Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-28
Tho FOwle.Steyens Case.

"These statements are objected to because
they a,e &c parte aud simply af6davits taken
without notice TO me, hence caDnot be mad
par of the record in the c,se before the COM
mitee and further, because they are made
after the evidence on the part OF the prosecu
ton and defence had been declared to be closed.
GEORGE S. STEVENS.
February IS, 1876"
On Sa urday morning, the Investigation haV-
lug been conclude d. the committee submitted
to the House of Delegates the foll,wlag re-
port
The committee has aimed to make its iDves,
| tigation as thorough as the authority under
| which it acted and the means at its command
| would permit. Every person who was sugges-
ted to it as in anywse connected with or likely to
| possess information upon the subject OF lnVes'
| tigation was summoned to appear and give ties
| timony. Some who were called to testify kne"
nothing material to said subject OF lnvestiga-
| ton.
The committee found its task both difficult
and delicate: First, by reason Of the difficulty
Of securing the attendance of witnesses WHO
had personal knowledge of the alleged facts
secondly. by reason of the reluctance of some
| OF those who did attend to impart that knoWl-
edge to the committee.
| While, however, the committee has thus
been delayed, it has finally succeeded IN OBJ
tanning sufficient evidence TO make It's work as
thorough as could reasonably be expected. As
all the evidence upon which the report OF the
commit, ee is based will be 10 the bands OF the
members of The General Assembly, no elabo
rate report is deemed necessary. 1t Is only
proposed, therefore, to state the facts which
have been. proven to refer to the evidence by
which they are proved call attention to the
law which these facts show to have been Vlo-
lated, aud recommend such action as in the
Judgment of the committee the law and the
testimony demand.
The facts proven by the evidence before the
committee are substantially as follows:
Geo. S. Stevens. judge of the County Court
of Nelson county, Virginia, was at the noted
"faro- bank" or gambling house OF John A.
Wursham, on the corner of Fourteenth and
Franklin streets, 10 the city Of Richmond, play
lug and betting at certain game OF CARDS
which he designated as draw poker or
"ireeze. out" and did, by there playing and
betting at said game, oD Sunday, Monday and
Tuesday, the ID. 81 and 4th DAYS OF January,
1876, win OF W. H. Fowle, a member OF the
House of Delegates, money, checks and boods
tu the amount Of 81 200.
At the same place. and at or about the same
time, said Stevens played cards tor money with
persous other than said Fowlc (The commit
tee was unable to ascertain the extent OF his
playing and betting with or the amount OF his
winnings from said other persons as their
| names we're not given, and their evidence could
not, therefore, be Obtained
AT the same place, and at or about the same
| time, said Stevens also played and bet at GER
tain game commonly called faro bank" These
facts are proved by the testimony OF W.. ii.
Fowe and others, by the record of the HuSt-
ings Court of the city of Richmond, and by
Stevens Own confession.
It is not meant that the testimony of any
one of the witnesses proved all the facts above
stated but that their united testimony proved
said fac 8 conclusVely.
Section of chapter 1914 Of the Code of 1873
provides that III person bet or play at any
such table or bank as is mentioned 10 the first
sectou' me shall be hued thirty dol
ars, and SHALL if required by the court, give
security for his good behavior for one year, or,
10 default thereof, may be imprisoned not mere
than three months.
Section 5. IF person, by playing or bet
| ting at any game or wager elsewhere than at
public place, lose or win within twenty four
hours greater sun or anything of greater
value than twenty dollars he shall be punlshed
as iu the preceding section.
1t is the duly OF the judge of the County
| Court TO give these laws 10 charge 10 the grand
iuries Of his court, and to have them properly
eDfjrced
Section of article Of the Constitution of
Virginia, aud section Of chapter II OF the
Code of 1873, both require that "al persons,
before encrlug upon the discharge OF any tunc,
| tions as officers of this State, shall take and
subscribe the following oath or affirmation: =
IL, do soleupy swear for afirm) that
| [ will support and ma'ntaiu the Constitution
and laws Of the United States, and the Con
stitution and laws of the State Of Virginia.
Every Judge must, before entering upon the
discharge of the functions of his office, take and
sub: cribe this oath. Whenever, therefore, he
knowingly violates the ia,0, he violates his sol
enan oath of office. He IS, therefore, guilty OF
Violating uvth the Ian aud his oath taken IN
conformity to law.
The importa sc and value Of a pure judiciary
canuot he over, stimatcd. Ii is the grand pal
ladium Of our civil rights. Ilarrrsts the march
| of crime, vice, and lawessness and fosters or
der inn, cence, aud vlrture. Virginiaus point
With manly pride TO the legal and intellectual
standing of the judiciary, both past and pres'n,
of their State but with still nober pride to
| their high moral character and their usutl'ed
puFIy. NU UlucE Qudity, ho"e'e! N"iuaoie,
no other attainment, however brilliant, can
compensate for the the absence of that exalted
moral worth which places its possHssor above
the suspicion of wrong and commands the con
6denre Ut even vicious men.
judge who frtquents noted gambling
houses and associates with those who patronlze
them degrades his Office and soils blsj judicial
ermine. How mucl more Gu pable must ne be
when he antics acith them to violate the very
laws he has sworn TO IuartaiD
Such the evidence proves has been the course
of Judge Stevens. Such being the case, your
committee are of opiulon that the said George
S. Stevens should b, removed from his office
of judge OF the County Court ofNelson county,
for the reasons hereiDbefore stated, and recon-
mend the adoption of the following resolutions
by the House:
|. Resolred by the House OF Delegates of Kr
giuaia bat THIS Houst will proceed on uurs
day the 23d day of March, 1876, at II o'clock
H., to consider the question of the removal OF
George S. Stevens judge otof the County Court
Of Nelson county from his Office OF Judge BY
,,ta ~ both II IN. ~ tba Eanoral