The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-26

for tho petitioners. His references 10
| the rev lawyers who appeared aRainst
Judge Blackstone from Elizabeth CITY
were bitter. lie intimated strongly
that some OF them had axes to grind .
Mr.. Lewis had referred to the people
of Accorac and Northampton ne t,o-
ing clannish, and Mr.. Collier turned thla
to good effect by asking IL 1t might NOT
! be true that some spirit OF clannishmentl
], entered into the desire of Newnort
News lawyers to have their cases tried
before Judge Barham instead OF Judge
Blackstone.
| Pursuing this line, however, he made
1t plain that one Of the strong reasons
for instituting suits in the Corporation
Instead Of the Circuit Court is that
| the former Is In session practically
every day. while Judge Blackstones
terms In Newport News are only once
In sixty days, and then for only six
or seven days at one time. Some law.
yers had testified that they had stoppe,l
instituting suits in Judge Backstones
court because they thought Judge
Barlam more competent to intelligent
ly handle their cases. 1t was this poin,
to which the Hampton lawyer was now
! addressing himself.
Taking up the testimony of Sheriff
Curtis, OF Hampton, part of which
was damaging to Judge Blackstone.
Mr.. Collier pointed out that the sheriff
had also said that he had attended all
of the terms OF the courts OF the &C
cused. and had never seen him drunk
on the bench or In such a condition KS
to prevent him from properly discharg-
ing his duties.
Charge of immortality.
The speaker dwelt at great length
upon tho charge of Immortality, though,
as was the case with the evidence on
this point. much OF what he said was
of such nature as would make 1t
improper TO print.
Mr.. Collier declared that notwith-
standing the charge that the Judge had
frequently failed to open his courts
on the day required by law, there had
been no evidence to show that lie had
ever so failed. except on one occa-
sion.
In closing. the speaker paid a SPLEEN
did tribute to Judge Blackstone's
honesty. impartiality and ability on
the bench, and sought to invoke the
biblical Injunction: Let him who IS
without Sin cast the first stone"
This Is persecution. pure and
simple. and Judge Blackstone has been
bounded Numerically by his accusers,p
said aPr. Collier, as he resumed his
seat.
Closing for Blackstone.
AT o'clock Mr.. Ashby arose to close
the case for Judge Blackstone, and
he made an earnest and able effort
for his client. He said that Judge
Blackstone had been charged with be-
Ing drunken. debauched imbecile
who could not appreciate the proprie-
ties of decent life. and that public
sentiment had been wrought up against
him by the publication of the charges
in the newspapers.
He dwelt upon the fact that not a
single lawyer in Judge Backstones
circuit had put his name to the petition
against him, and said IL they believed
the charges as set out in the petition.
they must indeed be unmanly men not
to join in the fight for his removal
He declared that not a single citizen
of Newport News had signed the paper,
and that his people did not desire his
removal.
Taking up the charges as to Judge
Blackstone sleeping on the bench, he
commended that the one as to the Sheets
trial had not been proved. but even
though 1T had. he thought 1t would
not be at all remarkable II after
wrestling with mosquitoes all night
and lawyers all day, a Judge should
nod now and then.
The speaker had seen one of the
members of the committee nod In the
early days of the hearing, and he was !,
sure no one would say this would dis
qualify that member from passing in
diligently upon Judge Backstone's
case. c
Question of Drowsiness. :
Mr.. Ashby too up the evidence con. r
corning the sleeping OF Judge Black +
stone in the Pavalinic trial. and he @
contepded that though at first it had r
beer thought the Judge was drunk, it 8
had been conclusively proved that he \
was not, and that his drowsiness re- ;
suited from medicine prescribed by !
his physician and taken upon an empty :
stomach.
Discussing the charge that Judge
had been frequently seen =
upon the streets of Hampton and Phoe-
bus in drunken condition. he argued
that the evidence had absolutely fail
ed to hear 1t out, and that instead of
frequently" only two instances had =