The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-15
a disinterested and an unbiased tribunal.
Anomalous Position.

Several OF your members, including the
chairman. having been witnesses before
tho investigating committee, II IL tnnec-
essary for me to point out the anomalous
position In which such members Will BIO
placed when called upon to leave their
present stations as judges or Jurors and
take the chair as witnesses to reiterate,
deny or explain evidence given by them
in the former Investigation, and then to
again ascend the bench and gravely pass
upon their own testimony and tho cred
ence to be given thereto.
apart from this. that nm put In the
position OF having my case tried by
fury who have once returned an unfayor-
able verdict upon Identical charges, your
board, OF course, recognizes that such
verdict was contrary to tho Judgment OF
the legislative committee. You VIII recall
that am unfortunate in being prose-
cuted by trial court upon charges here.
tofore passed upon, and now preferred
anew by that court. Your board will
admit that It's probable adverse
| Judgment upon said charges should
| be publicly announced In advance
| through the columns OF news
paper by no less eminent an authority
| than the trial courts presiding officer,
| to-wit: Colonel L. w. Lane, Jr., Coz
| missioner of State Hospitals, Wills a
| istration OF Justice in Virginia. ut least
serves the purpose Of dissipating In the
public mind any doubt OF the fact that
| your board has predetermined my case.
| Colonel Lane, who, by virtue OF his
| Office, is presiding at the trial. is taken
sharply to task in the protest for AZ,
alleged interview In The Tines-Dlspatch.
In which he Is quoted as saying that tho
! superintendent could hardly expect that
| tta
| sion, when tho members had been IN
possession OF the facts In the case for
| some time before they acted
Would Serve No Longer.
| Tho paper, which is quito clercrly
| drawn, winds up as follows:
"Indulging the hope that your board.
| In fairness and Justice to yourselves ath
| to me. desire that these charges. upon
which you have rendered your verdict OF
I, dismissal and of suspension, may be
| heard by fair and impartial tribunal,
| and passed upon by men who VIII nor
| be put in the position Of justifying their
/ former action, OF sustaining former YER
] diets or of making good q former pub
+ lie utterance, and In order that your
beard. MS patriotic citizens executing n
| public duty. IS you see 1T. may be Tree
\ the more consistently to press the pro-
J secution to aid In which you nave en-
I ployed private counsel, i respectfully
4 quest that you take such action as WIN
/ Insure that tho former findings OF your
4 bodv will be submitted to. and heard by,
| n hoard which will be uncommitted. IN
| biased. disinterested and free from the
| s,,sptcion of having prejudged my case.
] "In order tina. my purpose may pc 'u,'y
understood and placed beyond the reaen
Of adverse criticism, declare that whcn
! my acquittal Of the charges pre'erreo
/ AGAINST me has been secured, ana my
vlndlcaton Of the affairs Of TINS 'nstnu-
| ZION has been promulgated by an Impair
/ tlaI tribunal, as confidently anticipate,
! under no circumstances would ! consent
/ To serve Ionuer as superintendent OF TINS
| hospital.
Demands Square Deal.
"Consc!ous OF the rectitude OF my lie
! and the righteousness OF my official con-
i duct. I will gladly submit my eight years
| OF tho administration of its affairs To an
| other searching inquisition, believing that
/ the verdict OF the former investigating
| committee will be endorsed by any !hi-
partial tribunal OF my fellow citizens
| ..In any event demand as right, and
| shall be only content with a square deal
| A motion was made to go into executive
| session 10 consider the protest. and this
| provoked a sharp debate. Colonel Law
| less objected on the part OF his client
| and said the public should know all that
| went on here. Messrs. Turk and bland
| talked Of "star chamber proceedings.
| ann declared their violent opposition to
| secret sessions.
| CAPTAIN osborne, Mr.. Gillian and Mr.
! Hansborotgh led the fight for an execu-
| tive session, and this view finally pre-
| vailed the room having been cleared at
| few minutes to O. c. A. B.