisted that
the printing evidence could explain
nothing because there was nothing to
explain
You might az well try TO explain
the solar system don't want to ex-
plain the solar system. because he
dragged il in They've only dragged
ii In To impugn Your Honor's previous
ruling"
Now, Mr.. wins" said Justice An
drews, u will permit them to ask
certain questions about this printing
evidence But they are bound by the
witnesses answers and they open the
door wide TO whatever explanation
you may care TO bring out on redirect
examination"
ooh. slI right grumhled Mr.. WINS.
~ don't want to be made TO sit down
again"
Lawyers SqIsabble.
The court had sat him down pretty
vigorously this morning, but Mr. WINS
is a difficult person to keep put down.
and all through the day he bickered
and skirmlshed with Mr.. Bowers. who
referred to him amiably as young
man" and assumed such patience with
his persistent adversary as thoroughly
amused the court room audience.
Mr. Bowers opened the printing
mhardment by asking Mr.. Barnes
why he wrote to Senator Plat TO get
Plat in intercede for the Albany
Evening Journal with Colonel Archie
Baxter. then clerk Of the Senate
Colonel Baxter. as clerk. had the
power To give out printing contracts.
and the journal wanted the patron
age. SHlu MT. FtdI mes.
Definition OF Patronage"
What do YOU mean by patronage?
What is PATRONAGE"
Patronage, said Mr., Barnes. zig
given by favor,
In other words, you wanted your
journal Company to get printing con-
tracts by faVor?'
The course was provided for by
the law of the State" replied the wit
ness. after some thought. Il did not
contend against the law of the State.
That was the way the work was given
out. 1t could be given out under law
to the Journal Company
Mr.. Bowers read extracts from let
tiers written by Mr.. Barnes IT, Senator
Plat. in which Mr.. Barnes spoke or
having conferred with the then at
torney- general of the State. and with
other officials about printing con-
tracts Mr.. Bowers wanted to know
why he desired Senator Platts inter-
cession with State officials
Il told him. said Mr.. Barneh, that
hoped the j. Il. Lyon Company
would get the contract, but that there
was some likelihood of the contract
going to Mr.. Mccarthy. who had no
printing plant OF his own, and who
might establish one in Albany ] had
explained 10 the Encouragement and
to others that this would be disad-
vantageous to the Evening Journal