Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-26
BLACKSTONE DENIES
IMMORTALITY CHARGE
Puts In Brief But Genefa| Denial
Of Charges Once i'd
mIlted by lIm.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGAINST HIN
Believed it is Ready to Adopt Reso-
luton Removing Judge Blackstone,
But Also Thought That There win
be a Hot Fight When the Leeisa.
turc convcnes This Morning.
.ure convenes This Morning.
Especial to The Daily Prcss)


RICHMOND. VA, March ga res
oluiion will be introduced in the lcgis-
lature tomorrow, setting forth the
causes why Judge }. W. G. Black
stone. of the Eleventh Judicial Cir
cult. against whom charges of re-
moval a,e now pending, should be re-
moved. and formally recommending
I his removal. With the adoption of the
resolution by the General Assembly
the bench of the Eleventh Circuit
Will be declared vacated and the as
scmbly will appoint committee 10
name successor to Jurge Blackstone
included in the resolution will be the
causes for removal. which embrace
immo ality and neglect of official duty.
That vigorous fight will follow the
introduction OF the resolution is as
Surei. AS TO the glounds why the legis-
lautre should not proceed ii will be
alleged that the charges were really
not presented until Judge Blackstone
had filed his answer showing that he
would oppose removal The findings
OF the House committee. It will be
held, were relative to the merits OF
/ the case.
The resolution will be introduced By
Delegate Feathcrston, of Lynchburg.
The attitude of the House towards
Judge blackstone is such that the
resolution is practically assured OF
passage. Tho House committee on
courts of justice has had the matter
of procedure under consideration all
6DV HQptcinp Ha,-fD.,
when the committee adjourned at Il
late hour this afternoon to meet again
tomorrow at noon. at which time they
will formally report to the House.
The sessions of the committee were
executive and nothing was given out
at the end of the hearing as TO what
had TRANSFERRED.
Judge blackstone although still suf-
fering from illness. appeared at the
capitol this morning TO look after his
defense in person. lie filed an an
swer to the findings of the House
committee through his counsel. in
which he denies that he has been gull
ty OF either gross immortality or ne
glect of official duty as set fourt in
the charges and specifications served
upon him. This denial will precipi-
tate the findings of the joint commit
tee. who will base their report on the
evidence taken before the House com
n.ittee
Judge Blackstone reply TO the find
, ings Of the House judiciary commit
tee is in these words:
Now comes the respondent. ]. X.
&. blackstone. and denies that h.
has been guilty of gross immortality
or neglect of official duty, as set forth
in the specifications and charges
served upon him"
tSisneO ]. w. G. BLACKSTONE.
! (Signcd(
FOY S. COLLIER.
c. AYLETT ASHBY,
Counsel.
! This general denial on the part of
Judge blackstone Will il IS believed.
prccipitatc the findings OF the Joint
committee, who Will base their report
: on the evidence taken before the
House committee.
| Judge blackstone has stated time
and time again that he will fight every
technicality in the method of procc
dnre. and it is moro than probable
that ON he floors of the two houses.
and not in the commiitccc room his
vigorous defense will be made.
The days work Began when Dele
gate Curlett, of Lancaster offered y
resolution providing that the legisla-
lure take up the unfinished business
on the calendar. He made brief
speech in rcopcning this old question.
reminding his colleagues that they
were here at their own expense, and
therefore should do what they saw fit.
He thought the unfinished business
was most important and imporativcly
/ demanded attention. Moreover he in :
cidcntally remarked that he expected
1 TO be here until Saturday.
Delegate Page asked If Mr.. Curlctt
/ would accept an amendment contain.
ing the proyiso that If The Blackstone
case be disposed of in the interim. the
general assembly adjourn next Satur.
/ - ---------------