The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-09-01
That for the License Years 19O5-6 at Least Walker
Lawrence & Co. Controlled the Retail
Saloon Business in Kanawha County
Outside City of Charleston.

:.also apparent to the court. That large
sums of money were expended by Walker
Lawrence & Company for the purpose of
aiding the consummation of this con-
spiracy to debauch and corrupt public
officials. and especially members of the
county court. 1 have no doubt whatever.
The uncontradicted evidence in this case,
from the facts and circumstances in the
case. from the books of account. and
the checks in evidence in the case.
forces me to this conclusion.
The disclosures in this case have
startled and astounded the Court as they
must have astounded the law-abiding
portion of this community.
But, above the stencil and corruption
disclosed in this case. comes to the
judicial mind, the questions which must
be solved before this defendant can be
removed from the office to which he was
elected by the sovereign people. nearly
six years ago.
1t is contcnded with great force earn
estness and ability. by counsel for the
plaintiff, that the fact that Walker
Lawrence & Company were able to con-
| troll the vote of the defendant, in their
interest, leads to the logical conclusion.
that the alleged agreement was made as
testified to by Lawrence, that the de-
fendant knew of it, and acted under it.
realize the great force of this argu-
ment. 1t is true that in the mind of the
Court it is almost inconccivable that the
defendant did not know that all the
licenses for 1905 and 1906 at least, were
granted to persons favorable to Walker
Lawrence & Company. and that it was
practically impossible for any person to
secure license who was objectionable to
to that company. But does it nccesSar-
lily follow, as an irresistible conclusion.
that he assisted in furthering the in
tcrests of Walker-Lawrence & Company
in pursuance of the agreement of March
1905, and that he received money in the
pursuance of the same?
! 1T IS UNREASONABLE TO SUP
POSE THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN
INFLUENCED IN SOME OTHER WAY,
through persuasion of friends, or in some
way not charged in the specifications
Is 1t unreasonable to suppose that per-
sons who were corrupt enough to re-
ceive money under an agreement to pay
it over to the defendant, were too pure to
ALLOW it to stick to their fingers, or too
honest to appropriate it to their own use?
| / am frank to say that suspicion
strongly points to the defendant, but
cannot convict him and remove him
from office. even if the preponderance
of the evidence is against him, unless
such evidence satisfies the court, and
will add, beyond d reasonable doubt of
his guilt He may be guilty. the Court
does not know. l DO NOT SAY HE
is INNOCENT; ! do not know
If am wrong in my conclusion. my
conscience, at least, approves my course
| To say that this has been a trying case
to me, under the circumstances surround
ing it, but lily and poorly expresses my
! feelings. When these charges were
brought thought of calling upon anoth-
er judge to try the case, but after reflec-
ton, felt that could be justly accused
of moral cowardice should 1 shirk this
duty. 1 have performed that duty to the
best of my ability.
! 1t is, therefore. ordered. that the Court
not being satisfied of the truth of the
charges herein, as the statute requires
the same will be dismissed each party to
pay his own costs.