The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-03

would like to make statement Jus
] here, and that statement Is that an
| IN thorough accord with what my friend
Mr. Stuart. said the fother night abou
Judge Crump. nv ase
have every cohfideiice IN Judge
| Crlinip and consider him one OF the
highest men that j have ever had
| business with. I think this whole
| trouble was caused from an indlscre-
ton which to me Is incon,prehensive.
do not think That lie had any idea
that he was putting himself In any po-
sition that might cmbnrrass himself
the commission, or any one else. and
want to state that I have to-day,
and have always had, thorough confl-
dence In Judge Crufnp as an officer,
as n man and as n lawyer of marked
ability. for tho character of work
that lie has had to do In the Corpora
ton Commission.
Mr.. Chairman. In that respect, no has
done as we'll as any lawyer IN nc State
of Virginia could do. do not wish you
ia think that feel myself competent to
judge the ability OF lawyers. but In this
respect | do. In that out OF fourteen or
fifteen--possibly more-cases that have
been carried up from the Corporation
Commission Court to the Court of APP
penis OF the State. and one TO the United
States Court. In every case but one his
opinions have been absolutely sustained,
and in that one that was not absolutely
sustained. there was q very slight diff
ference, and 1t was minor case. Now
surely, no other In the State OF Virginia
could nave done any better than that,
unless he had won the balance OF that
other case. and don't believe there is
another lawyer who would have drafted
his papers and conducted those legal
matters. N tbov Y,,Jp
Crump."
Mr.. Carter then asked:
Ques. Was there any attempt on your
part to keep secret the fact that Judge
Crump held a share OF stock in the vir.
ginia Corporation Company?
Ans. NO. We never knew that Judge
crump held share OF stock until we
were told by Mr.. Royal. When we learn
ed that fact. the news was public property.
CUES. Was 1t not the truth that IL
SANDER suit had been brought. that Judge
Crumps connection with this company
had been brought out?
Ans. Yes. 1t was. Our only attempt
was to help Mr.. Upshur; to eliminate the
slanderous portion OF the charges"
Had No Connection
Question by Mr.. sears-what connec-
ton, II any, did Judge Crump have, as
chairman of the Corporation Commits
sion. within your knowledge. with the
Virginia Corporation Company, other
than the owning OF one share OF its
stock?
Answer by Mr.. Fairfax-Never any, Mr..
Sears, that have heard of or known of,
except what has come out in this in
vestigation. I had not the slightest idea
and did not know anything about any
apsi h,t \, =.
any time or in any way with 1t. l had
no knowledge of any connection that no
had with 1t, in any way.
Question by Mr.. Sears-Alr. Fairfax
want to ask you another question, and
am very frank to say that hardly know
now TO frame 1t so as to make 1t fntelli-
gible for you to answer It. From your
association and knowledge OF Judge
Crump as member of the Corporation
Commission, and in your study of the
character of the man, will you please
state to the committee how he has in,-
pressed you, whether his nature was
and guileless, or that of
the adroit. scrutinizing-not taking for
granted the moral plane upon which gen
tlemen are supposed to act in their deal
ings. one with another? Do / make my
self ineligible to you? 1t is rather hard
to frame the question.
Ans. Mr.. Fairfax: Yes. sir. think /
understand you. 1 wish could express
myself as fully as l feel in regard to that.
think Judge Crump is as innocent of
any Intent to do wrong rs 1t is possible
for man to be: l think his quiet and
confidng nature has gotten him into this
trouble. Indeed, know that Is what
has gotten him into It.. He takes for
granted that every proposition that comes
to him from a man he knows. Is straight,
and that there Is nothing dsagreeable
or Objectionable to como out OF II. 1
do not wish to belittle him in any way
but in my opinion that is Judge Crump's
weakness. never knew more inno-
cent and guileless man in my ife.. OF his
age and his business, and particularly
one who has been practicing law as long
as he has.
Equal Not to Be Found.
Mr.. Sears: / understand you to have
said also that while that is true, that
in your association with Judge Crump
you at the same time regard him in his
as lawyer as one quick to
see the legal niceties ard refinements in
questions that are presented to him in
the discharge OF an official duty.
Mr.. Fairfax: So far as I am able to
judge along that line, Mr.. Sears, do
not believe his equal could be found. He
seems to me to have most concise, |
clear and accurate idea of legal points.
and / think due to that has beeh his
great success In drafting these orders
and papers and one thing and another
that have gone UP from the Corporation
Commission to the higher courts, and
in which, as l say he has been so we'll |
sustained l will say too in that re-
spect that in these cases, representing |
these tremendous corporations. with cap
ltal unlimited, before us have come the
ablest legal talent that could be pro-
cured In the land--lawyers from all over
the country. and the best lawyers repre-
senting these large corporations, where,
Il n man did not have his eyes open and
was not very quick about 1t. he would
nave been caught up in probably half
lozen different ways. ] imagine, SO far
IS can see into the legal matters. and
le would probably have lost good many
II these cases for the State. think he
has been ono OF the most valuable SER