The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-16
The First Case of Judge Goodwin.

Sume of our brethren OF the Norfolk
press have construed an article which ap-
peared in this paper just after the House
committee arrived at its conclusions
with reference to Judge Goodwin as par
tial to the defendant and as putting the
prosecutors in the light OF prosecutors. Ii
never was so intended, and that il is liable
| to that construction we regret. twas writ
ten under the impression (since di>pelled)
that the case had been brought to cOnclr-
sion agreeable 10 all concerned. lt was in
formation derived from one OF the Stalnch-
est Democratic members OF that committee.
Reporters were not allowed TO be present
TO take down the testimony. and were only
given access to it after the adoption OF the
report of the committee, when all public
interest in it had ceased, except so far as
TO know what, il anything, Judge Goodwin
had said with reference to his intended
resignation. TO throw light on that point
without remark the Dispatch, in common
with the Norfolk papers, published the
stenographic report OF the concluding por-
ton OF Judge Godwin's statement, and
there dropped the matter.
The following Is the article to which OF
| lection is taken:
THE CASE OF JUICE GoDwIN-- No SUFFI-
GENT CAUSE FOR HIS REMOVAL MS BEEN
EsTABLI SHED. The House Committee for Courts
of Justice Yesterday cd I'm the'casc Of Judge
| Goodwin, OF POrismOnt That the evidence Is N0-
| Luminous and conflicting but we are Of the opin-
I ion that no sutfciert cause for his removal TfOm
Office has been established"
The charge of f4yorItism 10 his son, 4 member
of the ba-. WAS In the opinion of the committee,
not sustained : nOrwa that one IN reference To
the Judge improperly pushing his claims for The
] supreme Court before the Malone caucus. Nor
4 af n N "A
/ ing his removal.
so the Impressions as given in this paper of YES
terday are disposed OF. and the committee declare
| that "no sufficient canse for his removal from
| office has been established"
| The demeanor OF Judge Goodwin before the COM
mittec pleased them very much. Ills bearing was
his testimony thai he took the ohce FIR nly resolve
| that ii n time ever came when he should cease 10
be useful In IL that he would resign.
Ii is believed bat he noy in the no. tlltN Oi
the members of the bar towards him, that MS use
fitness must be largely impaired. IL Is fherefo'c
expected that he Will IN short time tender us
some Of the committee took exception Yesterday
10 the statement In this paper tiIat they SAT VII
! closed doors. Here Is what WIS meant On the
first aay of The committees meeting at the after
noon session. Mr. Barton, after TIE committee wa'
called TO order said: " suppose II II UNDERSTOOD
gentlemen. that this evidence Is not 10 go 10 ~ ,n'
| press ut this time.n No member !issentec. Ilt
one representative Of the press then present
said: ''Well, then, Will return TO the stehoxfa'
| pher what 7 have received from him., lof IN,
! mornjng's session. Mr.. Barton said, No: thai u
was not necessary. The reporter then took mp hi'
Ms. and got up from the table and left the room
The proceedings were ne doubt open to all others
but II this restriction upon the press was ever re-
moved they were never Informed
Remember that the evidence was mol
open to the press until the day after th'
above was written; that even then INC
most important OF it existed only IN iht
stenographer's notes, and. above all. tEa'
the vote OF the House on the ease was
substantial condrmation-ri right or wrong =
of the statements in question.