Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-13
BLACKSTONE TO FIGHT
TO THE LAST DITCH
Accused Judge Unexpectedly EF.
rIYes in Richmond and Friends
Rally 10 His Support.
COMMITTEES ADOPTSPlAN OfAC ZION
Bill offered in the Senate Which is
Designed to Keep Criminals Out
of virainia-An,i-F Footballs Bill Fails
to Poss-Tho oyster oucs,ion to be
Considered.
tspecial 10 The pally preKsl

Especial 10 Tho Daily Press)
RICHMOND. VA, Feb. IL Judge
j. W. G.. Blackstone OF the Eleventh
judicial Circuit against whom uharg-
IS OF immortality. Incompetence and
neglect of duty have boon preferred
by citizens OF that district, and
against whom an investigation Is
about 10 he launched by the lcglsla-
turcy arrived in,Rlchmond uncxpcct-
cdly this afternoon. He was in con.
ference with representative men from
every county In his circuit nj Tho
Richmond hotel tonight.
a settlement was issued by the
friends OF Judge blackstone after
the conference IN which 1t is stated
positively that Judge Blackstone will
not resign under fire. but Will fight
NIL OF the charges TO the bitter end
He deiies anybody to make good one
asst rtion OF thc many accusations
| which have been brought against
him. judge blackstone rcfutcs tho
idea, currently expressed today. that
! there VIII be no representative of
, the. law fIom his circuit to csfend
him. ON the other hand h. as
scerts thu, he can obtain the services
of eminent attorneys from any coun
| ty In his circuit. Several lawyers II
is said. have already volunteered
their services Among the counties
and cities represented In the con =
| ie'encc were Acomac. Northampton
and Elizabeth City counties and the
+ cities of Newport News and IIamp-
4 ton.
| Senator Guntcr OF Accomac. stated
tonight that but for his position MS
u member OF the General Assembly.
he would himself be more than will
ing to represent Judge blackstone
IL Is stated that there arc four law
yers witnesses for the prosecution.
all of whom are avowed candidates
lor the seat now occupied by Judge
| blackstone
Judge Blackstone also rcpuCtatcs
tile statement made today that prom-
incnt physicians have stated that il
| wcrid not be a hard matter to have
him declared insane His friends
state that he is here to fight any and
s'i charges. Judge Blackstone courts
the most thorough Investigation. He
declares the charges filed with the
! leSisia'mrc. the contents of which
were made public yesterday. arc one
and all untrue. and that they will moi
Dear investigation. The committee
on courts of justice. which has tho
matter of the investigation In hand
mas deferred the hearing until Feb
ruary 90 Tho continuance was
granted in order that Judge Black
stone might have every opportunity
OF perfccting his defense and employ
! ing counsel
"Has Done No Wrong" SAYS Judoe
When asked whether nc desired tc
make any statement concerning tho
p opposed investigation. Judge Black
stone replied: 81 have done nothing
10 disgrace the position which | oc.
cupy, ana confidently await the re-
suit of fair and impartial inycstl.
ga.!on, snch as believe will be mad,
by the committee on courts Of Justice
! trust that the public will not prc
JUICE my case.
AS for my fitness ana competency
for she bench, 1t would be obviousl,
mp opcr for me TO speak while suct
charges are pending against me
ih,sc are matters as 10 which M,
friends may answer.
"a prominent citizen of Newpor
News. who is Il friend of ludc,
blackstone expressed great surpris,
at an article published in a local af.
ternoon paper which stated tina
Trends Of Judge Blackstone had adj.
vised him to resign after the action
CT The House. Tuesday. Judge Black.
stone trnied that he had receive,
any letters from ATTY member of eth.
o. House or Senate suggesting ht
resign as stated. and he expressed
his disbelief in the assertion mad,
that member OF the committee o.
courts Of justice. who must sit in III,
trial Of the matter. could be-Gmilty
OF having already asserted that he
could be- Shown To be insane
The suggestion In The article re-
ferred 10. that Judge blackstone
would seek 10 avoid he process is