Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-04
Petition 10 Take Judge Blackstone
Frsm Bench In Legislature.
WAS PRESENTED BY mr.. HOUSTON
Hampton Delegate Said That He
Bought 10 Hstore General Assem-
bly, Without Any Personal Feeling
in the Matter.

| delegate Harry X. Houston yeSter-
day presented Il petition 10 the
Legislature. signed bv 400 of his
constituents. who asked for the
Impeachment OF Judge j. w. G..
Blackstone. of tho Eleventh Judicial
Circuit
The petition charges the Judge WITH
neglect OF official duty" "immor
atty" and INCOMPETENCE"
II is brief. but directly to the point
Delegate Houston, after reading tho
petition amid breathless silence,
stated that the 400 signers were UNI
ong the most representative of his
| constitucnts'--people who commanded
grca. weight In their community.
lie then added: retrospective of my
personal feelings, or of any sentiment
In behalf of man who is down and
out, 1t Is my duty to enforcs the
privilege of the people represent
Aftea Clerk Williams had rcal the
petitlon second time. 1t was refer
red TO the committee on courts OF
Justice.
Delegate Houston remarked few
| minutes later to reporter that the
petitioners were people whose prom
Inence and wishes could not be over
looked, though lie intimattSl that his
duty in presenting tho request was q
most unpleasant one.
A Second Petition.
! a second petition - the one con-
taining the hulk OF the signatures
reads as follows;
To the Hon. II. II. Houston. etc.
We, the undersigned citizens OF the
county OF Elizabeth City. respectfully
request that you, as representative
In the General Assembly OF Virginia
for this county, do introduce II reso-
luton in the said General Assembly,
requiring an investigation of the Of
tcial conduct and record o. the Hon.
]. w G.. Blackstone. judge OF the
Eleventh judicial Circuit of the State
OF Virginia. OF which circuit the said
county of Elizabeth City Ia part.
the object OF the said investigation
being tho Impeachment of the said
l. w. G. Blackstone for neglect OF
official duty, immortality and incom-
Detency.
And we further request that some
| action he taken by the General AS.
sembly to amend section I04 of the
present constitution. so that Judges
Of the circuit ana corporation courts
NJ tho state may be impeached and
emoved from Office by some tribunal
'ther than the General Assembly dur
'ng the vacation OF that body.
Was In the Paners Lately.
Judge blackstone. 1t will be re-
nembered. is the man who attracted
widespread attention last summer by
0 itlcising Governor Swanson from the
bench for the latter's action In send
ng troops to Accomac county to quell
l threatened race riot at Onancocls,
A little later he again drew the fire
VI public censure by falling asleep CT
he bench while haring case at
| hampton.
This Incident, however, was explain
I'd by the statement that he had
Seen quite i'll just before, and that his
''esta was due to certain sedative
medicines he had taken.
[ When the legislature first convened
was intimated In soma quarter,
hat Judge Blackstone was now con-
lucting himself with marked circum-
'pection, and that all danger OF i'm
7eachment proceedlngs--which oven
then had been hlntsd at-was over
But tho petitions presented to
he legislature tell quite n
| different story. They are very
BROAD in their charge. and con-
ain the names OF men who do not
enter lightly into such matters.
Judge blackstone, whether or not
no Is unjustly accused, has seen the
lay when he was regarded as law
YER and Judge of unusual ability. Pti-
or to his elevation to the bench o
represented his people in the state
Senate for several terms.
The committee on courts OF Justice.
1t decides to go into he charges,
VIII take Testimony Just as Il did In
he case of Judge Clarence j. Camp
hell of Amherst. Two courses may
ne taken as the result OF the peti-
IONS. An attempt may be made to
"emove Judge Blackstone or an at
''mpt may be made to impeach him.
Removal may be effected by ma
GRITTY vote OF the members OF both
houses.
Governor Swanson today would gay
nothing whatsoever concerning the
charges against Judge blackstone.
--sz----.---s----