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

January, 1875, vi chin twenty.four hours, by
playing and bf ,cting at the same game with
the said FoW 1e, win from him coupon bonds
OF the Dist. r.tct of Columbia Of greater value
than tWe,1.y dollars-to wit, ten Of said
bonds II the nominal value of $500 each
10 Vt.oia.ion of section Of chapter 1914 Of the
Co de Of Virginia, edition OF 1873, and In vic.
alton of bis oath OF Office asjudge aforesaid.
! B. That the said charge or causes OF re-
meval be entered on the journal Of the House
of Delegates: that copy thereof be trans
mitted to the Senate, to be entered on its jour.
nal that copy thereof be furnished to the
said George S.asteyens, judge as aforesaid,
together With notice of the fact and time
set for the consideration Of the matter by
the House at least twenty days before such
time so fixed for the consideration thereof.
Respectfully submitted.
JOIN E. MASSEY, Chairman.
Tbe following minority report was sub
mitted:
To the Honorable the House of Delegates Of
Virginia:
The undersigned, member of the special
committee appointed to inquire into the truth
or falsity of charges against George S. Ste
yens, judge OF the County Court Of Nelson,
begs leave to submit the following as the re-
port only of the undersigned. The preamble
aud resolution that created the committee
and defined its powers are as follows. Here
the preamble and resolution are given.]
It will be observed that the resolution
simply directs the committee to report the
"truth or falsity OF the statements concern.
ing said Stevens"
Therefore the undersigned,
DIFFERING WITH TEE COMMITTEE
es to the authority of the committee, under
said resolution, to recommend specific action
to be taken by the General Assembly, and
believing that simple statement of the facts
proved Is all that was contemplated by the
resolution, the undersigned did not and does
not agree with the committee in the pro-
priety of their report. He agrees with the
committee in the statement Of the facts as
proven; but as to whether the facts
as proven operate disqualification to
said George S. Stevens as judge is
either judicial question, or one Of NOR
ais and II. the latter, 1t then becomes cues.
| ton as to whether or not his oath Of Office
some that the oath Of Office taken by him
only applies to the judicial administration Of
his position, and not to his :.
| lLhOhAL dAbl1S
as man; By others it may be commended
that the immora habits Of man who occu.
pies a judicial position does come with.
in the range, and is violation OF bis
oath Of office. That Judge Stevens has
violated the law by playing cards
there is no doubt, and In the opinion
was inconsistent with his judicial position.
Il ho FOO hoso, hofnra no pnM,a the
dersigned leaves the House TO act without
any suggestion from
CHARLES a. RoaALD.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRovIEoR.
In the course of the brief debate that fol-
lowed the presentation of the report MIR
Stuart said that under the Constitution o.
1776 the State could only get rid Of a Judge
| who had been guilty of high crime ermisde
meanor, and nisdemeanor in the connection
Involved the osimen falsi ; for example, per
| Jury was such q misdemeanOr at commor
law. Ajudge could not be displaced for gross
immortality or for physical disability. Ii
1888 there were three judges parasJ Jzed, ano
there was no way Of getting rid ofthem. III
1850 the Constitution to meet such case;
provided two modes of dislodging audges-
first, by impeachment where there was high
crime; second, by removal "nere
there was immortality or physical disa
bility, &c. The present provision OF the
i Constitution was copied from that Of 1850.
Stevens, Mr.. Stuart said, was clearly no
guilty of the high crime for which he would
he liable to impeachment, as he would have
been had he drugsed Fowle. as was charged.
but was guilty of an offence which warranted
bis removal.
The resolution contained In the report OF
the committee was adopted by vote Of 81
to4. ...
In case of Judge stevens's removal from
the judgeship it is said he will return to his
couaty and run for tie Legislature, with
good prospects of being elected. -,
Some action in the case OF Mr.. FoWle will
probably be taken by the House.