Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-14
INQUIRE AS TO FRAUD
The nenrico Supervisors Appropriate
$500 to Employ Special Counsel.
Mr.. HILL CARTER 70 PROSECUTE.
Attorney. Who Feels That II Would he
1ndcIicate for Him to Appear.

Commonwealths-Atto Conway H.
Sands having informed Judge Wickham
that for personal reasons he did not ieei
that he should prosecute the investigation
into the alleged election frauds in Henrico.
a called meeting OF the County Board OF
Superviaors convened in the Courthouse
yesterday for the purpose OF considering
the ACCESSIBILITY OF securing some attorney
20 relieve him. The members OF the ooaru
present were Messrs. ii. T. Hechief
(chairman j. W. Southwark, "A. H. ohep-
pard. and r. w. Browning.
Messrs. Joseph Bryan and Walter r..
Grant appeared before the board ana
urged the appropriation Of sum neces-
sary TO secure the proper legal representa-
ton. The former presented petition
signed by Messrs. John c. Epps, r.. D.
Towett. Il. B. Gary. II. c. Saunders Ice
A. Green. John L. Tinsley. A. w. Wilies.
r.. w. Tinsley. +. NJ. Butler. w j. CHRIS
tan. A. c. Lane. John Cussons, sydney
Treyvett, c. j. Tnsley. c. NJ. Holiday
]. y. Winston, George Hopkins, a. W.
CARRIER r. 4. Patterson, George u. sub
lett. Joseph Bryan. IL. G. Beattte. a. X.
Courtney. Robert II. Gillian, w. A.
Smith. c. T. White and a. w Ball.
WHAT THE PETITION SAYS.
This petition set forth that as Mr..
Sands had declined 10 take any part in the
prosecution, the board should. In defence
OF the fair name OF the county. take cog
nizance of the charges OF fraud and APP
propriate an amount sufficient to allow
Mr.. Sands was called into the room'
and when questioned as to what he pro-
posed doing in the case. said emphaticaliy
that he would under no circumstances
either conduct or participate in the prose
cu,ion. He said that he had publicly an
nounced his unwillingness TO perform the
duties OF prosecutor for the reason mat
4 the ballot-bOx had been stuffed as had
been charged he was benefited thereby IN
having been elected TO the Senate ana no
matter how vigorously he might WORK III
the case there were many persons VINO
would refuse TO believe that he could do
the case justice.
NO SUCH POWER GIVEN.
The commonwealth Attorney threw
bomb into the camp when referring 10 "A
section Of the Code he informed the board
that there was no law which, In his juds-
ment. would permit them to make an ap-
preparation for the purpose Of employing
counsel in such a case. Appropriations
&c. said could be made for the employ
lnent Of legal service only in cases of
suit against the county and In matters
where county property was affected.
Several members Of the board then
asked that the Judge be called upon for
advice in the matter. Judge Wckham
said that he considered 1t improper for
him 10 express an opinion in matter
which might probably come before him in
his judicia! capacity, and for that reason
he declined 20 discuss the question.
Messrs. Bryan and Grant argued with
the board in an informal manner both
claiming that IL would be injurious 10
county property TO allow the investigation
10 20 by default.
Mr. Southwark made a motion that
500 be appropriated as compensation for
additional counsel; that one half be paid
out OF any money in tine treasury not
otherwise appropriated. one half from the
1894 levy. and that in the event that no
indictments were found the attorney
should receive only $3.50.
WOULD Run NO RISK.
Mr.. Hechlcr violently opposed any APP
propriation whatever. saying that he did
not care TO run the risk Of being brought
before the grand jury on a charge of iile-
gally appropriating county moneys.
Mr.. BRYAN stated that he would indem-
Nifty the board against loss in the event
that the appropriation shoull be deter
mined Illegal
This did not convince Mr.. Hecher. but
the other two members Of the body, who
had hitherto been on tie fence. went over
to Mr.. SOuthwards side. The ex-Sherin,
at the suggestion Of Mr. Browning, modi-
fed his motion reducing the amount to be
appropriated TO 500. The motion. as
amended. was adopte! by vote of to /.
Air. Hill Carter was recommended by
Mr.. Bryan and IL was unanimously de-
cided to recommend him to the Judge for
appointment TO conduct the prosecution.
80 one has as yet been engaged 10 repre-
sent the defence.
It is probable that when the grand jury
recOnvenes Friday the elections matter
Will be taken up Immediately by them.
CASES TRIED.
Three petty larceny cases were tried in
the County Court Judge Wickham pre-
siding. William Thornton was fined SO and
sent 10 jail for thirty days. John WI
liems was fined s. and Jailed for fifteen
days. and John Stuart was discharged.
The grand jury returned not true bill
in the cases against Constable Samuels.
in which he was charged with conduct
unbecoming an officer.