San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-08
COURT GRANTS
HARRIS ROAD
! INJUNCTION
Moody Charges Fraud in
Letting Of Highway
Contract.

HOUSTON, Oct. Son the ground
that execution of the Sherman and
Youmans highway maintenance con-
tract by the state highway commission
showed a complete disregard and abuse
Of discretion, Judge Walter r. Mon
eth Wednesday granted the temper
airy injunction sought by Harris coun-
ty taxpayers against further opera
ton of the contract in question.
The decision came promptly after
counsel for both sides to the litigation
had concluded arguments in the case,
Attorney General Dan Moody closing
with a fiery demand for the nullifica-
ton of the contract in order to serve
the best interests o. the state and the
people of Texas.
The young attorney general charac-
terized the contract as "unconscion-
able"
CHARGES FRAUD.
sThesc men have no right to reach
into the state treasury, to stick their
hands into the money pots of Texas,
and rake out 100000 where but
100000 was their honest due"
Moody declared.
''The suggestion of fraud must 20
through this case from beginning to
end. ask, if it please this court. that
the people of Texas be protected and
that this contract be declared nullity
and set aside so that a new contract
may be let on competitive bidding"
The defense touched off political
powder barrel in the closing hours OF
l.. L. onJ fnr tho cpnrn of a heP-
tic half hour fireworks blazed in
which the name of James f. Ferguson
stood out in the center OF the illum-
ination.
CRY POLITICS.
A single query by counsel for plain
tiff concerning the part played by for
mer Governor Ferguson in the deliber-
atoms of the state highway commits
sion proved the spark in the powder.
Instantly attorneys for the defense
set up cries of Politics.! Politics :.
Counsel for plaintiffs disclaimed any
such purpose save that it was their
intention to trace the proceeds OF the
$500 check previously introduced In
evidence.
sand it was testified on this wit
ness stand that Mr.. Sherman declared
that part of the proceeds of the $4,000
check was his personal contribution 10
the Ferguson campaign fund.-" Attor-
ney Amerman explained.
DEFENSE OBJECTS.
sWhat I purposed to show by my
question concerning what part Fer
guson plays in the deliberations OF
tn highway commission was that he
dominates the commission" Amerman
continued.
Z Objections popped out from every
attorney for the defense.
AT last the cloven hoof of this ac-
tion is uncovered" asserted Attorney
John VI. King in his objection.
Attorney Stevens. representing one
Of the defendants in the case, arose
to an imprisoned defense of Fergu-
son, basing an objection to the ques-
ton on grounds of its irrelevancy,
and concluding:
@Because Jim Ferguson was once
in trouble too many people are prone
TO attempt to drag his name in the
mire. 1 think it is unkind.
SUSTAIN OBJECTION.
Nearly all attorneys represented in
the case were on the floor at once,
arguing. charging and counter-charg-
ing among themselves when the court
sustained the objection raised to
Amerman's question and the fire.
works died.
Chester Bryan was the witness on
the stand when Amerman sought TO
show mat Ferguson dominates the
state highway commission. Bryan
was dismissed when the defense frus-
trated that effort by it's objections.
II bad been day of high interest
prior to that exciting episode. Two
witnesses broke the long silence on
the $500 check, w. II. Rankin,
certified auditor, and J. W. Cook, an
associate auditor. told all they knew
with regard to the check transaction.