Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-03-27
JUDGE BLACKSTONE our.

After arguing throughout the entire
day on the method Of procedure TO be
folio Sed the House of Delegates late
Yesterday afternoon voted to remove
Judge ]. w. @. Blackstone from the
bench of the Eleventh judicial circuit,
and an hour later the Senate concurred
in the resolution.
There was but one negative vote to the
resolution In each house. even though
several Of the delegates went out OF the
ha lust before their names we're called and
thus avoided the issue. The resolution
was that drawn by the majority OF the
committee. Delegates Page and Withers
spoke vehemently in favor Of the minor
| i resolution, which would have allowed
Judge Blackstone to Introduce witnesses
to refnte the charges OF immortality and
neglect Of off cial duty as set forth In the
resolution of removal. Mr.. Withers Gre
ated quite a stir in the lower house wnen
he told of how Judge. Blackstone would
bring bis case before the Supreme Court,
and added that that body would 10 sll
probability overthrow the action of the
General Assembly.
The evidence on which the judge wss
removed was not heard except by the
House committee. Those defending the
minority resolution held that their re-
port was simply to sustain the alleged
charges and had no bearing whatever on
the charges as preferred in the recon-
mendalion for removal.
Senator Noel, of Lee, who preferred
the charges against Judge Rhes, caused
The democratic Senators to take notice
when he said that there had been some
suggestion that these charges against
Judge Blackstone grew out of his audsc-
ity 10 criticisiDg Governor Swanson.
he added that If Judge Blackstone WIS
removed Ia haste this fact would prove
damaging.
In the House the lone vote against the
removal was cast by Delegate Souther-
land, OF Die kerson and the Wise counter.
Il was asserted aflerwsrd that he had
said he wonll not vote to remove Black
stone when The democrats had puts mao
ike Judge Rhea on the Corporation
Commission. Senator Garter, OF Rsppa-
hammock, cast the vote against removal
in the upper house.
Judge Blackstone Is alleged. to have
said after the vote bad been taken on his
removal that be had 20 malice in bis
heart toward any Delegate or Senator
ard that be was glad TO believe that
each one voted for what he believed to
be Just and according, to the dictates OF
his conscience. Judge Blackstone was
present in the gallery when the vote
vas taken, and during the entire day be
listened to the = arguments OF tie
delegates. .aH
TIE successor, of thc ieposed judge
will be chosen acdiy ard The Legislature
will then adj urn.
Judge Blackstone, who had declared
ae would fl yht the proceedings to the
last point possible, declined 10 say last
night what CONS, he would pursue, but
II is believed he will carry the matter
to The Supreme Court on quo warrsnto
proceedings.
Ia an interview last night Judge
Blackstone said:
IL do not propose 10 state tho method
by which will proceed, but the fight Ia
not ended. do not acquiescs that this
Judgment is final, and will proceed by
appropriate legal means to protect my
self. do not consider that | have beer
removed by due process Of law"