The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-18
SQUIRE LEWIS ON
TRIAL IN COUNTY
Justice of Peace and Lawyer
Charged With Malfeasance
In Office.
MADE EFFORT TO
CONCEAL IDENTITY
Constable and Deputy Sheriff Say
Officer Sought to Prevent Rec
ognition and Would Not Tell
Where Hutzler Was.


James r. Lewis. Justice of the peace
and attorney at law of Henrico coun-
~, was brought into the Henrico Cir
cult Court Friday morning at 10
o'clock to answer the charge of NAL
feasance In office. During all of the
morning testimony was offered by the
Commonwealth tending to show to
the court that Squire Lewis had.
while justice OF the peace protected
Sydnor Hutzfer, against whom a war
rant for criminal assault was issued,
from the officers who were searching
for him.
G. O. Burch, constable, and r. II.
Trayior, deputy sheriff, of the county,
presented the details of alleged NAL
feasance in office against Justice
Lewis. and upon one charge in their
paper filed some time ago with the
Commemorative Attorney. Mr. Lewis
was arraigned on the opening day of
the court. Messrs. Bureh and Tray
Ter testified that they met Lewis and
MAGISTRATE -paHFieett In the public
road near the home 81 Mrs. Herr. the
alleged victim Sef the assault for
whltsa q warrant for Hutzier was is
= gned.-that~ attempted ificfe
u hts identity. and that later he told
them that he WAS in -naishheF-
hood in the interest OF the Common
wealth They swore that Lewis also
told them, after IIntzier had surren-
dered and been allowed bait that he
lewis could not give the man up
to the authorities because he was at
torney for him.
The hearing continued Thursday
until 2 O'clock. when recess was
taken until 2@sa IN the afternoon.
There is no jury. Judge Scott hearing
the case, Frequently he asked wilt
Kelly and Hirim Smith are represent
tang Mr.. Lewis, and Mr.. William l..
" Ruyatt is assisting Commonwealth
L Attorney Gnnn in the prosecution Of
the, ease The court room was not
crowded during the first day OF the
i trial
There Is considerable speculation as
n 90 when the allegation al malfeasance
III I'm ofsice wtll he brought To a close
There were more than score OF spe-
J scitic etrurges in the paper filed my the
swo officers ~ the caunty, and some
attorneys have said that a verdict OF
sAflty upon any one OF these would
III sufficient grounds Ter Judge Scott
l. tdremove MIR. Lewis from office,
Fl Wanted to see Darricott.
commemorative Attorney Gum
testified that Magistrate Lewis called
upon him some time ago and asked to
he allowed to se6 Magistrate parricott.
stating that he tLewis} wanted Ia
know whether or not the warrant
against tIutZler was inimls1' with the
facts as they had been reported to
= him Tho permission was given. This
was either on the eleventh or twelfth
81 November
Deputy Sheriff G. +. Traylor. who.
with Constable Burch. hrst brought
4 the charges against Mr.. Lewis. was
@the next witness. He learned Of the
Warrant. 30 he testified. against Hutz-
Ter on the night of the Sd of oc-
toher aud that OIL the night Of the
18th of October he, in company witE
Gfffeer Burch and another officer.
went fo the eeet.ts, cn "A t~efoid mis-
sion He had heard Of robbery.
and wanted to learn something OF
this and also wanted to get some
evidence against Hutzlcr ana TO cap
tire Hutzier if he could. He met
two huggies In the first buggy was
Ellis Hutzlcr. brother of The man
charged with the offense named. Mr..
lseen engaged ny Mr. Hutzier he
undersfoodl and an unknown man.
Apparently Disguised.
IN the rear buggy / recognized
Magistrate parrieott. and wett TO the
side of the buggy To speak 10 him
talERu tO NM lhT perhaps ANo
minutes and noticed that his cont
ranion liz. the buggy had his hat pull
| cd down over his eyes and his coat
COLLAR turned up. Putting my hand
on this person, ! asked who il was,
and then Magistrate Lewis. whom |
had known for long time, spoke
To me and said that he was up there
In the interest of the Commonwealth"
Upon this point the witness was
closely cross examined. but he tena-
ciousiy chung to the statement that
Lewis had his hat pulled over his
eyes. and was apparently attempting
! to avoid recognition.
1 TIN the fifteenth of October witness
r1id he was in the Jail Office aad
when the matter of Hutzier's capture
was brought up and Constable Burch
had spoken Of securing search
warrant for the man Lewis remarked
that II would be no use to look for
him for they could not find him. How
do you know so much 2" witness tes-
titled Bureh asked. and Lewis replied
that II ought TO know: / am his
counsel" Witness said that Lewis
was nervous and excited at this time
md left the Jail office Immediately,
At 4 o'clock OF that day Hntzler came
10 the jail and surrendered.
Was Counsel for Hutzler
Constable G. q. Burch corroborated
the testimony of Mr.. TFayier. After
HutxlAr had been bailed. witness said
that Lewtsscame to the Jail office and
declared: Boys. | couldn't tell you
Df the Whereabouts of Hutzier be-
rAusu was his attorney" On cross
bxamtnation witness said that he did
not hear the statement Of Lewis ~
Erayfer about being in the country
N this interest of the Commonwealth.
but that Lewis made the same state
asH&nt To him ss,4s'
Answering questions from defen-
nantts attorneys. witness denied that
" had threatened to get even" with
Laws: denied that he had said that