Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-31
GOFF APPEARS AGAIN
y,a,ls,irs Inquiry as to Court Of Gen.
eral Sessions.
.,.,rnrxors AMONG JUDGES
Alleged scand"'ous o'"""'' "
uu,,nc.. Of the Tr'""""
o,xer the Lie Direct ~
,,.,,ov.Jur,st and n Clerk.

>-,,,v work.. March So.-Thc Senate 'u-
s,.,arv Committee appointed 10 ''""c ."
,.,,,ry into the causes OF the pen"'"s
50, 90 increase the salary and powers "
~. yocorAor began their WORK 10 '','
.ndro.s chamber in the new Cr'"'''',
-, hp,lding to-day. The pending %"
o-o,oses 10 make the Recorder tho pr
,nr.tudgc Of the Court OF Genera ...o,,
- ana increases his salary 10 $''V'
a year O.Connor
A. u.eo o'clock Chairman oCo""D'
called the committee 10 order' ""I ]~o
nouneed the obj( Of the hcarnS' ,' 'a'e .,
Coulng said in behalf Of the jus
49, ce,era Sessions: I'VE shan o",.
every assistance In our power 10 a'' yV '.n
,nvef,ieauon. We are in sy'n',F'" W won
Tho purposes Of The inquiry a"" - the
v,n 20 away with hno"''..'1 an
,rus facts. We hope You VIZ
ma, Is 70 be said on o1'" ,iict IN the
Ts,.,ter Gon was thtn e CAM ~ 80.
Kec'ius' chairman OConnor Pu.s-
WIN ~, ~, was asked 10 give mp
u'h'' "a Togvt ot General Sessloiis'
he s.'''- .o,a.,rs. wish 10 say nave
w. 49, he first tine this morning
10, no has been chief Justice OF 'n's
,,,. Trat position was occupied py
T.c,rdcr suythc. bat not Dy Juuse low
srg. as Do states.
80 C9Wins denied that he had so
stated. ,. ..1-,oro hos
The witness conuhu'u' lme ~
,ever been any statute or any IuIih1
a. * a CHEF judge Of the Geheral oes-
3ns II has always been an assignment
n custom. = have long been cohVihceo
- ,ho attachecs OF this court are tho
,-,-rb.v incoinprient and unfit TO fulfil
&c Svtles OF the court. There has been
NJ orler. no discipline. They are never
found on duly. They come when they
want 20 and they so when they want
IN Tie appoinices OF each judge CON
,.Ier themselves independent Of the other
tu1gas. There are no hours OF duties.
There has never been any rules or tho
court. The lawyers practice In any part
uey wish. When motion Is oVerruled
81 one part, IA lawyer can so 10 another
Judge !n another part. There is absolutely
no rule governing that. There was such
a case last fail" The witness then
cited the case.
SYSTEM ILLEGAL.
Mr. COT said: II became convinced
ZONE time ago that the whole system
connected with indictments was Illegal.
Hence arose the scandal connected with
the pigeon-holiug OF Indictments. As long
% / can remember. many of the indict-
ments were held over the heads of men
for election purposes. This was especially
true with liquor-dealers. There was "a
great increase Of Indictments just before
Election. When in the District Attorney :
office my desk was broken open to get
put some NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. desks were
broken open. There Is no record or In
dictments. The indictments have been
taken over TO New Jersey. and burned.
as Mr. Purdie can tell you.
II have never sought to cast any re-
Election on any judge. 1T IL against the
system i object. | insisted on change
when | became Recorder and the system
Is now much better. The indictments are
now a matter OF record. 1 think more
d 10 be Gone. / invited my brother judges
10 a meeting In January. and one of the
subjects discussed was that of appoint
ments
SIR. Goff spoke OF the list of attendants
and clerks, and said some Of them drew
pay from the city for years while really
giving no service. lie said: II consider
that the Clerk Of the Court should not
h. a district leader in politics"
Senator O'Connor wanted to know II
the clerk OF the Court could not use
lis Official position to advance the in
tescsts II his party. The Recorder said
he could do so. lie said there was NJ
reflection on the character of Mr.. SPARKS
II clerks had been promoted for honesty
efficiency. and length Of service. as the
other Judges claim, Mr.. Hall or Mr.. Walsh
ID 4
"Mhat system would YOU recommend?'
Il would have men come here and
work Tor their money. the same as any
mechanic | would have the men divorced
from politics. and would not have men
receive letters from political parties. as
Judge Cowing knows"
THAT H. not true spoke up Judge
CoW.ng Don't use my name"
Judge roWiug knows men have re-
ceived letters" continued Recorder Con-
THE LIE DIRECT.
ITS n lie; It's 4 lie," shouted Judge
Cowiug. "Don't mention my name, espe-
clally in connection with a falsohood."
Mr.. GoM got rcd IN the face, but con
tnued. And there is clerk Hall. who
became a Democrat after his appoint
mcnt hy Judge Cowing'
That's a hc." cried ont the Clerk. who
Wls standing nearby. Il am Democrat
and always have been"
judges Cowug and Fitzgerald were
asked o. they wanted 10 ask the Recorder
any questions.
No" SAID Judge CowinF. 81 Will answer
him IN my own way. l would not put &
question 10 him. / have not spoken 4
him in three months But l wish th'
opportunity Of being heard"
"And !, also" said Judge Fitzgerald
81 want 20 make a statement"
"Oh, certainly. Judges said Chairman
O'Connor. I'VE shall give you chance &
give your side OF the case. We only wisi
70 get a. the truth Of the matter Their
seems to bc u difference among tn
Judges"
yes. unfortunately" said Judge Cow
Ing" there Is a difference. and 1t is
graceful condition of affairs. Durin
my sixteen years service I have no
had anything so scdnlaious."
I'm sorry 10 see such n condition q
things" said Chairman OConnor.
The Chairman then announced a re
cess for an hour
JUDGE COMING.
After recess Judge Rufus II. Gown
was sworn. re said he WAS City Judge
lie then proceeded 10 read "a statement
a. which he sad:
Il am not here TO smirch my court
shall conhne myself to the proposed bil
o. regulate the appointment OF court at
teudau's. SuppOsng l had sent 10 Alban,
d hill increasing my salary - Is per cent
aud making me chief-Justice of this cour'
wat would you think Of Judge Cowing
pause for your answer. We are all pre-
s.lng judges in our own part. VINO coui'
better he selected chief judge than he wn
l. fitted 10y long experience ana acqualnt
Vnct with the ways Of the court? There i
~ law designating such selection. l haV
t,ru here for seventeen years. Recorde
Cor has not been here seventeen weeks
! am Republican. but not partisan
- long service ! should be chief judge
think ] am entitled TO IT. and will
claim II until you take it away.
Il was sorry when / heard the hare
things said THIS morning about these poor
SQUIRT attendants. There is not IA cour
m the United States that Is conducted
Ni;h more order d,corum. and propriety
The man Mayhan. after eleven years
faithful service, became sick. Ald unable
l. attend court The Recorder had him
stricken from The rolls. Is that reward
Tor faithful service? / Will vote for The
dismissal az any man In this court who
Goes not DO his duty.
perhaps the District Attorney has
made use n Indictments In some cases
but Is q reform Judge going 10 stop all
that? ] told tho Recorder that the ap-
pOlntInent Of "a chief clerk could not 80