Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-01-28
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.

Special Correspondence OF the Alexandria GAzErIT
RICHMOND, Va, January 26.-The tes-
timony in the case of Judge Shumate, OF
Fauquier, who was put upon the bench, it
seems solely because he was good tele-
graph operator and supporter of Malone,
will be printed in day or two; III fact the
printers have already flushed most of it
and are now at work on the tail end which
is just as interesting as the beginning. IN
deed from the Al pha TO the Omega of the
testimony there is rich flow Of evidence
abundant enough to convince the most OBJ
stnate that Fauguier's Judge is sadly i'll
need of legal lore When it became gener-
ally known among the members OF the
Legislature that Shumate was elevated from
the position of telegraph operator to county
Judge of Fauquier, principally because he
was Mahoneite and good telegraph ope-
rator, several legislative statesmen from
some of the back counties thought it was
strange thing and accordingly dubbed"
Shumate 1.-THE battery judge" because he
Jumped from the battery TO the bench and
| never looked into law book ~ he made
the leap.
Shumate has been at the Capitol quite
| frequently since the committee commenced
to investigate into his official character and
Oh each occasion he wore what a critic in an
art journal of recent date termed "a sad,
soft face"
The letters addressed to Senator Hurt,
President pro TEN. of the Senate, signed BY
one J. l.. Carpenter and relating to the
cruel treatment Of convicts at the peniten-
tiary by the surgeon Of that institution
caused good deal of talk and the
contents Of the letter gained c'edenc7
until to-day, when the surgeon of the penl-
Tertiary replied to the letter through the
city papers denying the charges and pro-
ducing testimony to show that J. l.. Carpen-
ter is a fictitious person, and that the names
of the convcts mentioned in the letter
signed by Carpenter do not tally with the
names on the pententiary books. This fact
has caused some persons TO believe that the
convict Marvin or General Eudlons A. Nor
ton, who distinguished himself as a bigamist
by marrying fifteen women, and who sub
seuueuty figured as q prominent character
10 the criminal literature of the country, Is
the author of the letter. 1t is said that
Marvin, who is serving an eight years SEN
tence, was charged to-day with having
written the letter, and he confronted his
accusers with a smile so childlike and
bland that they afterwards felt sorry for
having given offence to the distinguished
convict by saying or intimating that he
wrote bad back hand.
One of the best speeches delivered in the
General Assembly to-day eulosistic of ex.
Gov John Letcher, who quietly breathed
his last this morning at bis home, in Lex
ngto4, was that delivered by Gen. Wick
ham. The eulogy of Mr. Anderson, OF
Rockbridge, was also highly compimentcd;;
The speeches were all short, eloquent and
beautiful. Senator Wickham went back to
preceding the war and dwelt mainly upon
the early life of fletcher. saying as he did so
that Honest John LetGher was one of the
bravest, best and truest men [ ever knew.
Senator Koiner regarded him rs the most
honest politician that ever lived" while
Mr.. Anderson referred to the lamented dead
as lone of the greatest men Virginia ever
produced" STRONGBOw.