Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-16

The Fowle-Slevens Case.


The Fowle-Slevens Case.
The House special committee appointed to
ascertain the truth of the rumors 10 circulation
about Judge George Stevens, of Nelson oouu-
ty, in couDooiou with the loss by Delegate
FoWe of certaiD funds belonging to the Mont.
peler Association, met at the Capitol yester-
day evening to hear the evidence of MIR. Alex
andcr Hunter, of Alexandria. Mr.. Hunter
lives in Alex andria when be is at home, but is
now engaged as reporter 10 the gallery of the
House OF Representatives at Washington, and
therefore cannot be reached either by the pro-
cesses of the committee or BY Judge Guigon.
4 summons to attend the committee was lett
at his residence in Alexandria, but he pays 20
attention to that 1t is understood he will not
come to Richmond unless his expenses are
paid. His testimony, it is thought, would be
valuable, as he recovered about half of the
| Montpelier funds from Judge Stevens, aud, it
is said, received the confessions, or rather
statements, of both Fowle and Stevens as to
the gambling transaction.
The attention of the committee was called to
an editorial article which appeared 10 yestcr
day evenings Jouroal. headed Test mony to
Character" saying
''No greater proof Of the wret,hedly low
average of the pres :ut Legislature could have
been given than tie testimony of MI 4.
| Whitehead TO the charactr OF the Judicial
criminal DOW 90 trial before ssl"ct Committee
of thc House.
1T was gravely stated by this witness that the
Judge was 10 all respects very nlce gentle
mao, only. that be bad his ugly habit OF gam
bling. a nice set Of gentlemen are these Mel
500 people. 10 be sure The facts that every
body knows are that few weeks ago this mIu-
lister Of iusice lived in celebrated gambling
estab!ls!. ment Within stones throw OF Gov
error Kemper's chamber; that be entr lpped
10 his den weak young member Of the Legls-
lature while 10 state OF lntOxlcaton aud WOO
irom him bonds that were held by him only 10
. sacred trust-that this Judge was buIlled Dto
disgorging his III gotten gains. and did dis
gorge part of them on aconpromse. There
is hardly sane map 10 the Stale Of Virginia
vino does DOT know and believe these facts
But when We come to the official part of the
business the witnesses are all mutes, ADD the
committee become fctions OF the law, or block
heads.
1.-The torrent of evidence that has Aoodedthe
State is filtered through the law into an atten-
uated thread of no,hiogs, and prscticing law
yer is brought forward TO Whitewash, to sustain,
and fvrtity character that everybody believed
and now believes was absolutely gone.
1T is 90 doubt we'll that this case has been
so clearly proved already before the people of
Virginia 1t will afford the best opportunity
to the whole State to see the true character Of
| its General Assembly,
IF this man is acquitted, it will o My demon
strate beyond doubt the weakness, the stu
piIity, aud the miserably low character of that
body. We all know him to be guilty. The
Legislature all know it. But these mscaled
Conservatives, from their standpoint, aud with
their spectaces, will turn him of as gentle
man quite up to their standard, and possessing
quaihc .tons for the important position Of
Judge CT the County Court OF Nelson His
specific gravity is the same as theirs, and 50 be
holds his own among them.
1T is to be hoped that every man of them
may be held to strict account.
but this case is not yet before the State IN
all its enormity AID it seems the bidding CON-
mittee is DOT likely to develop it. We have it
| from authority that this boarder OF Worsham
is 40 old hand at the business. It is said that
for fifteen or twenty years he has been tamil-
lar with legislative sports and pushed bis trade
to advantage, aod that this is notorious.
In concluding, the Journal requested the
committee to call four geDlemen-Mr. A. Lor-
en;z, Mai. s. II. BJykin, aud Mr.. John y.
Mos5y basement officers at the Capitol, ADD
ex.Gov. LIE cher-bcfore them to tell of Stev-
ens's past career.
The committee ordered their clerk to SUM-
N ~ The four gentlemen, aud also the editor
of the Journal, 10 order that they might OBJ.
tain all possible information regarding Mr..
S;ereos, aud adjourned t. ma"t a, $50 ''cI OK
this Observation-Disclosures Dispatch Of Tues
day
The coujmittee appointed to whiteWash j udge
Stevens assembled 10 room No 10 the loft +
the Capitol this morning at half past O'Clock.
About the same hour the editors of the Jour
Da assembled 10 the office Of the Jouroal on
Main street. The committee assembled for
CANNON; the editors assembled for work A
few minutes later, 40 EN- ssary from the CON-
mittee appeared in the Journal Office to sum-
mon the editors to quit their work and take
part 10 the CANNON of the committee. They
went. Upon arriving at room No. 10 the
long narrow apartment with formidable lcok-
ing committeeman arranged in neat or.
der along either side Of the room. The
clerk OF the 'mmittee began al once to sharp
en his pen, but from the Indifferent way it
wrote he seem to have made very poor pro-
gress with the task Maybe be didn't get
Rogers peDknlte when those implements of
| legislation we're distributed at tho ginnog of
the session. Then a lot OF witnesses We're
made to kiss the book and swear. Then the
senor editor of the Journal Vas called. Then
gentleman who acted as prouptcr to tie
clerk began to dictate something to that lunc-
tionary which he seemed TO have great Difficult
ty 10 getting down straight aud then they DE-
gan to iuve>tigste the Journal editor somewhat
after the following fashion,:
@. Where do you live and what is your bust.
ness?
A. live in America and nv principal bust
Dess is to look after the Legislature of Viz
gnia.
| n Arc uou sncons .fu] in vour husi,,pss2