The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-28


actcr In this court and the aliega-
lions against him have not been
proven. J therefore dismiss the
petition OF Burs.h and Trayior for
his removal from office on the
sst,sssst.s OF tssnifcasunrr and ORDER
the petitioners TO pay The costs
I'm the proceedings
This, In effect, WAS the decision of
Judge II. Carter Scott delivered In the
Henrico Circuit Court Monday morn
| ing With tears streaming down his
checks. james IT. I.ewis, for nineteen
Years justice of the peace from
fuckahoe maEisterial district. and for
the past five or six years an attorney
at-law. heard :he courts order free
ing MIN from the ighominious charges
that had been aid at MIS- coor, and,
after receiving the congratulations of
his attorneys and his friends. left the
courtroom.
While the decision OF Judge Scott
lifted a grent load from the shoulders
q! the justice Of the peace and attor-
ney, 1t likewise came as a blow to
| Constable Burch and Deputy Sheriff
Traylcr, The costs OF the proceed
| ings 1t is estimated, will exceed one
| hundred dollars.
Reads His Decision.
Judge Scott appeared at tho court
| house Monday morning before 10
! and assembled the bench at 1858.
4 Clerk Waddill read the minutes of the
/ proceedings heretofore. and, after
signing them. the court read from
manuscript a carefully prepared re-
sumo Of the case, There were three
! specific allegations of maifeasanee TO
/ Ire considered. Taking up Lewis con-
Aneotinn- with the uutzier-esse,- the
/ court dismissed IL upon the ground
/ that there had been no evidence pro-
/ tiuced to Justify the assertion that tho
4 defendant acted In II dual role. The
| court did not believe Burch and Tray
! ior we're correct In stating that Lewis
| had tolG them he was In the neigh
| hoThoud in the interest of the Com
\ ffts,.tR t-stit +. y -'----
/ Allegation No. Q, that fines had
! hesn collected and improperly re-
I turned. was not proven. The law
] Ma s-fs4f4i+s ftrt4tt-tifc subject, ami
+ f7eTis mad SHOWN thnt there was a
cause In each instance for his not
making the technical returns. II be-
j liepe that Lewis acted honestly in
1 this matter No man could have
! shown a higher character. He has
attended TO six-tenths of the husi .
I HFHI OF the county Nnllh III tHS ca
/ pacity of magistrate. ana all his
| transactions have been straightfor-
ward. All of us, ore prone to err
sometimes, md there may have been
! IN occasional .ztntztaie. hat Nc Infant
I to- commit wrong"
/ The third allegation that Lewis
| had not tried a case cit the proper
time was dismissed there being no
evidence 10 Justify the court in be-
Loving any wrong was done.
Must Pay the Costs.
THE petitioners have failed to
prove that Lewis did any Illegal act
and the petition is therefore denied
and they are ordered TO pay the
costs" said Judge Scott.
The utmost stiffness prevailed.
Lewis sat between his counsel intent
tly gazing into the face of Judge Scott.
Tears trickled down his cheeks and
he could make no statement. lie
/ thanked those who congratulated him
I and hurried out Of the court.
in the office of the county iHil all
Z of the deputies and several other Of
/ flccrs cnngregated after the decision
and discussed the case. Common
/ wealth's Attorney Gum said that the
/ decision meant that the case was at
an end. He would not take tn mat
! ter to the grand jury: In fact. had
no right IN do this In the light OF
/ the decision,