Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-12-20
lCommunicated.l
REPLIES TO ell"
EDITOR OF the CIrrzEN.

EDITOR OF THE CITIZEN:
The communication OF al" In your
issue Of December the 18th was read
with much interest, and for one rejoice
to learn that the "law abiding citizens
of Lancaster" will endeavor to uphold
the laws Of our land.
But, Mr.. Editor, I much fear that "L'
has not informed himself as he should
have done before placing the good PEG
pie of our County and its faithful officials
in such light before the world.
az" says "they mean to give the Of
ficials another chance to live up to theil
sworn duty" Does he mean to say tha,
our honored judge, attorney for the
commonwealth, clerk of the courts
sheriff aud all court officers have com.
mitte6 perjury
True there have been cases for viola.
ton Of the local option law brought to
trial in the county court In which, before
coming to trial, the public and all cour,
officials had no doubt of the conviction
of the offender; but, alas, when brought
before the bar of the court to testify the
witnesses would so prevaricaic, and
must say that In my belief swear 90
falsely, that conviction was impossible
Are the officials to be criticised for this
state of affairsi And are insinuations,
IL not direct charges, to be made against
them in public print of PEI jury2
al" further says, I'VE hardly expect
such results as the welfare of the county
deserves, for the old complaint of select
ing jury stands just where it did before"
Now, Mr.. Editor, IL .L" had informed
himself, this is a charge against our
Honorable County Judge, for the law
makes II his duty to prepare annually a
list of not less than one hundred to serve
as jurors for twelve months, the list so
prepared to be delivered to the clerk OF
the court TO be by him safely kept, sub
ject only to the inspection of the Judge.
When such list is made out the Judge
causes ali names thereon TO be fairly
written, each on 6 separate paper or
ballot, and shall so fold up the ballots
that they will resemble each other as
nearly as may be and the names thereon
not to be visible on the outside, and
said ballots are deposited In a secure
box to be safely kept by the clerk and
opened only by order of the judge. The
clerk of the court al least ten (1O) days
before any term of court at which jury
may be necessary, to be designated by
the judge thereof, after shaking aud
mixing together the ballots in said jury
box In the presence of the judge OF such
court, IL be be present, IL not, in the
presence of the commonwealth. attor-
ney, or commissioner In chancery OF
the circuit court, openly draw therefrom
the required number of ballots without
inspecting the names written on any
until the proper number Is drawn. Now,
Mr.. Editor, am heart and soul with
the good people OF our dear old
county in every move which may be
properly made To enforce the local op-
tion, snd all other laws, but will not 20
So far as IL" 10 doing injustice to our
able and faithful county officers. Nor
do l intend to say that IL" would do
them or anyone else an injustice know
ingly, but do think that his zeal In this
cause has led him into what 1 think is
an error of the head and not of the heart.
Hoping that all offenders may speedily
be brought to justice, and that all ''speak
easies" forever closed, 1 am, Yours,
OMEGA.