The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-28

VeStigation as thorough as the authority en-
der which 1t acted and the means at IT.. ceH-
mand would permit. Every persr,n who
was suggested to 1t as In any wise Connected
with or likely to possess inform Atior upon
the sub, ect Of investigation was sursmoned
to appear and give testimony. sohe who
were c.lled to testify knew nothing material
to said subject Of investigation.
The committee found It's task both diff.
cult arid delicate: First, by reason Of the
difficulty Of securing the attendance of wit
nesses who had personal knowledge OF the
alleged facts; secondly, by reason Of the re-
luetance Of sosae Of those who did attend to
iRpart that Knowledge to the committee.
While, however, the cozamittee has thus
Seen delayed, 1t has fnslly succeeded In OBJ
tanning sufficient evidence to make Its work
as thorough as could reasonably be expected.
As all
. THE EVIDENCE
upon which the report of the committee is
based will be in the bands of the members
OF the General Assembly, no elaborate re-
port is deemed necessary. 1t is only pro.
posed, therefore, 10 state the facts which
have been provens to refer to the evidence
byewhicF they are proved; call attention to
the law which these facts show to have been
violated, and recommend such action as IA
tie judgment Of the committee the law and
the testimony dcmand.
The facts proven by the evidence before
t.he committee are substantially as follows:
George s Stevens, judge Of the Coenty
Court. of Nelson county, Virginia, was at
the noted '"faro-bank " or "gamblipg.
house" of Eohn A. Worsham, on the corner
of Fourteenth and Franklin streets, IN the
city of Richmond, playing and betting at
certain game of cards which he designated
ss draW.pokcr' or "freez e-out,' and did,
by there Playing and betting at said game,
on Sunaay, Monday, and Tuesday, the: I'd,
Sd, and 4th days OF January, 1876, win OF
W. 81. Eowle, member OF the House OF
Delegates, money, checks, and bonds to the
amount, Of $1,000.
At the same place, and at or about the
same time, said Stevens played cards for
money with persons other than said FoWle.
(The committee was unsSle to ascertain the
extent of his playing and betting with or
the amount Of his winnings from SAID other
persens, as their names were not given, and
their evidence could not, therefore, be OBJ.
tained.)
At the same place, and at or about the
same time, said Stevens also played and oet
at a certain game commonly called "faro'
baBi-." --..e..
THESE FACTS
are proved BY the testimony of W. a
Fowle and others, by the record of the Hus1.
| ipes Court Of the cityuof Richmond, and by
Stevens's own confession.
It is not meant thatithe testimony Of any
one of the witnesses proved all the facts
Laboye stated, but that their united testimony
proved said facts conciusively.
Section 4 of chapter 194 Of the Code OF
I1S73 provides that 'tif person bet or
play at any such table or bank as IS
mentioned in the first section" ~ he
shall be fined thirty dollars, and shall, if re-
Luuired by the court, give security for his
good behavior for one year, or, In default
thereof, may be imprisoned not more than
three months"
| Section 5. eff person, By playing or
betting at any game or wager elsewhere than
at public place, lose or win within twenty
faur hours q greater sum or anything OF
greater value than twenty dollars he shall be
punished as n the preceding section"
| 1t is
TIE DUEy OF THEIUDGE
of the County Court to give these law2. in
charge to the grand juries of bis court, and
| to have them properly enforced.
Section of article of the CONSTITUTION
| of Virginia, and section l Of chapter II of
the Code of 1873, both reGIire that "all
persons, before entering upon the discharge
of any functions as odti GERS of this State. shall
take and subscribe the following oath or
affirmation o.:
"I.-, do solemuly swear (or afirm) that
will support and maintain thetC Constitution
and laws 6f the United States, and the Con.
stitution and laws of the State Of Virginia"
| Every Judge must, before enteriDg Upon
the discharge of the functions Of his office,
take and subscribe this oath. Whenever,
therefore, he knowingly violates the ld,o,
he violates his solemn oath Of office. He is,
therefore, guilty of violating both the IaD
and his oath taken in conformity to aaW.
Tho importance and value of puee judi
!ciary cannot be oYer-estimated. 1t is the
grand palladium of our civil rights. It ar
rests the march of crime, vice, and lG@less.
ness, and fosters order, Innocence, and virtue.
Wirginians point with manly pride to the
legal and intellectual standing of the jgdici-
ary, both past and present, of their State; but
with a still nobler pride to their high nsordl
| character and their unsu4ied purity. No
other quality, however valuable; no other
attainment, however brilliant, can compen-
| safe for the absence OF that
EXALTED MORAL YoRTH
| which places its possessor above the snspi.
cion of wrong and commandsthe confidence
of even vicious men.
Judge who frequents noted gambling.
houses and associates with those who pa.
tronlzs them degrades bis office and soils bis
judicial ermine. How much more cuipable
must he be when be uniteS 1olh them TO
violate the very laws he has sworn to mRln-
tain!
Such the evidence proves has been the
course of Judge Stevens. Such being the
case, your committee are OF OPINION mat tne
said George S. Stevens should be removed
from bis office of judge OF the County Court
of Nelson county for the reasons hereinbe-
fore stated, and recommend the adoption Of
the following
by the House: -
1. ResolUed by the House Of Delegates Of
VirGinia, That this House will proceed on
Thursday, the 23d day OF March, 1875, al II
O'Clock NJ, to consider the question OF the
removal of George S. Stevens, Judge OF the
County Court of Nelson county, from his
office of Judge by q concurrent vote of both
houses of the General Assembly, in pursu-
ance of the twenty. third section of the sixth
article of the Constitution Of Virginia, upon
the following charges or causes OF removal
to wit:
/. That the said George S. Stevens, while
Judge of the County Court of Nelson coun-
ty, did. on Sunday the I'd day OF January,
fs7G, or on some other day within twelve.
months last past, bet and play at certain
game commonly called fare. bank, or table OF
IA. s;,d =. ths ctv of Richmond and State