The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-07
Bitter Fight Coming Over
Investigation Of Record
Of Judge Blackstone,
Of AccOmac.
Of AccOnnac.

OF AccOmac.
| If the Committee on Courts of Jus.
! tice OF the two houses of the General
Assembly report favorahly the reso-
luton offered by Delegate Houston OF
Hampton. by request. to inquire into
the official record of Judge j. ". G.
posed investigation is ordered, there
Will be hot fight from start to fin
Mr.. wyndham r. Meredith. Of this
the prosecution upon certain condi-
tions. which have been complied with.
One Is that an active lawyer of good
standing" shall gather the evidence
ton former COMMUNICATING attorney
Of Elizabeth county, has agreed to do
cas gps t5s Heh e r. Ms assS the
brother of Mr.. Wyndham r. Meredith.
would probably be retained by Judge
Blackstone's friends to conduct the
said he knew nothing whatever con-
corning the matter The rumor is per-
slstent. At any rate. Judge Blackstone
has, according to information received
here. determined to make a fight IL
the battle comes on, and will be repre-
scented by strong counsel.
It was stated yesterday that he has
finally refused to resign, as advised by
certain persons close to him.
Whnt His Conditions Are.
Mr.. Wyndham r. Meredith's letter
te Hampton committee, setting out
the conditions under which he will
enter the case. is as follows:
80 'lstrly regret that your choice of coun-,
H.ur,stone. with the view to his impeach-
ment or removal from Office. should have
fallen upon me. If 1t Is possible for you to
tl,eir acceptance Of this unfortunate and sud
task more than myself. II you insist, how
ever, upon my acting, l beg to say that I
tinms: (al That shall receive no compcn-
snti0n. tb) That il in my Judgment tho
prosecution falls to offer evidence that justi-
10 retire from! the case. tc> That there
shall be associated with me some active
lawyer OF good standing and residing In the
duty of getting up the evidence and con-
Quoting all the details of the prosecution.
lowing to me the task of Its management
before the committees and houses OF the
General Assembly or the Senate OF Virginia,
"a. the case may be- j,
"AIy engagements arc such that VIII not
be able to meet your committee aud the
until 10 O'Clock Monday, the 10tll
Instant"
The Hampton committee, to whom
the letter was addressed. is composed
ney, ]. i. Rowe. and NJ. c. Ransome,
DR.. w. II. Pearson and others.
Many Interested.
A great many prominent people are
here from Judge Blackstone's circuit,
and his friends appear to believe that
Courts of Justice Committee and adopt
ed by the two houses he will go into
the investigation and fight it to the
end, though they are not seeking 70
will come in the House Committee for
Courts next Tuesday morning, and it
is difficult to say at this time whether
or not the matter will be thoroughly
of the committee. however. whether
adversely or ravoraby reported. It
will probably provoke a bitter fight In
the two houses. When the lower
action is favorable. me resolution will
go to the Senate and will be there re-
ferred to the corresponding committee
for consideration and report.
the respective branches are as follows:,.
House--Messrs. Mnssle (chairman),{
Cation, Pulliam. Barrett Rev, Edwards,
Page, Montague, Thrift, Chitwood.
1 senate-NIessrs. Mann tchairman),
Walker. Rison. Lassiter, Sims. Wick-S
ham. Strobe. Halsey, Holland. Tucker,
King, Saunders and Noel.
4Hs About the Lawyers.
In connection with the Blackstone
case a delegation of prominent Hamp-5
ton people we're in Richmond yester-I
day. When questioned with reference
to the report that no lawyers had sign
cd the petition against Judge Black
stone, members of the delegation stated
that the lawyers We're not asked to-
the movement realized the embarrass-
ment which might result TO them by
taking such action in the matter.
Eighty per cent. OF the people Of
demanding this Investigation Of the
record of5Judge Blackstone one of the
Hampton men declared The Times
Dispatch last night received the fol.S
lowing from its correspondent at
Judge ]. ". G. Blackstone, against
whom a large number of citizens Of
HAMPTON and this place have asked
that impeachment proceedings be start
cd declines at this time to discuss his
NJ, Intention of resigning under fire.
The Judge says that there is no occa-
sion for discussing his plans, but he
IS strong In his contention that he 4
has clean official record. and seems
peach him will amount to nothing.
Members of the bar here and in
hampton have avoided appearing in
me u moy,nS,ment against Judge Black
stone. Those who circulated the petit
ton to be presented to the Legislature
say that they did not seek the sigma
! ~! OF lawyers. not desiring to place
mem n an embarrassing position, They
give THIS as a reason for the fact that
there is not single lawyers name
amons the 400 Or more signatures on
the paper 57ass
q - - ~ o R Il "A.