Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-02
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.

LETTER FROM RICHMOND.
Especial Correspondence OF the Alexandria GAZETTE.
RICHMOND, Va, February 1.-The House
Committee on Roads had under cousidera-
ton to day amendments to the acts OF the
last General Assembly requiring free
bridge to be built across the Rappahannock
river at Fredericksburg by the county of
Stafford. The objection to the act was that
it did not submit the question as TO whether
the bridge should be built to the voters of
the county, nor did it give any discretion as
to the building of the bridge to any of the
county authorities, but required it ITO be
built on the petition Of only fifty voters.
The charter was advocated by Judge Cool
rich, of Fredericksburg, counsel for the
bridge commissioners, and was opposed by
General Fitz Lee, who commended that 1t
was a most Ubiquitous measure to have
bridge forced upon the people by mere
act of the Legislature without giving them
any voice in the matter, requiring them to
pay for it whatever it might cost. Judge
Goodrich claimed that the act was constitu-
tional the bridge had been contracted for
at a cost of $24, $50, and the county would
be bound to pay for it, and that the repeal
or amendment of the act of the last General
Assembly would prevent the construction Of
the bridge and deprive the people of the
benefit of it, but they would be bound 10
pay for it under the contract with the bridge
commissioners. Gen. Lee, counsel for the
tax payers of Stafford, controverted the fact
that the county was bound to pay for the
bridge.
Mahenes visit to this city is understood
TO be for the purpose of looking into the af-
fairs of the Wing. This paper is ostensibly
run by stock company and in order to pre-
serve its charter the 'stock holders" must
meet once year. The wretched outcast
seemed more intent than ever upon keeping
his movements secret His late followers
here have not shown any enthusiasm over
his appearance. One of them, in the Legis-
lature few days since frankly owned that
"the bottom had dropped out" Of The move
nent.
The report Of the Committee for Courts
of Justice containing the evidence in the
case of W. B. G. Shumate, judge Of Fauquier
is iust cut. 1t contains Isl pages. Mr.. Eppa
Hunton, jr., in his evidence says:
From his appearance on the bench he
| does not understand the technical terms Of
| the law when used in argument it is almost
| impossible to extract from him decision on
any point submitted to him. His manage
ment of the business is such as to delay the
causes before his court, running the county
to great expense and giving great trouble
to the ltigants and counsel. The disorder
in his court is appalling | remember upon
one occasion where there were three lawycs
upon their feet at once. and, think, stimuli
taueously addressing the court. think it
would be impossible TO find a man of fair
common school education who was less COM
petent TO occupy the judicial position he
| holds than Judge Shumate His court has
been deserted in one of the papers as The
beer garden" l never knew OF Judge
Shumate having read law, and certainly his
decisions in his conduct on the bench has
shown no evidence of reading understand
ingly.
"Question. Has he, or not, the reputation
| in the community of being under the inllu-
ence of any party or parties as regards his
duties as a Judge? Answer. think so, sir.
| | remember a case that occurred q few
weeks ago, in which an appeal was taken
from Justices judgment to the county
court, in which my client suggested to me
that certain other lawyer should be asso
ciated with me, because Of his influence
with the Judge; aud he was associated with
me in consequence Of this suggestion. | re-
| member another case, in which man was
to apply for his liquor license, and came to
me to employ me, and stated that he had
| been advised to go to certain other lawyer
because of his influence with the court, but
that he preferred me. Question. Please
| give the name of that certain 9th
or lawyer? Answer. Mr.. R. r. Campbell"
In his testimony Mr.. J. A. German, said in
connection with Judge Shumate's opinion
| in the liquor license case for Marshall Dis
trict 10 Fauquier county: The witnesses were
examined, and the case was argued by
James c. Scott for the whiskey party, James
| V. Brooke for the temperance people and
| noticed that at recess of court, as well
as I can recollect that the witnesses were
examined before dnner-time; that was at
the recess Of the court. Judge Shumate and
Mr.. Campbell, l noticed, had a consultation
of few minutes | don't know what it was
about, but shortly afterwards Mr.. Brookein-
formed us that there was no license to be
granted for its sale. When we went to start
home, Mr. Garrison went TO him first, and
went around and said to Judge Shumate
"we are certainly glad of your decision, and
l reckon the people at Salem will take it as
great favor.n Judge Shumate told me
"good byen then said, ''if am candidate,
want you temperance people to do what
you can for me about Salem ~ and l then
left for home. never thought any more Of
it. When | went to Salem, told Cash Co.
logne and Foster & Son that Judge Shumate
asked US temperance people to do what we
could for him il he became a candidate that
was about the end of the conversation"
STRONGBoW.
LEGISLATIVE