The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1916-07-14
ROAD MILEAGE WAS
CORRECTLY STATED
DECLARE MEMBERS
DENY THAT THEY MADE MlSREP
RESERVATIONS IN THEIR
REPORTS.
VILEEsI5 OUT OF THE CASE
Attorney PEBBLES, Not Satisfied With
Rulings Of Committee, Announces
Mithdrawal-No Change Made and
Investigation is Proceeding.

committee with respect to the admis
sion OF testimony. Attorney Thoma
II. PEBBLES. representing r. A. Wilkes
in the road investigation on THURSDAY
afternoon announced his withdraw
from the case. He was shortly after
ward followed from the room by Mr.
Wilkes and company and their con
nection with the investigation appar
emily was at an end
This development was not WHO'LL
, unexpected by those who have watches
the investigation from the first Tit
tension has been growing. Member
OF the committee resented the insinua
tons and not infrequently charges o
the prosecution that they we're no
acting in good faith. On THURSDAY
afternoon the committee ruled alonl
certain lines and insisted that Mr.
PEBBLES respect the rulings. The
chairman raped vigorously for order
and then 1t was that Mr.. PEBBLES made
the simple statement that he would
withdraw from the case and left the
room.
The committee continued the hear
ing as though nothing unusual had
occurred. Not word of comment was
made by single member. The whole
matter probably did not interrupt the
hearing as much az five minutes. Dur.
ing the remainder OF the afternoon
session there was not the slightest
suggestion Of any change In the situa-
ton. The members Of the committee
questioned the witnesses, bringing out
the facts at issue In straightforward
manner.
There were no technical objections
or Interruptions Different members
OF the committee would question the
witnesses, not as the technical lawyer.
seeking some legal advantage would.
but merely to get at the facts Rapid
progress was made: matters proceeded
smoothly and without ripple. The
members Of the committee at the close
Of the days hearing said that they
had no comment to make upon the de-
nouement Of the afternoon: that all
they we're after was the facts and that
they proposed. if possible, TO get them
in straightforward manner and would
continue the investigation without re
gard to the attitude Of anyone on the
outside.
Commissioners Hughes. Murphy and
Hight were on the stand during the
afternoon in answer to the charges
made against them by R. A. Wilkes
They denied the charge that they had
misrspresented the mileage Of the
road constructed during the last quar-.
ter of 1913 and the first quarter of
1914 in the Fourth district. They said
that the beginning and ending points
of the work done for the quarters were
not correctly stated. Former Superin-
tendent Hicks Richardson said that in
the quater where 1t was charged the
work ended at the Mann lane, that as
matter of fact the road worked dur
ing that quarter ended about 500 yards
beyond the point mentioned
Superintendent John T. Akin, of the
work house, also testified that he had
worked the county hands on the
Smyrna road beyond the railroad. The
commissioners insisted that when
credit was given for all the roads con.
structed during the time mentioned
the total would be approximately nine
miles as reported by them.
Touching the alleged neglect of the
Culleoka and Columbia pike, acquired
by the county last August, the com
missioners said that they had then
spportioned the road funds to the va
ious roads of the county, except small
balance always kept On hand for
emergencies; that after the apportion- /
ment had been made the county &C.
CURED ten additional miles of pixies
and made no provision for their up
Keep. Explaining the balance. it was
stated that some of 1t was unexpend-
ed appropriations and part came from
the citizens Of Williamsport paid in |
under contract to apply the same on
the construction of a road to the coun-
ty line.
The committee went at length into
the feeding Of hogs at the work house,
their being sold and the proceeds APP
Piled to the purchase of mules. with,
out the funds going through the regu-
lar county channels. Mr.. Akin testified
that since September. 1914, $40O In |
profit had been made from this source, |
but 1t was plain from questions asked |
by the members that the committed
plainly disapproved OF the method used
IN handling fhfe fund