The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-20
Two SESSIONS
Hell |. YESTERDAY
Trial by Jury Up in Con-
venticn.
---------------.
SEC I ION EIGHT ADOPTED.
Body Passed by Motion for Recess Until
November 9tn-seetion IL Now
Uuder Consider
aticn.
Trial by Jury Up in Con-
SEC TON EIGHT ADOPTED.

one IN the III TEL noon aGJOurneu TO meet
at noon tomorrow. Sect,unS Of the Bill
OF Rights, relatlns to triu by jury, was
taken up and its consideration occupied
most OF the morning session. The supsti-
tue offered by Mr.. Dunaway and accepted
hv Chairman Green was finally adopted
without amendment
Sections and 10 were then adopted as
reported by the committee. Section II
was taken up, t!.t its consideration was
not completed before recess. There We're
sixty-four members present at the morn
ing session. Only a few visitors were on
the floor.
Mr.. Meredith submitted a resolution pro-
viGing for a recess from yesterday until
November 18th. There We're a number OF
amendments and much debate. after
which the whole matter was passed by
temporarily.
When the body reassennbled at o'clock
there was barely a quorum present. The
session was not a long one. After con-
siderable debate over Fir. BraNton's
amendment to Section H. doing away
with unanimity of verdict in civil cases,
and allowing the Legislature to fl. ire
number of Jurors. the ltodv adj urncd
Strong speeches We're made by Mr.. Brax-
ton for and Mr.. Bouldin against the
amendment.
Tayin Detail.
The convention met al 10 o'clock, pray
er by DR.. McIlwaine. Sixty-siX mem
bers We're present and the journal of Fri
days proceedings was read and approx
ed Mr. Meredith, rising TO question OF
personal privilege, said that IL mad been
stated in debate some days ago that q
Baptist minister was being taken care of
by the Little Sisters of the Poor. 1nves-
tigation showed that this was mistake.
The minister so cared for was not a Bap-
fist minister, but belonged to some other
denomination.
a great many leaves OF absence were
granted members
When the regular order was taken UP,
MI. Meredith said in view of the innu-
merable leaves of absence just granted
it. was evident that no work could be
done at all next week. He moved that
the convention adjourn TO-DAY, to meet
November It'll, and adjourn without pay
of members.
Dr. McIlwaine said he was opposed to
any such thing. The convention seemed
to him to have been trifiing for some
time. He thought a better thing to do
was to cancel every leave of absence
that had just been granted. He moved to
amend Mr.. Merediths motion to the eff
feet that all leaves of absence be cam
celled.
Mr.. Meredith replied by saying the
members had been here ever since August
Goth. and had been attending exclusively
to public duties. The proposition to take
a recess was not unreasonable when
members saw that the expense to the
State was stopped
Many members here were called upon
to attend the courts and protect the in
terests of their clients. There was no
chance, in view of the numerous leaves
Of absence just granted of having a
quorum to work with next week.
The chair ruled that DR.. McIlWaine's
motion was out OF order
MUCH OPPOSITION.
Mr.. Thorn strongly oi,osed the motion
to adjourn to-day. He said it would sub
ject the convention to unjust criticism for
it TO adjourn until there was no more
that could be done. He favored revoking
the leaves of absence, and in the event
of a lack of a quorum he should favor
sending for absent members and com
polling them TO return.
Mr.. Watson offered & substitute that
the convention adjourn Saturday, Octo-
Der 18th, to meet Thursday, November
7th MIR. Meredith accepted the sul,sti-
tute.
Mr.. O'Flaherty offered an amendment
to adjourn on Friday, October 25th I'M
til Thursday, November Ith.
lutions of adjournment.
This motion was adopted.
Consideration Of section of the Bill Of
Rights was resumed Mr.. Waddl4l spoae
in advocacy OF his amendment providing
that in all cases in which the death PEN
atty or imprisonment for life was not in
volved, a person pleading not guilty
should have the right to waive jury
trial.
and the one SO thoroughly debated Friday
is that murder cases are excepted. Mr..
Waddill made a. strong argument for the
amendment, the reasons being neces-
s;arily the ones advanced by advocates of
the other amendment Friday. He claimed
that without this amendment, the law, as
amended by the COMMITTEES, was in a
worse shape now than it was under eX-
listing practice. He cited many instances
where the amendment would be the means
of saving costs to the accused and also to
the Commonwealth.
ON THE SAME LINES.
Mr.. Braxton in opposition to the amend
ment, commended that there was but lit
tie difference in this and the one which
was rejected Friday. His speech was
along the same lines, but not SO extend
ed as his argument Friday. He dwelt
on the injustice to a judge to have to
hear and determine criminal case in
volving questions of fact as well as OF
law. He urged members to vote against
the amendment.
The amendment was rejected-yeas, 20;
nays. 80.
Further discussion was had over FRO
posed amendments to section s, and some
verbal changes We're made.
The substitute offered by DR.. Dunaway
to section s was then adopted as amend
ed.
Colonel Petit then arose and said he
had an amendment he wished to offer,
which substituted section OF the Consti-
tuition of 1851 for the proposed section. He
moved to reconsider the vote. The motion
was voted down. The roll-call was order
ed and. as matter of courtesy. the con-
vcntion reconsidered the vote-yeas, 10;
nays, Is.
The amendment offered by Colonel Pet
tit was then voted on and rejected. Mr.
Walker moved to strike from section
eight all authority for an appeal OF the
Commonwealth in revenue cases. This
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