Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-22
LOOKING FOR FACTS.
INVESTIGATION OF CHARGES
AGAINST JUDGE TuRNBuLL BEGUN.
Mr.. BUFOUD'S LENGTHY STATEMENT.
He Consumes All the Time of the
Committees sitting I'm Presenting
Charges and specificntions--Judg
TurnbuII and Friends Present.

~ as reasons why he should not De re-
elected 70 his present position. for which
he has been renominated by the Demo
cratic caucus, held it's first meeting last
night.
Though the committee was in session
until nearly midnight. the case was not
nearly completed. and Il may be neces-
sary for the execution OF the joint order
of the Assembly adopted yesterday, set
ting 1880 to-day as the hour for the cleo
tion of the Brunswick Judge, 10 be post
poned
Judge Turnbun accompanied by num-
Der OF friends. reached the city yesterday
and were present at the hearing last
plight. The gentlemen with him. some, or
all, of whom will appear as witnesses In
his behalf, were Messrs. c. S. Barrow,
T.. r. Turnbull Sheriff r. b. Turnbull,
Mr. Price. and former State-Senator W.
A. Watson. OF Nottoway None of these
were put upon the stand, however, as all
the time was consumed by Delegate Blu
ford, OF Brunswick, in presenting his
case This he did by means OF very
volumin)us documents. setting forth the
charges and the specifications.
GREAT INTEREST is SHOWN.
The taking of the testimony was lis
tened 10 with the most intense interest.
The members of the committee gave
their most careful attention; Judge Turn
bulls counsel, Mr.. Flood. was as alert as
the trained lawyer can be; the friends OF
the accused Judge, as well as the specta-
tors generally listened closely TO every
detail, but none were more attentive than
l.. a.Y g,,,v,4
diately behind the committee, where he
could hear every word that fell from the
lips Of his accuser. and not one seemed TO
escape him His eyes never left Mr.. Blu
ford's face. though his friends moved
about him, talking and occasionally laugh
ing together. He appeared not in the
least embarrassed, and had every APP
pearance Of the man who has the means,
which viii be produced at the proper
time, of establishing his innocence be-
yond cavil.
SLOW GETTING TO WORK.
The committee consisted Of Senators
Boykin, Maynard, Morris, Letcher, FAIR
fax. and Jeffries, and Delegates Reddy.
Watkins, Berry. Barley, Settle, ana
Thomas. Messrs. Barley, Berry, Settle,
md Thomas were not present.
The hour set for the converting OF the
committee was o'clock, but II was only
a few minutes of when Senator Boykin,
of the Senate Committee, called the joint
body to order in the Senate chamber.
There was a large number of spectators
present, including delegates, senators,
and others interested, and a number OF
Brunswick friends of Judge Turnbun.
Senator Boykin stated that the object
OF the meeting was the investigation OF
Duff or
Brunswick. against the nominee for
the judgeship of his county, Judge n. S.
Turnbull. He concluded by calling Mr..
Buford TO the stand.
MIR. BUFORD NOT READY.
Mr.. Buford stated trat he did not wish
10 deny to Judge Turnbull every oppor-
tunity to defend himself, and he at the
same time hoped the committee would
not decide the case until he had obtained
all the evidence he had expected to in
froduce. but which he had not been able
10 obtain
Mr.. Flood, who represented Judge
Turnbull, said he thought Mr. Buford
should be fully prepared TO go on with
his case, as he had had most ample notice
of the intention of the committee TO meet
last night.
HIS CHARGES SUBMITTED.
Mr.. Buford then submitted the follow
ing charges and specifications, the same
he had offered i'm the House which led 10
the appointment of the investigating COM
mittee:
TO the Honorable Members Of the House
OF Delegates of Virginia:
In the discharge of my duties as rep
resentative of the county of Brunswick,
IL becomes necessary TO present TO you
the following objections TO the reelection
OF Judge n. S. Turnbull as Judge OF the
County Court Of my county, which OBJ
Jections | respectfully submit, should be
investigated by the committee OF invesu-
cation which / ask be appointed by the
resolution / offer herewith:
l. Judge Turnbul ia incompetent as a
lawyer TO preside in a court of justice.
4 After having been licensed for more
than fifteen years, he has not one client
that I am aware Of.
3. He has never argued a proposition
of law in any court that / ever heard OF,
and Question whether he has ever done
30.
T. After having executed two deeds or
trust upon tract of land. thereby Gre
ating liens upon it in excess of its value,
he sold part of this land 10 an illiterate
man. with general warranty of title. The
deeds OF trust were dlteTWdIuS IOIe-
closed. the purchaser lost his land, with
the Improvements, and this Judge has
not paid one cent Of the damages award
ed by the Circuit Court
5. In the fiduciary character of COM
missioner of the Circuit Court in certain
chancery suits. which came 10 him from
his fathers practice, he is a confessed
defaulter.
(a) In the case of Beckwith VS.. Clayton,
pending I'm the said court. he was APP
pointed commissioner 10 sell real estate
for the payment of liens lie sold the
land and failed to report his sales, though
requested time after time TO do so, and
at length. under compulson of a decree or
the court referring 10 a commissioner 10
inquire how much money he had re-
ceved, he was forced TO admit balance
against himself of $500 all of which at
that time June 2. 1892, If my memory
serves mel he had appropriated. and the
greater part Of which has not been paid
CD In the consolidated suits OF Morgan
4 Mcllwaine VS.. Barraud and Harrison
VS.. Cooke he was appointed commits
sioner 10 sell real estate for payment OF
debts. The decree authorized him TO sell
IN parcels. He sold several parcels, but
failed TO make any report. though re-
ouested time after time to do so. AT
length, at the January term, 1897, a de-
cree was rendered requiring him TO set
before commissioner in chancery an
account OF his transaction. On the nth
day OF March, 1897, he appeared before
the commissioner and reported that he
had only collected 1869 of the pur.
chasers. At the April term a decree was