The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-08
Crutchfeld Exonerated, Witnesses
Failing to Substantiate
the Allegations.
OLD CASE DRAG GED TO FRONT
Committee Conmends Police
Justice for Faithful Duty
on Bench.

After judicial hearing in which
number of witnesses were examined,
The charges filed against Police Justice
John j. crutchheld by Thomas Maxwell
utterly collapsed last night. the COM
mittee finding absolutely no founda-
ton in fact for the complaint, and
recommending to the Council that the
police justice be commended LOT MS
fidelity to duty. Witness AFTER "l!hess
failed to establish the validity OF the
3hearsay evidence which Maxwell had
attributed to them, and no act on the
{ part of the Justice was proved which
was not clearly within the rights OF
the court. Both Mr.. Maxwell and JUS
tice Crutchheld conducted their own
cases. examining and cross examining
witnesses, Acting Chairman j. B. WOOD
maintaining strict order In the crowd
ed council chamber.
Could Not Take Up IcnrsnE Evidence.
After organizing, the committee ae-
c,ded that the investigation must be
limited to the charges in the paper
referred by the Council, and that II
could not take up miscellaneous
= charges. nor could it take hearsay evil
dcnce not substantiated by witnesses.
,rl,e fun charge as filed by Maxwell
4 was read and then taken up serlatinl.
Mr.. Wood ruled that witnesses could
only testify as to what they know OF
+ their own knowledge or as to con-
versations which took place When they
were presest. ME. John S. Femlns,
the first ...wirness sworn, testified that
he had brought suit against Mrs. Al
kinson, then proprietor OF the Le&ing-
TON Hotel. He stated that this case
was the only time in which he had
heen in the Police Court. he said ne
had never seen Maxwell but once.
when Maxwell had called on him and
asked II he had any complaint against
Judge Crutchield.
II told him of my case with Mrs.
Atkinson, not exactly as he has stated
in his paper" he replied, II never said
Il that Justice Crutchtield had ever treat
Z ed me with anything but judicial cour-
tesy. though was surprised at his rul-
ing in my case, and took on appeal. ]
have no complaint to make, and don't
" think / should have been summoned
4 here"
Protest by Crutchneld.
On the cross-examination it devel-
oped that the suit tn question TOOK
place sixteen years ago, whereupor
Justice Crutchiield protested that fr
the last twenty years he had "triac
s sbout 100000 cases" and asked If this
S sort OF trash" was to be INTRODUCED
i against him.
Justice Crutchf1eld said he had thu
right under the law to preserve order
insthe court and to stop people from
+ talking. and in the event of contemp
to- commit the offender to jail Chair
& man Wood stated that this right wa
n conceded, whereupon the witness, Mr.
u Fleming. repeated his statement tina
Il he had ben treated with judicial cour
4 tesy.
Y Mr.. Nelson Cauthorn was sworn an
M the portion of MaXwells charge re
lating TO him was read. Mr.. Caution
Il charge against Justice Crutchtiel
ss3 In his life, and told of negro VIII
y worked for him having been arrested
u his line and costs amounting to sS.4t
Witness said he had never said a Wor
to, the judge about getting the negr
out OF jail and had never told Maa
well that he had. u went up to til
court and met Harry Glenn, who aslte
me-" he said, ''whatsIwas doing Their
and offered to get the negro off *
So. and in few hours the negro cam
down and went to work" "
Justice Crutchfeld said he was pr
pared to show from the record that A
torney Glenn appeared and test!hel TIL
S. the negro had job, and should M
81 ~ be held as a Yagrant, and that he he
been released on payment Of costs.
.sl Denied Maxwell's Statement
}9g Mr. Judson Cunningham was swol
and testified as to the charge Of Ma:
II well in relation to woman who "
ssS .f,ned $50, and for whom S. j. Londt
gave bond. 5.3
Mr. Cunningham stated positive
that he had not told Maxwell what vi
Is alIsg ed in the paper. When she W
man was arrested we lost a good te
emit he said. Il knew nothing OF
mn merits az the case I was never In t
Police Court. thought Maxwell "