The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
TO BE IMPEACHED OR
REMOVED FROM OFFICE
Revolving Evidence, Astounding
to Legislators and Spectators.
Admission by Accused Prac-
tically Settles the Case.
Rapid Progress Is
~ Being Made.
= EVOLVING to the last degree. tina,

in Judge j. W. G. Blackstone. OF
Accomac, which related TO his
moral life, and which was spread at
,nnuseating length before the House
Committee for Courts of Justice yes
terday, will mean impeachment or re-
moval from office unless 1t can be shat
tered by the defence, a development
wholly unlikely. IL not. in view of dam
aging admissions. utterly impossible.
OF course no member of the commit
tee Is discussing the matter for pub
LEGATION, and the minds Of all the legis-
lators, whether members of the COM
nittee or not are supposed to be closed
until tho case is complete on both sides,
but the proceedings yesterday develop
ed a startling situation, which was at
once extremely damaging to the ac-
cused and highly disgusting to those
whose portion 1t was to sit in the room.
Much OF the testimony OF several
witnesses from Phoebus and Hampton
touching alleged moral delinquencies IN
the life OF Judge Blackstone was so
filthy and scandalous that The Times
Dispatch declines to print 1t, as 1t Is
unfit to go into the homes of decent
people. 1t startled legislators and
spectators, and was the subject of wide
SpEedu dDoul lic SdPitOi idi
ing the entire afternoon and evening.
New Developments.
There were q number of interesting
developments in the case. not the least
important being the statement that
owing to the rapid progress made BY
the committee a final report may be
expected certainly by the middle OF
mex. week Surprising apparently
nearly every one in the oyercrowded
Corporation Commission courtroom.
where the meeting was held. Mr.. B. A.
Lewis announced at ! o'clock z. NJ.
that he would rest the case for the
petitioners. and that practically all
further evidence from that side would
be in rebuttal.
Attorneys for Judge Blackstone be-
gan the taking OF testimony at the
afternoon session. and Will resume
when the committee reconvenes at 10
O'Clock this morning. The accused
Judge has had summoned large num-
Der OF witnesses from the Eastern
Shore. and 1t is likely that all the tes-
timony will be in by Monday night. 1t
IS believed that the argument will not
consume more than one day, and that
the committee may report either on
Wednesday or Thursday. Both houses
adopted a resolution approprlatinS
$4,000 or SO much thereof as might De
necessary to pay the expenses OF the
investigation. Nearly IL not quite all
of 1t will be used. as the cost OF such
an inquiry Is always heavy.
At the afternoon session Of the COM
mittee all the testimony was in the
interest of Judge Blackstone. and some
OF it was very strongly in his favor.
Perhaps his best witness was Mr.. X. 9.
Of
ablest lawyers in the eastern section OF
the State. who declared that in the
matter of ability he regarded Judge
Blackstone as second to no judge on
the Virginia bench. City Sergeant Il.
w. Milstead, Clerk of Courts d. G.
Smith and others also appeared in be-
half of the accused jurst. 1t is the
prevailing opinion that Judge Black
stone will be the last witness for him
self, and that he will probably reach
the stand either Monday afternoon or
Tuesday.
Impeachment Likely.
Though 1t does not seem generally
understood, the method of procedure
as between removal and impeachment
has not yet been and will not be de-
termlned until all the evidence is in
and the case has been argued and
submitted to the committee. The res
olntion under which the present hear
ing is being conducted is simply one
adopted by the House of Delegates d.
recting it's Committee for Courts of
Justice to inquire into the charges and
to report thereon. If the committee
lind that the charges are sustained by
the evidence. it may report in favor Of
removal by Joint resolution, or may
recommend impeachment proceedings.
a 6n NIT a.,
the charges are not sustained by the
evidence. of course it will recommend
that they be dismissed, and there the
matter will end.
II impeachment proceedings are or
nered, which seems likely, the House
will formulate the charges and name
committee to prosecute them before
the Senate, which may sit in vacation
to try the case if itaso desires. But if
the committee recommends removal
sither an extra session or an extension
of the present session would be nee
rssary. as under section 104 of tho Con-
stitution, twenty days notice to the
accused official is required before the
hnal vote can be taken by the two
Houses.
The Two Alternatives.
Section 1O4, concerning removal, is as
follows:
".'udses may be removed from office
Tor cause. by II concurrent vote OF both
linuacs OF the General Assembly,, hut
u majority of all the members elected
to each house must c0nelr In such vote,
ana the cause of removal shall be en-
Tered on the journaliof each house. The
Judge against whom the General AS
fembly may no about to proceed shall
have notice thereof, accompanied by AZ
RORY or the nnuses alleged for Ills rc-
Movni, mt least twenty days before the
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