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

Anomalous Position.
Several OF your members. including the
chairman. having been witnesses before
the investigating committee Il Is unnec-
essary FOR me 10 point out the Anomalous
position in which such members will be
placed when called upon to leave their
present stations as judges or Jurors and
take tho chair as witnesses TO reiterate.
deny or explain evidence given by them
in The former investigation and then 10
again ascend the bench and gravely pass
upon their own testimony and the cred
ence 20 be given thereto.
Apart from this. that I am put in the
position Of having my case tried by
jury who have once returned an unfavor-
able verdict upon Identical charges. your
board, OF course. recognizes that such
verdict was contrary 20 the judgment OF
the legislative committee You will 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 its probable adverse
Judgment upon said charges should
be publicly announced IN advance
through the columns OF news
paper 10y NO less eminent an authority
than the trial courts presiding officer.
to-wit: Colonel l. W. Lane. Jr.. Cog
missioner OF State Hospitals. while q
now and strange departure I'm the admin
istration Of justice IN Virginia. az least
serves the purpose Of dissipatinE 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 10 task in the protest Tor An
alleged interview IN The Times Dispatch.
10 which he IS quoted a. saying that the
superintendent could hardly expect that
the board would reverse its former deci-
sion. when the members had been IN
possession 81 the facte in the case FOR
some time before they acted.
Would Serve No Longer.
The paper. which Is quite clevcrly
drawn winds MP as follows.
"Induleing the hope that your board
IN fairness ana justice 10 yourselves atd
10 me desire that these charges. upon
which y0l have rendered your verdict ~
dismissal and Of suspension. may be
heard 10y fair and impartial tribunal
and passed upon by mon who Will NOT
be put in the position OF justifying their
former action. ~ sustaining former YER
diets, OF OF making good O. former pub
lie utterance and in order that yoar
beard. as patriotic citizens executing
public duty. 81 YOU see &c. may De free
the more consistently to press the pro-
secution. 20 aid !n which Won have em-
ulo,-ed private counsel. ] respectfully re-
insure that tho former findings a. your
body VIII be submitted 60 and heard by.
"a board which win be unc0mmitted. un-
biased DISTINGUISHED and free from the
suspicion OF having preiudged my case
''In order tina. my purpose may be fully
understood and placed beyond the reach
OF adverse criticism. ! declare that when
my acoulttai OF the charges preferred
AGAINST me has been secured, and my
vindloatlon OF the affairs q this instltu-
ton has been promulgated By an Impair
tial tribunal. as ! confidently anticipate,
under no circumstances would ! consent
70 serve longer as superintendent OF This
hosptal.
Demands Square Deal
Conscious OF Tho rectitude a. my hfe
and the rici teousnoss ~ my official con-
duct VIII gladly submit my eight years
~ tho administration Of its affairs O. an-
other scare hing inqGieition. believing that
the verdict 81 tine former lnvestEatng
committee VIII Doe endorsed hv any in-
partial tribunal ~ my fenow-ciuzeus
"In any event. demand as ID right and
shall DC only content with square deal
a motion was made % go into executive
session 20 consider the protest. and This
provoked sharp debate. Colonel Law
and said the public should know adj that
went ON here Messrs. Turk and Bland
talked Of "star chamber proceedings.
and declared their violent opposition To
secret sessions.
Captain osborne Mr. Gillian and Mr.
TTansborouEh led the fight for an exccu-
tive session. and This view finally pre-
vailed. the room having been cleared az
a few minutes 10 .. c. A p