Ashland weekly tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1919-1924, 1921-08-31
were the order of the evening.
Sworn Testimony Not Used


Sworn Testimony Not Used
, With the swearing in" of the
plaintiff, Jesse Winburn, protest
was heard from E. T. Staples a tax
payer and interested spectator. As a
result the council decided that the
hearing was not judicial one, and
that, therefore, witnesses would not
have to take oath.
Winburn, who had already taken
the oath, insisted on remaining under
it. Then the council heard-well,
what 1t heard
Mr.. Winburn, in his testimony, al
legged that some time during either
the latter part OF April or early part
of May, that William Briggs came
to Longs Cabin, representing him
self as city attorney acting on be-
half Of the city OF Ashland at the
instruction OF the council. He
charged that Briggs had introduced
Sylvan Provost, hardware dealer, as
plumber who wanted to bid on the
prospective sewage connections to be
made on the property. He stated
that Briggs had attempted to h ave
the work given to Provost in lieu
OF Simpsons, with whom, Winburn
stated, he had made previous ar
rangements. Winburn claims to have
told Briggs that ii he wanted to say
anything for the city council to put
the same In writing. He stated that
those present we're himself, L. A..
Whitehead, Sylvan Provost and At
torney Briggs, Cross examination
was waived by Attorney Briggs.
Whitehead's Testimony
L. A. Whitehead was then called
to the witness stand-in point Of
fact, an ordinary kitchen chair. He
testified substantially the same as
Mr. Winburn. Briggs cross exam
ined Whitehead in an effort to show
that the latter was a tool of the
plaintiff. The witness stated posi-
lively that Briggs had introduced
Provost to Winburn. Although de
mails were made by Whitehead, II
was difficult to determine from the
statements and cross examination
made by Briggs whether Whitehead
was valet, chauffeur or secretary
to the plaintiff. Whithead denied
that he was employed by Winburn,
stating that at the time in question
he was employed by the Ashland
Development corporation. The wit
ness was insistent that the four par
ties named by Mr.. Winburn in his
testimony were the only ones pres
ent inside Of the cabin during At
torney Briggs visit. He denied that
boy named Clark Byer was in the
cabin at the time. Whithead claimed
that Briggs showed yindictive mood
rather than dictatorial.
Gives Different Version
Following the testimony of White
head, Attorney Briggs laid his case
before the council. He denied that
he had introduced Sylvan Provost
and the charge that he had attempt
ed to obtain the sewage work for the
latter. He stated that he had gone
to Longs Cabin following the in
structions Of the city council to
talk over" the sewage problem at
that place, which was said at that
time to be the cause OF water pol
luton in Ashland creek which sup
plies water to the city. He asserted
that WiBburn refused to talk with
him. He admitted telling the plain
tiff that the septic tank plans, which
he understood were contemplated by
Simpsons hardware store, would not
be satisfactory to the city. He stat
ed that Winburn was in a bad
mood; made insinuations querying
Briggs whether or not he personally
was the common council" and gave
curt orders to Whitehead and boy
named Clark Byers. now in Los An
geles, Calf, to stop standing around
and do something" The council
charmber audience had many laughs