The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-14
Bedford Counfy-Lctter from J.. ID.
fInymOuti. ESQ.


Editors Of the Dispatch: "The New
judge Takes his Seat " is The heading OF IN
article dated from this place as Of the 9th
instant, and published IN the wing OF the
10th instant and so gljringly incorrect are
nearly all OF the statements thereof that |,
as a member OF The Bedford bar, am not
willing they shall pass unnoticed. The er-
ticle in question could not have been writ
ten by any one present in our court-hOuSs
on the occasion referred 10, nor can | be
persuaded that Judge Davis would approve
Of publication OF such wild miSstatenentS
OF what did occur. else / should be forced
to abandon the good opinion have hereto
fore entertained OF the fairness OF that gen.
tleman. The facts. which no person can
truthfully conlrOvert. are that Judge Whar-
ton began bis regular january term on the
9th of that month, and after session OF
several days adjourned TO Friday, February
th, at 10 O'Clock A. NJ; that prior 10 that
day he tried person charged with a crime,
and there being a verdict Of guilty. counsel
made a motion in arrest OF judgment, which
was partially argued and postponed for a
few days Oh account of the necessary alb
S,nCe OF counsel; and a pending murder
casc was set for Tuesday, 10th instant
In the very midst OF the term thus pro-
crossing. and with this case in Judge WIS
hands to be completed, Judge ID. received
his commission on Tuesday evening the
Sd. and on Wednesday morning at half-pa>t
8 took the oath Of office rs Judge, without
having had any communication whatever
with Judge W., and that with the know
ledge that the January term had not yet ter
minated. for he declared his intention, and
ii was published in town paper, that he
would open court on Friday, February 9th,
which he knew was not regular cOurt-day:
and moreover, on the evening of the 9th he
informed The deputy sheriff, who waits on
the Court, that he would open court on the
next day. require obedience from him, and
il Judge w. interfPred would send him TO
jail. 1t is not true, then, that the court was
to Tuesday, 10th. as stated.
Before 10. the hour to which court had
been adjourned, Judge ID. did sit down in
the JUDGES chair. and did cause the deputy
sheriff TO open court Shortly after this |
Judge W. entered thc courthouse in COM |
pany witt the writer aIone-some other
members OF the bar being already in, others |
much later, and some not at ALL |
Jude W., in very mild manner, and not |
showing any excitement, protested against |
Judge ID. attempting TO hold court. After |
some considerable discussion between these
gentlemen, in which | saw no excitement, /
that case be ar once made up for
The purpose OF testing the question as TO
who was judge. TO this Judge ID. objected.
then suggested that Judge W. order the
sheriff to open court, which order he gave
md Judge ID. ordered him not to do so
Then the deputy declared he would not
hey either. Then Mr.. Burks proposed
hat both judges should let the court 90 by
Until the February term. This W. was
Wiling to, hut ID. declined, and SAID that
he only member Of the bar (Mr. BOwer)
Who was "In symplthy" with him was
bsent, and all the Others were combined
ogetber 10 override him." Two Of Us de.
led this most emphaticaIy, and he with
rev tbe charge. Is | understood him. |
hen insisted that Judge ID. should send the
iber Judge, the deputy, or myself, TO
all; but he would not, nor did he make
nv attempt whatever TO enforce any order,
r. respect for his authority. | insisted re-
,eaiedly that he should vindicate his dig
itv, but he maintained TO the last Il perfect
Indifference 10 that virtue. Al last Judge
Y. ordered the clerk to enter fine ,
nd order OF Imprisonment against the
equity sheriff. which Judge Davis forbade.
men Judge Wharton told the other Judge
e would send him to jail. and-presto, (
lange 1.-The proposition OF Mr.. BurkS that ,
othlng should be done till The February ,
rm was speedily accepted. Judge Whar. ,
N did not order any one to take either the I
lcrid or cle.rk 10 jail. II he had done so ,
Is order would have been promptly exc
lted, and no resi,tlncC would have been
iered. so it is simply false TO say that !
nobody would execute the OF der" Ii was I
Dt proposed or agreed by Wharton or his =
lends that his order OF that morning :
ould BE- stricken from the order-book. :
or was il done. ,
The statement that Judge Wingfeld (cir- \
lit judge "was IN te clerks Office OF his r
urt, in readiness to act" on any such case :
We could get up, is absolutely false, as he
careS and as believe. He did not 20
10 that office until after Judge ID. had h
ded his court. II il Useless 10 add, what a
known 10 all who know Judge Wingfeld,
ut no member OF any bar would dare TO
tempt any sucn arrangement with him in n
y case. y
have thus given the facts OF This our
81 experience with and taste OF the Re- y
ius'er Judiciary, and am sure will be .
stained Dy all fair-minded people who
re present. | have no personal objec- =
N to Judge d., and have repeatedly said {
II II we are 10 have non.lawyer for =
tge, would, if Mr. DAVIS were sound on y, W.
debi question, prefer him TO any Of vi
u class In the county. And now, when ID
pr Y IS decided that he IS authorized to re,
IA court. am ready 10 respect him rs =
ige, anc viii do so cheerfully; and Thu, r
understanding The taunt Of bis friend In i