The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-14
THE ELECTION FRAUDS.
the BALLOT-BOx s7UFFERs WILL
LIKELY Br PROsECUTBD.
Five Hundred Dollars Appropriated Tor
the Prosecution-Comn" At
torney Sands Talk. of Resigning.

The Henrico county board Of super
visors, in connection with several promi-
nent citizens OF the county, met by APP
pointment yesterday at the county court
house. They held conference in ref
erence to the declination by Common
wealth's Attorney Sands to take part IN
the prosecution OF the frauds pracuced
at Smither's precinct in the last election.
The following paper. which was signed
10y about thirty well-known citizens,
was handed to the chairman Of the board
by Mr.. Joseph Bryan
"To the Honorable Board OF Supervisors
"Gentlemen,-The undersigned citizens
Of Henrco county, being Informed that
Commonwealth Attorney Conway X.
Sands declines to prosecute the election
fraud cases In the last election. for the
reason that he was candidate voted for
at that election, We hereby request your
honorable board TO make a reasonable
APPROXIMATION out Of the county funds
10 employ Messrs. Leake and Carter TO
prosecute said cases. The grand jury
is now I'm session. and We ask that your
board will act upon this matter at once.
Mr. .and.' Op mon.
The question was discussed al some
length. and Commemorative Attorney
Sands was sent for and asked 20 give
his opinion as 20 the legal status of al
fairs. Mr.. Sands. while he informed
the gentlemen that he could not see
that the board had any right 70 make
appropriations out OF the county treas
ury FOR such a purpose. further cited
several cases I'm which the board OF SUI
pervisors had made appropriations LOT
the prosecution OF criminal cases. ana
had employed counsel TO aid the Common
...r~ItEft Attorney i'm the prosecutions.
AIR. BRYAN thought that If the board
had set the precedent for making APP
propriations merely TO aid the Common
wealth's Attorney. who was actually en-
gagged in the discharge oil ms uuly'
WAS an inOppOrtune time 10 chahse the
rule when the Commonwealth $ Attorney
declined to discharge the duties OF ms
Office AT all: that unless the board could
secure counsel there would be COM
plete default Of justice.
Woul lee ~ 10 Position.
Mr. Sands then stated that he had re-
solved that unless ne could get some one
to take his place in these prosecutions ne
would resign his Office as Common
wealth's attorney. He gave the names OF
several LAWYERS whom he had approached
on the subject. and thought there Woull
be no difficulty in obtaining efficient coun-
sci if the fees were provided.
a motion 10 ask the opinion OF JUDGE
Wickham was then adopted
Judge Wickham. upon appearing before
the meeting stated that he considered u
improper for him TO express an opinion
i'm a matter which might probably come
before him in the court. ana Tor thal
reason declined TO express MS opinion
about the authority of the board 10 make
the appropriation; that while ne could dp-
point counsel he had no means OF pay
Ing them. and that he had intended 10
appoint proper counsel and then refer
them 10 the board Of supervisors for such
compensation as the board would apprO-
pirate.
difficulty in indemnifyin9 the board IN
the event Of an appropriation 10 carry
out the wishes Of a great majority or the
people and property holders OF the county.
The injury dOle 10 county property by
fraudulent elections was vigorously uitci
by the gentlemen as sufficient GROUNDS
for The appropriation OF such -unds from
The county treasury as misht be needed
10 defray the expenses of legal investi-
CATION.
Looks Like Iusinea- Now.
After a protracted discussion and fun
consideration the board adopted the lol-
lowing resolution.
BE il ordained. That the sum Of 500
be appr )priated TO pay counse! for the
prosecution Of the alleged election frauds
in HenricO county, provided. however
that in case no indictments shall be
found. the sum OF $3.50 be paid the coun-
sci for his work, $3.50 Of said amount
treasury, not then otherwise appropriated,
and the balance Of said amount 10 be
paid ont of this years levy
I'm the adoption of the above resolution
Messrs. Browning, Sheppard. and South
wood voted in the affirmative, while