Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-12
BLACKSTONE PAINTED
BLACK IN CHARGES
Psope Of Hampton Before leg|s
IsluPe Accuse Judge Of
Gfossest immortality.
FREQUEhTER OF NOTORIOUS JOINTS
Committee ." courts and justice
Turns Charges Over to the General
Assembly and They Are Referred
Back to II to be Investigated as
Soon as Possible.
Especial 10 The Daily Press

RICHMOND. Feb. 1.-THE commit
tee on courts OF justice investigating
the charges against Judge j. w C.
Blackstone OF the Eleventh Circuit.
late this afternoon postponed the
hearing until February %. In order
10 allow the accused time in which
to employ counsel ana perfect his
,tfensc
Although no names can yet be
mentioned in this connection, it WAS
LEANED today that several prominent
men OF the Eastern Shore Will DO i'm
plcsted with Judge Blackstone when
the hearing is actually on.
The following is the Feather
stone resolution adoptc.i 10y the House
today:
Resolved. That the committee for
courts OF justice shall as soon as
may be practicable, investigate the
charges against Judge j. w. Black
stone by citizens of Hampton city and
Elizabeth City county. and that said
committee be- ana it is hereby, auth
orized 10 summon Witnesses and
send for persons and papers, ii ne
cessary Said committee shall sit in
Richmond or elsewhere in the com
monwealth. and shall recommend to
the House OF Delegates such action.
IL any, as it shall deem proper TO
take in the premises.
The committee is hereby author
lied to employ s,ch stenographic
assistance as i; shall deem proper
to take the evidence in said case
Said committee is authorized to
make full and thorough inyestiga-
ton OF all the charges of immortality
malfeasance. misfeasance. incompe-
tency or other misconduct In office
alleged against said Judge ]. w. G..
Blackstone, as judge OF the courts
of one of the circuits OF the COM
monwealth.
The House committee for courts of
justice in open session this morning
In the court room OF the state cor
poration commission. declined to take
any further action i'm the matter of
the proceedings against judge BLACK
stone a majority of the committee
took the position that report on
the Blackstone matter had already
been made TO the House, and that
the disposition of the case was be.
fore thia body.
Chairman Massie announced that
he would submit Il minority report TO
this decision.
Before reaching this decision there
was an animated wrangle over the
presentation of Il petition from GER
tain citizens of Hampton ana Eliza
beth City county addressed to the
committees which, it was explained,
was In effect. n bill of specific charg-
es against Judge Blackstone. A mo-
ton TO have the petition read was
strenuonsly opposed by Delegates
Page. Cation and others. and il was
finally determined TO return the petit
ton to the senders with the instr,ic-
tons 10 address it to the General AS
sembly direct
The committee. in other words. fiat
ly refused to honsider any further
matter with reference to the charg-
es against the accused Judge. which
puts the case squarely before the
membrs of the House as committee
of the whole to take action.
Matter in the House.
Mr.. Massie started the discussion
on the blackstone matter in the
House today, when he presented n
minority report from the committee
for courts OF Justice.
The minority report rehearses the
blackstone case ard presents a reso-
lrt'on asking that committee of
five be appointed to fully investigate
the charges againse Judge Blackstone
during the session of the present leg
islatcre. and providing that the COM
mi;tee has ali powers to fully inves-
tigate the charges against Judge
Blackstone.
In speaking of the resolution. Mr..
Massie said that he was unequivoca-
bly, opposed TO an extra session OF
the legislature for the purpose of in