Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-22
NEWPORT NEWS. va. SATURDAY FEBRUARY ~ 1903.

VS. VA, SATURDAY,
Tense. was put on for Judge Black
stone. Ills testimony was In regard
to what actually happened In the trials
in which the accused Is alleged To
have fallcr asleep on tho bench. The
witness stated that in thu pavlinic
case lac NJ first thought the judge to
be drinking, but changed his minA af-
ter the statements OF physicians. lie
had never heard the Judges reputa-
ton attacked prior to the Paylnlc
case.
Mr.. Bickfc,d Favors Judac.
H. G.. nlckford OF Newport News.
stated that he regarded Judge Black
stones capabilities second to none In
tho state. "Hc is conspicuous by his
ability" said the witness, even
though | must admit that he has in
varlably settled every question against
ME IN the past four years"
The witness was the strongest yet
introduced in FAVOR of Judge Black
stone.
AZ Il o'clock the committee adjourn
cd. The defense asked that no other
hearing be held today, but promised
TO be ready TO 70 on with the hearing
when the committee Is called to or
trr tomorrow morning at 10 O'clock
The First Session.
Five members of tho committee.
constituting n quorum. were present
ut 1915 O'Clock this morning in the
court room of the state corporation
commission. when tho second days
hearing in the investigation of charg-
es against Judge J. w G. blackstone
of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, be-
gan.
Officer Griffin Called.
]. D. Griffin. n special officer of
Elizabeth City county and Il house
mover hy vocation. was the first wit
ness called. He testified 10 seeing the
defendant in an INTOXICATED condi-
ton. The judge wss unsteady
on his less. This was in 1906 and
court was in session. or rather the
judge haa been holding court on the
day before. The sheriff ana other
officers at the time. Wen waiting for
the Judge. Witness could not say
whether the judge ascen1cd the bench
in a drunken state.
The Modes. Veteran Sheriff.
Sheriff II. X. CurtlBs OF Elizabeth
City county. next was called to the
stand, This gray haired s,itness. who
wore ~ Confederate ctS32 of honor,
testified as to Blackstone's failing to
appear on the bench on certain
Tuesday. Certain lawyers sent the
sheriff out TO look for the defendant.
Witness admitted after great. great
deal of reluctance, that he found
Blackstone at the "Caddell woman's
house.NMr. Lewis pressed the witness
hard and finally forced him to admit
that the place WIS "a disrepuiablc re-
sort on Jail street. Phoebus. The
Judge was In bed by himself and the
woman In negligcc. Witness begged
him TO leave.
1t is unnecessary 10 give further
testimony of this witness in this
connection. as the details are more
or less revolving and the sheriff =
modest man-gave them with re-
Mctance.N
The witness positively deniecl that
he had ever taken any court records
10 Judge Blackstone while the latter
was in an immoral house. Sheriff
Curtis also denied that he had ever
told anyone that the Judge requested
this.
Witness, asked if he had ever seen
defendant intoxicated on the bench.
evasively said: "Not so much that
he couldn't attend to business"
Drunk Only Once.
On only one occasion hal ihe sher-
iii seen him Oh the bench when the
word drunk" in it's commonly ac-
cepted meaning, was applicable to
him. And | changed my mind about
him them added the witness, "af-
ter had seen his physician and heard
what he had given him"
The sheriff stated. however that at
the time of the Judges appearance
every msn in the court room thought
he was drunk
Questioned by one of the commit
tee. Mr.. Curtis stated that he went
TO the aisrepuiablo house Mt night
after Judge blackstone. and, failing
10 get him to leave then. returned
fer him the next morning. The Judge,
while in The dive. was complaining
that is. somewhat ill-.but he was
clear headed. Certainly he was able
TO know the nature Of the place he
was in.
Question by Mr.. Icwis-Is II not n
matter of common report that the
Judge fre1uonis places of that char
actcr?
Somewhat cyasively) 1t is so
reoprted Not that | know Of