The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-25

~ IeneraI AssempIy VIII recVH
N vene at noon to-day. and
though the session was exc
tended primarily in order to COM
piete constitutionally and legally the
trial OF Judge J. w. G. Blackstone, OF
Accomac, charged with gross immoral
ity. there are now strong indications
that other business will be transacted.
Members OF both branches poured
into the city yesterday and last night,
and it is practically certain that q
quorum will be present on each when
the presiding officers call to order.
eutenant-Governor Ellyson resides
Speaker Byrd came in last night. and IS
ready for business. Mr.. John w. Will
liams, clerk of the House. is still in
disposed, but he will probably be able
TO appear at his post to-day. Clerk OF
the Senate Marshall B. Booker. OF
Halifax, who has spent much of the
recess looking after his legal business
in Houston and South Boston, came in
on Monday night and was at his office
during the greater part of yesterday
arranging for the reassembling OF the
Senate.
VIII Arrive To-day.
Judge Blackstone had not arrived in
the city last night, but he Is expected
here this morning IL his physical con-
dition is such as to permit him to
travel. No one seemed able to speak
definitely upon this point. though I'll
is known that the judges brother. Mr..
Thomas Blackstone, went over from
Accomac yesterday and Joined him at
Newport News. They will probably
come by an early train this morning.
Further than the frequent declarations
made from time to time by Judge
Blackstone that he expects to fight his
case out on every point known to the
law. there is nothing to indicate his
course before the Legislature. The
situation Will most likely be clarified
with his arrival In the city to-day.
When the two houses are recon
vened the first business in order
will be the reports of the two COM
mittees for Courts of Justice, to which
the Blackstone matter was referred
before adjournment. What turn mat
ters will then take no one seems able
to foretell. 1t may be that the COM
mittees will ask for further time, and
If so. the main bodies will either take
a recess or go on with other bus
mess.
No Report Ready.
The reports in the two houses to-
day will be to the effect that the COM
mittees have no report to make, be-
cause they have received no communi-
cation from Judge Blackstone. He has
made no answer to the notice served
upon him, though he formally acknowl-
edged the service Whether he will
file written answer. as did Judge c.
j. Campbell in the Amherst case. for
whether he will ask to be allowed to
appear In person or by counsel is not
known to any one here. and nothing
can be determined until he is definite
ly heard from. There are two views OF
the matter in the Legislature, and
they will both develop to-day. One is
that vote should be taken at once on
the resolutions to remove, and the
other is to give the accused Judge all
the time he may desire within reason
able bounds to defend himself furthcy
lively debates are expected In both
branches before any definite line Of
action Is determined upon.
May Pass More Bills.
Whatever may be the procedure with
reference to the Blackstone case, how
ever 1t Is almost certain that resolu-
tions will be offered in both houses to-
day providing that bills left over at
the recent session be taken up and
acted upon.
Such resolution will be earnestly
advocated and vigorously opposed, and
" VIII Aui uioIl cIOuSu aQlSuRTSenenl
to consume one day In debate at least
Many of the leaders are opposed to
taking up anything except the Black
stone matter. but there are so many
bills in which members are interested
that tho bars will probably come down.
If so. the Assembly may stay here
during the remainder of the extended
session. which will expire by Limitation
on April 6th. There are thirty seven
House bills on the Senate calendar, and
many Senator'S hope they will get n
chance to pass some Of them. Tho
House calendar is also congested The
tupshot of 1t all is going to be the
transaction of other business unless 1t
stone matter can be disposed of in a
few days. If this case holds the law
makers for more than week they
are almost certain to pass some of the
left over bills, as many of them are
saying that II they have to stay in
session they might as well work.
Candidates ut Work.
Arriving on the same trains with tho
Legislators from the Underwater section
OF the State yesterday and last night
came many candidates to succeed Judge
Blackstone, and they were accompanied
by warm supporters, who presented
their respective claims In the lobbies
With great enrnestness.
AIr, Otho Il. Mears, of Northampton
is at Murphy's. He Is strong candi-
date, and his friends claim that he Is
a winner Senator Ben r. Gunter, or
Accomao, however, who is strong
supporter of Hon, n. B. Wescott, OF
that county, will not concele that his
favorite is loser, Indeed, he appears
to be confident that he will win. lt
looks as II the battle is between
Messrs. Wescott and Mears, and that
Messrs, Montague, Robinson, Phillips
and Nelms will have considerable
strength.
The caucus to name a successor to
Judge Blackstone Is, OF course, a mat
ter to be considered only after the
latter's removal, which may not take
place for sopa tina,