Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-26

"
euments for the prosecutions He said
that it WAS not his Ges.rottc wound
the feelings of anyone. Nld that in
nWance lie would disclaihl7 any such
purpose.
Mr. Lewis first of all touched upoE
the charges accusing the. defendant
OF sleeping on the bench. First. the
lawyer referred to the judges con-
diticn during tie trial OF Leonard
Sheet in the Circuit Court of Eliza
beth City.
Then he passed on to the charge
of the defendants alleged drunken
ness aud drowsiness during the trial
of Julian Pnylinic for murder
what WAS the cause OF that sleepy
condition has not been shown ex-
claimed Mr.. Lewis. We have not
proved that he was intoxicated, but
we have proved that he was sleepy
while trying a case as judge It doesn't
matter what was the cause. The gen.
oral public then thought he w9s drunk
and the gene'al public has since
thought so"
Tha Doctors statement ,aay have
changed that sentiment, but a.. mat
ter of fact there was court of The
state trying n man charged with n
high crime and. under the circum-
stances. the public was disgusisd. Even
Mr. Collier, the lawyer on tie other
side says he was.
Mr.. Lewis took the grouai that
whether II was whiskey or drugs which
stup!iiet' the judge. Il man in his high
position should have been mSrc care
full He also commented upon The i'm
proprety of the Judges re; iarking.
ate, 4 certain statement of sc prls-
oner; God Almighty may believe you.
but ] don't"
Charge that accusing the defend
ant OF immortality and speciiylng GER
tain alleged misdememnors@.ns pro-
nounccd by Mr. Lewis as tfc most
sinister and disagreeable OF al" MIR.
Lewis maintained that the gate had
reviewed the evidence atong iiis line
but 1t was too unpleasant fol rcpeti-
ton.
If our judiciary can do tlinss OF
this sort dramatically .exc.a ned MIR
Lewis, 'all can say is God st5o tho
commonwealth. Think OF it, the ju-
dioial erminc dragged through filth
and miro, How can We sustain such
II thing?"
a little later tho lawyer added: "He
had bad reputation for morality and
sobriety. He is moi believed to bo a
moral man. ani yet he Is TO pass upon
our rights and preside in that court!
know a crowd OF Witnesses has come
from the Eastein Shore TO testify in
his bchalf'-and | don't blame them.
They have come here from Accomac
good men, old men. young mon. mon
of high standing, men of good repu-
tation--but in that community Judge
Blackstone stays Mt his brothers. or at
n friends home. Tint is rural COM
mnnty. where no whiskey IS sold le-
ultimately. Ii n Newport News man
had gone over there and had done the
things believe Judge blackstone has
done. believe they would have
lynchcd him."
Continuing. Mr. Lewis said: al do
not believe he is dishonest or corrupt.
| do not believe any other person
thinks so. ana no evidence along that
line has been introduced. But Judge
should be stainless Alas. we cannot
get stainless mon. but we can nj least
get men who do not violate the or
binary canons of morality and tenn
perance. Have we that man In Judge
Blackstone? That Is for you gentle.
men of the committee TO say
Mr.. Lewis concluded after speak
ing 10 minutes He was exceedingly
courteous and euphemistic in his ar
gument, considering the nature Of tho
charges with which he had to deal.
and thanked council for the defense
for the consideration they had shown
him The lawyer, just before resum-
ing his seat, took occasion to say once
more that the prosecution was actu-
ated by no malice or venom. He called
upon the committee TO bear him wit
ness in this.
The speech despite its brevity. was
a powerful ono.
Asked for Charity.
The first attorney TO speak FOR the
defendant was Ohio 8. Mears OF
Northampton, who dwcit rather on
the weakness of human flesh than the
evidence in the case. he charitable.
be charitable" where his closing
words.
lie is weak in body said Mr..
Mcars. and doubtless because of
that weakness he sometimes take too
much 20 drink in order 10 stimulate
himself And when he has become
too much inilamcG with liquor lie may
frequent those resorts. and yet not
with any immoral purpose