The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-03

ferred to above.
The House journal of 1875 shows fur
! tilcr on that on January 2Sth of the lat.
| ter year. Speaker Marshall Hanger. act
| :ng in conformity with the resolutions
! offered on the previous day by Mr.. Mas
sey and adopted by the House appointed
| the following special investigating COM
| raittee in the Stevens owle case:
| Me:srs John E. Massey (chairmar). Al
benarlc; John T. Lowell, Warren; G: a.
/ Ronald, Montgomery; l.. D. Starke, Nor
| folk city, and T. Edwin Belts, Northum
! berland.
The com,nitte begun the investigation at
once, and summoned large number OF
witnesses on both sides.
REFUSED TO ANSWER.
On February oath the following pre-
! li:ninary reports were presented, Mr.
| Ronald. who made a strong fight for
| Judge Stevens throughout the investiga-
ton offering the minority view:
The special committee appointed by
vtur body on the 9th of January, 1876.
to investigate the truth or falsity of GER
tam statements concerning the conduct
OF George S. Stevens. Judge OF the county
court of Nelson county, inconsistent with
his judicial position. beg leave respectful
" to submit a preliminary report. as fol-
lows:
1.-THE said George S. Stevens was, on
yesterday. put upon the stand as a. wit
ness by the committee, and was asked,
among other questions, the following:
" State whether or not you have. since
the commencement of the present Cen
! =ral Assembly OF Virginia. gambled with
| any member of said General Assembly,
| other than Captain Fowle?
| ITO which the witness answered as fol-
| lows:
II have played at cards in games in
Inch members of the present General As
sernhly We're playing. betting at the
! game
This answer was followed by the fol
4 lowing question:
Please give the names of the members
1 Will whom you have thus played?'
70 which he answered.
4 decline to answer that question.
The witness assigned no reason for his
refusal to answer the question.
'Your committee deemed the question
competent and pertinent. and do not con-
! ceive that the scope Of their investiga-
| ton. as directed by your body, can be
| compa ssed without an answer thereto.
The witness peremptorily refuses to
| answer. The powers of the committee are
| exhausted: and its chairman has been In
strrcted to report the facts to the House.
| that 1t may do in the premises what may
! seem to it meet and proper.
| 'All which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN E. MASSEY, Chairman
! Mr.. Massey offered the following:
| Whereas George S. Stevens, a witness
| before the special committee appointed
| by this House to investigate certain
| statements concerning the conduct of
| said Stevens. inconsistent with his high
| judicial position. has refused to answer
a question put to- him by that committee.
| and he assigned no reason sufficient or
| otherwise. for such refusal; therefore.
Resolved by the House of Delegates.
| That the sergeant-at-arms of the House
take the body of the said George S. Stew
ems, and him safely keep in the common
| Jail of the city Of Richmond until he,
the said Stevens, shall purge himself
/ of his contempt, or until the further
| order of this House.
Mr.. Ronald presented the following:
/ The undersigned, a member of the COM
mittee appointed to investigate the
charges against George S. Stevens. Judge
of the County Court of Nelson. does not
4 concur with the committee in the prelir1-
mary report submitted in that case. be-
! cause the question propounded to said
| Stevens on yesterday. and referred TO
/ by the committee IN their report. was
| not relevant and german to the investi-
cation, ana was inquisitorial in so far
as it sought to involve members Of the
/ General Assembly by ENDURING into their
social habits Respectfully,
''CH. A. RONALD
Mr. Shelley offered a substitute. dis
| charging the special committee from the
| further consideration of the case, but
/ it was rejected--ayes. 4; noes. 1o2.
| Mr.. Clarke of Surry, offered a further
/ substitute. setting forth that the ques-
ton in relation to the names OF members
! of the General Assembly with whom
witness had played cards for money, was
/ Irrelevant, and an answer could not there
! fore be required. The substitute was
agreed to-ayes. IS; noes, 11-and the reso-
! luton offered by Mr.. Massey was adopted
as amended
REPORT. ADOPTED.
The COMMITTEES proceeded with the in
| vestisation, and when its deliberations
| had been completed. submitted through
| its chairman, Mr.. Massey. the following
report which was adopted by an over
| whelming majority, MI Ronald oHerlns
| a minority report:
/ Il Resolved by the House of Delegates
Ct Virginia. That this House will proceed
en- Thursday, The 23d day of March, 1910
at y o'clock NJ, to consider the question
OF the removal Of George S. stevens
judge ofthe County Court Of Nelson coun-
ty from his office Of judge, by concur
rert vote of both houses CT the General
Assembly, in pursuance Of the ed sec
ton of the 9Th article OF the Constitution
of Virginia. upon the following charges
or causes of removal. to wit:
First. That the said George S. Stevens,
Willie judge of the County Court of Mel
son county, did, On Sunday. the I'd day Of
, January. 1876, or on some other day with
in Twelve months last past. bet and play
nj a certain game commonly called Faro
bank. or table of like kipd, in the city
OF Richmond ard State of Virginia. in vio-
!ation of the Ath section Of chapter 10.
of the Code of Virginia, edition of 1878.
. and in violation CT his oath of office as
judge aforesaid.
Second. That the said George S.
Stevens. while Judge of the County Court
OF Nelson county. did, en- Sunday. the I'd
dag of January, 1876 or on Monday the
Sd day of January, 1876, at certain place
elsewhere than public place, 10 wit:
AT the house known as Worsham $ on the
corner of Fourteenth and Franklin
streets in the city Of Richmond and State
of Virginia. play and bet at a certain
game of cards commonly called draw
nekcr. with William H. Fowle. d member
NJ the House OF Delegates of Virginia.
and win from the said William H Fowle