The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-22
FRANKLIN FIGHT.
Charges OF General JuSal a. Early
Against n Readiusfcr Nominee.


\ LIVELY TIME IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY YESTERDAY
CHARGES AGAINST THOMAS 3. CLAI-
B0RNF, READJUsTFR NOMINEE FOR
JUDGE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, THAT HE
ISA PROFESSIONAL GAMBLER, AND THAT
HE WAS DISMISSED FROM THE REVENUE
SERVICE FOR PRESENTING BOGUS VoUCH.
ERs-THE EVIDENCE AS TAKEN BEFORE
fHE CAUCUS COMMITTEE READ TO TIE
HoUSE-THE DEFENCE PAPERS IN THE
CASE-SPICY DEBATE-PERSONAL, &C.
Yesterday there was lively time in each
house OF the General Assembly over the
election Of Judge for the county OF Frank
lin. Charges were preferred against Mr..
Thomas B. Claiborne, RosdiUster nominee,
that he is n professional gambler. who uses
marked cards and Lizard" " IAN nstrII-
ment for chealingl, and that he had been
dismissed from the revenue service OF the
United States for presenting bogus vouch-
ers. AS to the first, a letter from General
Jubal A. Early contained the information
placed before the General Assembly.
About the vouchers, the evidence is in the
form Of a statement written by Green Il.
Raum. Commis sionerof Internal Revenue,
TO Congressman Cabell. Mr.. Daniel pre-
scnted these letters in tile Senate, and Mr..
Payne, Of Fauquier. presented them IN the
House. In each body there was warm de-
bate, the substance Of which is given below.
The iricnGs OF Mr.. Claiborne relied upon
dispositions and letters received by the Cau-
Gus Committee on Character and a letter
from Collector RiYeS, Of the Fifth dis
trict, saying that Mr.. Claiborne while
in the revenue service had discharged bis
duties acceptably. Mr.. Finney, of Pitisyl-
vania, q Conservative Deb,-Payer, OF the
House, spoke in favor OF the election OF
Mr.. Claiborne, knowing him well, and be-
lieying him The choice OF majority OF the
people OF the county OF Franklin. The
TWO houses adjourned without taking
vote on the question, and the consideration
Of the Subiect will be resumed to-day.
In the Senate.
Several Joint resolutions 20 expedite the
election of judges were agreed TO, and the
vote cas-, by the two lfsUSeS for the judges
voted for on Monday was canyassed, and
the judges declared elected.
For Judge OF Franklin Mr.. James nomi-
mated Thomas E. Claiborne, and in the
course of his nominating speech referred to
certain charges made elsewhere by General
Early against Mr. Claiborne.
Mr. Thurman nominated Judge Thomas
II. Bernard.
Mr.. E>kridge seconded the nomination OF
Mr.. Claiborne.
Mr. James again spoke Of the charges that
had been brought against Mr.. Claiborne,
and said they had been di>proved
Mr. Hale made 4 warm and amusing ad-
dress in behalf OF Mr.. Claiborne.
Mr. Thurman defended General Early
against what he had regarded as slur.
Mr.. Daniel seconded the nomination OF
Judge Bernard, and said be had painful
duty 10 perform-viZ., 10 OBJECT to the cleo
ton OF Mr.. Thomas +. Claiborne. He held
in his hand paper which he would pres
emily send to the Clerks desk and have
read, paper prepared by General Early.
The first OF the charges, be said, which this
paper contained is that Thomas b. Clal-
borne Is a professional gambler; and the
second, said he, that he is
PROFESSIONAL, CHEATING GAMBLER.
Mr. Daniel knew nothing Of bis own
knowledge OF these charges, but had been
told in private conversation with gentle
men from that county that Mr.. Claiborne
feSSiOnal gambler.
Mr.. Daniel said much more in the same
line.
Mr.. Daniel asked Mr.. James il he would
saw whether he believed Mr.. Claiborne was
a professional gambler?
Mr. james said he did not believe he was
professional gambler, and he had known
him from his youth up, and regarded him
as a high.tOnfd gentleman.
Mr. Daniel sent up and bad read the fol-
lowing papers from General Early:
GENERAL EARLY's CHARGE.
EXCHANGE HOTEL, January 9. 1880.
I have known Thomas B. Claiborne. re-
ported in the morning papers Us the noml-
nee OF the predominant party IN the Legs
lature for Judge of the County Court OF
Franklin, from his earliest boynOOd, and
can assert, from my knowledge Of the man,
that he is wholly unfit for the position for
which he has been nominated, as well IN
point Of character as qualifications other
wise. From the time he grew to manhood
he has been gambler-What Is known rs
a profes iOnal gambler-of the lowest order,
and except for time when he was an en-
ploye OF the United States Revenue De-
partment, as gauger OF stills or something
of that sort, he has never followed any other
occupation than that OF gambling that have
heard of. His general and notorious reputa-
ton, wherever he Is known, Is that OF being
a cheating gambler, who uses marked cards
and all the cJntliyances for swlndllng IN
use among gamblers OF the lowest sort.
Besides his reputation in this respect,
have received such information from per-
sons acquainted with his acts as to leave no
doubt on nv mind on the subject and JUS
\ inn
that he is sNindling gambler OF the very
| lowest order. He was not in Virginia dur
ing the war. but, according TO his own ac-
count, as | have received 1t from persons
TO whom he gave the statement, he was In
Kentucky, inside of the enemy's lines. |
am informed that he has gwen two ac-
counts Of his position there the latest,
Given after he Joined the Republican party,
| helng that he was all the time strong
Union man. After the close OF the war he
returned to Franklin, bringing with him,
rs | was informed by a man in whose vera
city have implicit reliance, an ingenlously-
devised instrument with clasp 10 hOid
hand at cards, to be worn in the breast
under the vest, which, being connected
with the leg and foot by some sort OF ma
| cbnery and wires, could be thrust out so
as TO exchange the hand it contained Tor lbe
one dealt. My informant told me that Clal-
borne proposed to HIM to 20 in with him IN
using this instrument, as 1t was bound 10
win.v | have since been Informed that the
instrument, which l have never seen, Is
known among "the profession " as "Ilz-
zard." There is q gentleman. native OF
Franklin, now living in Richmond, VINO
has seen the identical instrument in the
hands of a person with whom TINS man
Claiborne had left 1t for the purpose OF