The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-12
CHARGES FILED
AGAINST JUDGE
CONTINUED from First Page

10 employ such stenOEraphic assistance
rs ii shall deem proper to take tile
evidence In said case.
'sSaid committee Is authorized to
make a full and thorough Investigation
of ulI the charges of immortality, NAL
feasancc, mlsfeasance, incompetency or
other misconduct in Office alleged
against said Judge J. w. G. Blackstone
as Judge of the courts of one of the
circuits of the Commonwealth, and TO
report its findings to the House."
Fight In Committee.
The first brush came in the Courts
of Justice Committee at 10 o'clock in
the morning, and after the members
had wrangled for nearly two hours the
battle was renewed on the floor Of
the House. A majority of the commit
tee took the ground that there was
nothing before THAT body relating to the
Blackstone matter, and that 1t was a
Question for the House to determine,
the committee having made its report.
There We're some sharp passages be-
tween members representing the OPP
posing views. Chairman Massie an
nounced that he would submit mi
rority report, which he did when the
House convened. in the following form:
"The Undersigned members Of the
Committee for Courts of Justice re-
specially report to the House of Dele
Entes that having considered the petit
tionS of certain citizens requesting an
Investigation of the official conduct of
Hon. j. w. G. Blackstone, judge of the
Eleventh Circuit, who is In said petit
tons charged with neglect of official
duty, immortality and Incompetence,
they are of opinion that said charges
can ana should be Investigated during
the present session or an extended scs-
ston of the General Assembly; TINT
there Is no occasion for delay, and none
for nn extra session.
land we further recommend that the
following resolutions be adopted by the
House of Delegates:
''Resolved, That n special committee
of five be appointed by the Speaker,
who shnll forthwith proceed to inycsti-
gate the charges made In said petitions;
that such special committee be, and 1t
Is hereby authorized to summon wit
nesses and to send for persons and pI-
pers to sit in Richmond or elsewhere
In the Commonwealth, and shall recon,-
mend to the House such action, II any,
MS they may deem proper In the prenl-
ises.f Said committee is hereby author
tied to employ such stenographIc as
sistnncc4 as they may deem necessary
to take the evidence in such invcsti.su-
tion."
This report was signed by N[essrs.
Eugene C. Massie, Willis C. Pulliam
and w. E. Barrett.
Must Go Into 1t.
Mr.. Massie advocated his minority
report and accompanying resolutions,
and he declared that it was the duty
OF tho Legislature to go into the case
at once, as no matter could be Of
greater Importance to the people than
the keeping of the judiciary high and
clean.
He argued that there was ample
time to consider the case, and declared
that he was unalterably opposed to the
calling of an extra session.
Mr.. Massle finally withdrew his
minority report, and the resolution
printed above, which was offered by
Mr.. Featherston, was adopted in lieu
of all the other pending papers on the
subject.
The Charges.
Mr.. Houston offered by request the
charges and specifications which are
bitter and sweeping IN the extreme
They are practically as rollows:
$40 sustain the general charges
OF immortality, neglect of duty ana II
inc0mpctcncy, made against Judge
J. Nv. G. blackstone, of the Eleventh
Judicial Circuit OF the State Of yir-
Ginia, by the citizens or the county
of Elizabeth City for the removal
or Impeachment OF the said Judge
j. w. Ct. Blackstone, we oirer tho
Following "peciflc chppics; all, or
nearly all, OF these c,,ar;ses, when
proven, will establish, ut the same
time immortality, neglect OF duty
and Incompetence. Hut for the
more rnpid advancement of thisIin-
yestlsntion, we suh-dlylde said
charges under the foregoing three
heads; IS
"G) Whilst presiding In the
Circuit Court Of the county OF