The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-15

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INVESTIGATION OF THE CHARGE
& .AGAINsT FUDGE MEREDITM.
The following evidence was heard in thi
case ON Saturday
TESTIMONY OF. JUDGE JeHN5H. GREGORY.
Question by defence: @ Are. you ae
quainted with Judge Meredith and hi
mode of conducting business in his court
II so, state what is his reputation for in
tegrity as q man, for his uprightness ant
impartiality as q judge, and his accurac,
in conducting the business of his court.n
Z Objected toby the court, and questio,
withdrawn, -. .s.,7,4y,.. :, ~-.,- =
3 'Tshave been practicing lawyer il thi
city for about thirty-six years. Was ono,
Judge Of the sixth circuit. Am familiar
with the law in, reference to tn,
naturalization Of foreigners. Have prac
ticed law in all the courts from here f
Hampton for years, and never saw more
particular court or Judge than the Circuit
Court Of this city in relation to that bust
ness. Was in Judge Meredith's court II
February or March last, and observing hi
extreme caution, jocularly remarked to hin
that he was too fastidious in his examina
tion of foreigners. Remember the remarl
because it was made in reference to come
thingrequired by the law which consider
foolish. It is that the party must declare
himself attached to the institutions anG
Constitution of the United States when he
knows nothing about them. Never acteG
as counsel for parties applying for such pa
pers. Thought they were all fools to be
naturalized at all. If were foreigner
and consulted my own interest, I would
never be naturalized. -',-
- TESTIMONY OF t. 8. RAYMOND.
Am practicing lawyer in this city, and
am frequently in attendance at the Circuit
Court Of Richmond. Never noticed the
practice of naturalizing foreigners until
about the February OF March term Of thai
court, and was present when the late Mr.
John Dooley came into court with good
many foreigners to be naturalized. No.
ticed that the Judge was very particular
and strict in requiring all the evidence
the low demanded, as to character
attachment to- the Union, residence, sc
My attention was attracted to his actor
principally from the fact that I had
always thought in years gone by there was
carelessness upon the part of the people in
having these foreigners naturaEzed. Saw
nothing wrong nor any neglect upon the
part of the Judge. Know that some were
rejected. Did not see, although sitting
close to him when large number, proba
bly, forty or fifty were presented, that ht
was in any respect careless in his exami
nation of them.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN A. HUTCHINSON.
/ Have known Baptiste Denis since the fal
of 1852. Was acting as deputy sheriff -fol
Henrico county, and on my way to Rich
Inond on one occasion found o little boy
who could not speak word Of English thai
/ could understand, at the toll-gate on the
plankroad. learned that he was looking
for home. Lived with me until the fal
of 1853. He was too small to plow. DOM
suppose he was over sixteen years old then
He told me that was his age. Don't think
he was older than that. His name wat
Baptiste Denis.
Have been practicing lawyer of thit
city for about twenty years. Paid very
little attention to the process of natdraliz
ing foreigners. Wasi present on many oc
casions during the last six months when s
great deal of this sort of business was 60
ing on, but there was nothing to call my
special attention to it.; it generally went or
while other business was being attended K
by the bar. AS far as / could observe, thu
court seemed to be conducted with all tn.
rigor usual upon such occasions. Conside1
Judge Meredith the most careful and pains
taking Judge that have ever known. There
weretwo cases which came specially tony no
tice. Would not probably have remember
ed them but for the fact that while I wa
in court q note was handed to me asking
me to attend to case or two, and it turned
out that one of them was cook at the Bal
lard House, where l boarded. Had but {
slight acquaintance with him, but went t
the Judge and mentioned the fact that h,
was waiting. If I remember, he said a
soon as the clerk is at leisure he will attent
to it. In little while afterwards the par
ties were called up and interrogated by th
court, and were granted their papers
Paid very little attention to the matter o
their examination, leaving it to the Judge
Ny impression is that both Of them de
clared they had come here under eighteel
years of age. Never heard anything o
the loss of the first papers by one Of them
never heard anything of that until l say
the newspaper report of these proceed
ings. No such statement was made to me
Did not know this anwell enough to Civ
the court any information in regard to him
What I said was not in the way of testi
mony, because did not undertake to speal
of matters of fact. Left him to the court
Don't know that any other testimony wa
taken. Have seen it stated that a MAJ
by the name of Tracy was in the court
but don't remember it. Believe that n
was, though. Think the note l receive
was from Stephen Mason, asking me t
attend to the case. Paid little attention t
it at thestime, and it passed from my mind
Don't think ever received fee for Gas
Of that sort in my life. Don't think eve
acted as counsel in such case.
Cross-examined Don't know Of an
other testimony in these cases than the oat
of the party. Merely called attention
! the court to the fact that they were waiting
Was within five or six feet Of the Judg
during the whole time, but did not under
take to conduct the examination or interrt
gate the witnesses.
% TESTIMONY OF F. P. TURNER.
Am lawyer, and practice regularly
the Circuit Court of Richmond. ForelgI
ers frequently came to me, sometimes
my Office and sometimes to the courtroom
to aid them in getting their papers. NeYe
accepted a fee for such service. opo
one occasion particularly, while don't r
member the name Of the party, l tSnl kno