The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-26

~ ECONFENING for the purpose of
acting finally upon charges
N heretofore formulated against
4 v Judge j. W. G. Blackstone, of
Accomac. the General Assembly
yesterday received a written answer
from the accused jurlst, and referred
the entire subject to the Committees
for Courts of Justice of the two houses.
with instructions to report back at
noon to-day.
The answer of Judge Blackstone to
the allegations upon which his removal
Is proposed is but a brief and simple
denial. and reads thus:
"Now comes the respondent, j. w. G.
Blackstone, and denies that he has been
guilty of gross immortality or neglect
of official duty, set forth in the
specifications and charges served
upon him.
(SiEned) 81. W. G. BLACKSTONE.
(Slgned)
"FAY S. COLLIER,
&C. AYLETT ASHBY,
"Counsel.'
Whether the committees will have ar
rived at any definite conclusion as to
a method of procedure when the AS
sembly meets again to-day is serious
question. as at the end of a long ses-
sion yesterday evening no tangible re-
suits had been reached. This was the
first Joint conference of the two COM
mittees, the Senate contingent not hav-
Ing heretofore considered the matter,
and there was great deal of Discus
sion. 1t soon developed that the mem
bers were not all of one mind concern-
ing a. method of procedure. and it was
decided that each should have five
minutes in which to express his views
When the committee rose the Senate
members had all spoken. and the mem
bers of the House Committee will be
heard this morning.
Two Views of Situation.
It is understood that of two views
expressed in the committee one is that
the procedure up to this time is reg
ular, and that the two houses may
vote at once on the question of re-
moval and be clearly within the pro-
visions of the Constitution. The other
IA that Judge Blackstone's answer, be-
ing simply denial, entities him to
offer more testimony if he desires to
do so.
The committees will meet again in
Joint session at 10 o'clock this morn-
ing, and the two houses will sit at
noon Judge Blackstone arrived here
at 1850 o'clock yesterday, accompanied
by his brother, his friend, Mr.. ID. CT.
Smith, of Newport News. and his at
torneys Messrs Aylett and Collier, and
went at once to Murphy's. Later he
visited the Capitol and conferred with
some friends. He sent in his answer
at tho afternoon session, and is now
awaiting developments before making
another move. He declined last night
to issue any statement for publication,
declaring that his course would not be
definitely determined until the COM
mittees had reported to their respec-
tive houses.
End Not In Sight.
There was much talk early in the
day to the effect that vote might be
taken to-day or tomorrow, and that a
successor to Judge Blackstone could
be elected and a final adjournment be
had by Saturday, but little of this was
heard after the long and frultless ses-
sion of the committees. Indeed, the
end is by no means in sight, and it
may be more than week before it is
reached. Only eleven days are left
prior to the expiration of the session
by constitutional limitation, and yet
the case is one that calls for the ut
most care. in order that the removal
of Judge Blackstone. il this is deter
mined upon, shall be in accordance
fcnntinued on Fifth Pasal