Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-14
WE'LL AND CO0DE MAY
DECLINE TO RESIGN
Report of Investigators on
Council Floor.
PROTESTS SCOTCH VERDICT
Mccarthy Says With No Evidence to
Justify His Removal, Committee
Yet Makes Gratuitous Criticism.
Two Members Did Not Sign Report.

Condemned by the Investigating com
mittee as unfit for the office they hold
and their designations recommended.
Police Commissioners r. n. Goode and
Cliff We'll protest that the findings and
recommendations of the inquisitorial
body are unjust and unwarranted.
If the report Is accepted by the City
Council the two commissioners will
probably refuse to tender their resig-
nations.
1T all depends upon future develop
ments." said Attorney Hiram NJ Smith,
counsel for Commissioners Goode. when
AS EssdZ q =, light ..tr his 2elie,i, WOULD
resign In tifes event that the Council
calls upon him to vncate his seat.
cliff Well will fight the case to the
last resort" friends of that commits
sioner announced for him. ..Atr. We'll
challenges, in the name Of honesty.
fairness and justice. the legal or moral
right of n committee which confesses
that II has failed to find him guilty of
misfeasance or malfeasance in office to
recommend his resignation"
MCCARTHY PROTESTS
AGAINST SCOTCH VERDICT
Commissioner D. F. mccarthy, re-
spending to a query as to his opinion
of the report in so far as it concerned
himself. said:
The committee freely confesses that
it was unable to discover evidence to
Justify a recomme ndation that ! re-
sign; having plainly stated that it
mas no evidence to sustain the charges
made against me. yet essays to assert
1cfa
criticism. The purport OF that one
clause conduct not above criticism is
to put upon me the Scotch verdict OF
guilty, but not proven
IF no evidence exists, as the COM
mittee states in It's report how can the
majority OF the members of the com
mittee who signed the paper reconcile
their gratuitous condemnation of me
with proper ideas of honesty, fairness
and Justice? I am disappointed and
disgusted., A stone has been hurled at
me out of the dark. The people of
Richmond are told that my conduct in
Office is not above criticism. and they
are LETT to imagine wherein I am de-
ficient I do not believe that any fair
minded citizen of Richmond will accent
the conjecture expressed by tho COM
acter. cruel and undeservcd"
Immediately after the report was
read Alderman Gilman moved to Law
1t upon the table until the next meet
ing and TO order the full text printed
for the information OF the members OF
both branches OF Council, that they
might give 1t due consideration before
taking action.
CHRISTIAN READY
TO VOTE At ONCE
Alderman Christian objected. He
said he was convinced that the mem
bers OF the Board were willing to
abide by the Judgment OF the investi-
eating committee. He WAS prepared to
vote Immediately FOR acceptance of
the report. Alderman Paul suggested
laying the report on the table and
taking it up for action at subse-
the president.
Alderman Pu:ler spoke with much
warmth against Mr.. Christians mo-
ton to take immediate action
II believe most Of us want to look
into the report of this divided COM
mittcc." he said. directing attention
to the fact that two Of the investisa-
tors had refused to concur In the ind
ings and recommendations. There
must have been good and sufficient
reasons for the refusal of the minor
ity to sign the report" he pursued.
One feature of the report is astound-
ing 10 me, The committee tells us
that 1t has not found Commissioners
We'll guilty Of misfeasance or NAL
teasance in office. but asks us to call
for Mr.. Weirs resignation.
WANTS TO KNOW
WiIAT DIVIDED COMMITTEES;
what is the evidence upon which
the Bindings were based? We have n
right to know that. The final sessions
OF this committee we're behind closed
doors. Everything was held secret.
Why was the committee divided?
What divided 1t? There are many
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