Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-26

only wanted an appearance. and that intended
to appear and demand a continuance. but if !
did not, he knew whore I was-I didn't intend |
to leave the Common wealth These remarks,
presume were made in the hesring of the clerk.
/ Immediately returned to the hall of the House
of Delegates and informed Mr.. Coghill that
had been served with process, and he would
have to attend to my defence Mr.. Coghlll told
me had better go over and put in my plea !
| and ask for continuance, as he was then en-
gagged in the House. and could not leave.
! presume I had not left the office of the court
more than an hour and half when l started
back to enter my appearance and ask for CON
Ii uance of the two cases. On my way to Inc
off "a, between the Capitol and monument,
met the deputy sergeantwho told me ne hso tWS
| cauiases pro fne l was somewhat eXssperateo
and grieved at it, particularly as there was tnen
an investiga alton going on upon the same suoJecs
in another department of the government,
which presume thst the officers OF the cSurt
knew Of and suspected II to have been oone
with q view to prejudice me batore the com mlI-
tee and the General Assembly of Virginia, Us
the judgments were by default and taken IN
great haste
The Judge here closed his statement; but he
made some subsequent remarks in the hearing
of the committee upon what he deemed the
indecent haste of the proceedings against him
in the Husting. Court and said positively that
there was something behind the curtain"
which this haste was intended to hide, but
which it might yet be necessary for him to re-
veal or have developed.
During Judge Stevens statement, Senator q.
T. Smith appeared and insisted that rs the Judge
had introduced letter from him that he (tne
Senstor) should be permitted to put IN letter
he had received in reply from the judge, and
also his reply to the judges letter.
This was agreed to, but the Senator YVES unable
to find the judges letter, and all that came of
this was the following note from the Senator,
which the Judge handed in:
TIA Ballard House, January l3 1876.
Dear George: When | came from the Capt.
toll. between and O. clock l found your note.
Mr.. Beckham tells me he requested OF you,
along with my note, an interview, and as he
still desires one with you, l hope it will be
granted. He is Free Mason Of high rank and
standing and is gentleman. As said in my
| other note, l have not had anything directly 70
can avoid it Your note to me is neither proper
8 or kind in its tone. Yours truly,
(Signed) " l. oalTH.
Messrs. VIM. NJ. Cabel lawyer Of Buck
: ippham county, and ]. D. Horsley, lawyer
of Nelson county, both pIactlcDg attorneys 10
! the County Court of Nelson, were introduced
by Judge Stevens 10 his own behalf, and they
: testified to bis high official and private char
actcr.
Here the testimony closed and the commit
tee went Into secret session 10 discuss their re-
port. wbioh has probably been agreed upon by
, this time, and will be presented to the House
as soou " it can be prepared.
) Capt. Fowie says that Stevens had the re-
mark be made reversed; that what be really
said was that he got drunk in his head, not 10
. bis legs-Rich Wing Of yesterday morning.
10 consequence OF the statement made by
Judge Stevens before the committee yesterday
evening the committee requested MIR. Jenk-
ms, the Clerk Of the Hustlngs Court, and Mr..
| Holz niger, the Deputy Sergeant, to furnish a
5 statsment of the facts 10 he premises:
HUsT1sGs COURT, CITY or Richmond,
3 February rs, 1876.
To the Hon J. E. Massie Chairman of the Spe.
ciaL COMMITTEE Of the House Of Delegates
In response to your request that should furnish
YOU with statement as TO what occurred between
Judge Stevens and myself upon the day of his late
trial in the Hastings Court of this city, would say
that on the morning of the 18th day of February,
between 10 and II O'Clock, Judge Stevens came to
see the indictments against him and was inv ted TO
take seat, which he did, and the indictments were
placed in his hands and carefully perused. He arose
, and handed them back to me, saying the attorney
seemed in hot haste to issue process upon them,
and informed him the process was returnablo at
|
be over. He said he did not propose 10 come, that
he resided in Nelson county; let the attorney for
the Commonw ealth ask for his capias, and will
give bail TO the officer who executes it. then asked
him he wanted delay, if he had not better appear
and make his motion the court He said he would
not but would appear when capias was executed
upon him. Judge Stevens left my Ctlice 1t this
moment. When Mr.. Cabell came into court, he
asked if process had been executed upon Fowle aud
Judge Stevens, replied in the f1rmstlve and III
| ,-h I'd nod Aid md
thereupon his was called and Judgment en-
tered against him prescribed by law in such cases.
In rega to any HASTEN issuing he process against
Judge Stevens, would state that it has been al
ways the custom of this court TO issue process i'm
medately after the finding of the Indictment, and
in this case section 23, chapter POI, Code Of Ffr-
ginia directs that on any Indictments, or present.
ments, :uch as those against Messrs Stevens and
Fowie, process shall be issued Immediately. All
the provisions of law in these cases have been
strictly complied with, and nothing done of an
Unusual nature Very Respectfully,
AADRLw JENKINS,
Clerk Hastings Court, City of Richmond.
Mr. Hv:zinger said that he served sub
poe ia aud rule upon Judge Stevens to ap-
? pear before the grand jury, and he manifested
, great unWillingness to obey the summons OF
the court. MIR. Holzinger also said that be
served the process summoning Judge Stevens
to answer the indictments found against him.
and advised him 10 appear 10 the morning aud
arrange the matter. Stevens made no reply
After be had been convicted caplas pro foe
was placed 10 my bands to execute, aud 6ud-
log Judge Stevens in the rotu0da OF the Capt.
tol | served it on him. WheD he complained
of the action of the court being hasty, Holziu-
ger said he assured him repeatedly if b. would
60 over to the court and state that be had
defense the court would sci aside the judgment
aud grant him time to prepare for his trial.
He refused p 'rss'eotly TO come Rich Jour-
nal of yesterday evening"
CONGRESS.