The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-19
Lee County Shaken from Cen
ter to Circumference
by Probe
JUDGE SKEEN SAYS
VOTE TRAFFICKERS
WILL BE PUNISHED
Many Ofioeholders May Have
to Defend Their Titles to
Their HonorS If EX-
pected Corruption
Is Proven

Especial to The Richmond Virginian-)
BRISTOL. VA, Dec. ls.-Despits the
tact that Judge II. A. w. Skeen. had
warned the members Of the special
Krand Jury against talking. 1t was
stated tonight. by one Of the most
prominent officials OF Lee county.
which 10 the scene Of judicial PROBE
into alleged wholesale corruption OK
tho electorate. that nearly one thou
sand indictments have been determin-
ed upon. and the end Is not yet In
sight. The prospects tonight are that
the special grand jury viii be In ses-
aion three weeks longer. though Judge
Skeen has indicated that he will ad-
1ourn for Christmas IN event the work
II not completed. which is thought
unlikely.
Judge Skeen In personally conduct
ing what promises 70 be the most SEN
sational investigation into election
frauds IN the history ct the state. and
his special grand jury has entered
upon It's third week. Only twenty
five witnesses were before the grand
Jury today. They were examined by
Commemorative attorney NJ. G. Ely.
The developments OF the day. In the
grand Jury room. were closely guard
ed.
Whisksi a. vote-Psrsuader.
II has developed that Judge Skeen
secured two witnesses from Bristol
representatives OF mail order liquor
houses who told OF many shipmens
the counties In hts circuit, Just be-
fore the last election. They could
give the grand jury no definite state
ment as to who gave the orders. but
did tell that each shipment consisted
Of very large number OF small pack
ares, consisting of pints and half
pints OF liquor. obviously for general
distribution. The consignees testified
before the grand jury that the day be-
fore the election. thew heard that the
Houor shipments were n the EXPRESS
once for them. and that they were
prepaid.
They took out the liquor hut none
seems to have known. according TO
their testimony, who sent them the
liquor.
The foreman OF the grand Jury Is J.
o. Woodward a prominent lawyer
and farmer. of Lee county. Tho hap
peninGs inside the 1sVy room are kept
closely Guarded. BITS news has been
leakfnr ont until II fias become known
that hundreds OF true bills have been
found.
County 10 Shaken.
None will be returned by the grand
fury until after II finishes its work.
Il IL known that many prominent men
will be involved by the jury findings.
The county is shaken from center to
circumference by the investigation.
which Judge Skeen has set on foot,
and his honor has declared II his pur-
pose to punish every man who has
sold his vote or has been trafficking in
the votes Of others. The law Is very
broad on the subject. and besides fur
nishing . heavy fine and prison SEN
tence to each conviction II perpetual
" disfranchises the guilty.
Judge Hkeen has not as yet indi-
Gated when he will begin similar
Investigation in Dickenson county
which adjoins Lee. but will do sc
soon after the FIRST OF the year. He
declares ne will make clean sweep.
May Loss Their Ofsiess.
A new feature in connection with
the Investigation was sprung today
when II was limited that there may be
any number OF ofiiceholders thrown
out OF ONCE A. a result Of the tnvesti-
cations. n wholesale corruption OF the
electorate II shown As the reported
Indictments would seem 10 foreshadow