The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-21
GRAND JURY MAY
NOT M E EFT AGAIN
If Result Is Satisfactory Investi,
cation in Lee Probably Will
End-More Than 100 Indict-
ments Already Returned.
Wholesale Disfranchise-
ment Is Predicted.
Especial to The Tlmes-pispatch. !

Bristol, Va. December 20.-The jul
dicial investigation into alleged whole
SAFE corruption of the electorate in Lee
county with money and whiskey took
a different turn to-day, when Judge
skeen issued proclamation to the
vote sellers OF the county, which IL Is
believed Will result in many confess
sions- Judge Skecn announced that
to- morrow he Will adjourn the special
grand jury, which has been probing
into the election scandal for the past
three weeks. 1t was his intention TO
convene the grand jury Immediately
after the holidays al d resume the in
Vostisation by that body, but his plan
now Is to have the vote sellers confess,
III possible.
In his proclamation Judge skcen
states that all who come in and
confess will be given the minimum
fine. but that they Will be forever de-
barred from voting in Virginia.
Indictments Returned.
Commemorative Attorney NJ C. Ely,
who has been active in the matter.
stated tonight that over 100 indict-
ments were turned over to him to-day
they were all against persons charged
with selling their votes lie expects
NIFTY more tomorrow before the grard
jury adjourns.
Just how many have been returned
or Will be returned is not known. but
Judge Skecn hopes 10 get the ccnfes-
sions OF the guilty men without contin-
uinS the grand jury investigation and
TO this end he offered the minimum fnc
TO all who confess before the special
grand jury Is rcconvened In February
TO continue the probe
Judge Skeen's method In getting the
evidence upon which the indictments
were made was divulged to-nigh, by
n rnnrrHfN 10 ~.
stated that in the outset His Honor de-
ctded that the only way TO procure tho
evidence was to get It from the men
who bought the votes. He had q num-
Der OF men suspected of vote buying
brought before the grand Jury. and he
stated to them that they would lie
given immunity from prosecution IL
lheS would snow up the men whose
votes they had been buying
1t seems that at first they were n
little slow to do this. but seeing il
was the only safe way. they did so.
and upon their evidence the indict.
ments have been made.
Commemorative Attorney Ely stated
tonight that OF the indictments do
lirered TO him. more OF the alleged
yote3seilers were Democrats than Re-
pnolicans. He said that the Democratic
buyers furnished evidence for the In
dictment OF more persons for vote
selling than did the Republicans.
I'rOuRDlc Result.
When asked as TO the proba bile re-
suit OF the proclamation which Judge
Skeen Issued this nvenins, Common
wealth's Attorney Ely stated that he
people coming in and confessing who
nave not as Yet been indicted. but who
are likely to be when the special grand
3 tbsyy Ieco on 81 In February. unless
also OF the opinion that most of the
inolcted men would como in and con-
less less accepting tho minimum fine and
investigation had caused a big sensas
ton In Lee county and that section Of
the State.
,,5 Il nov seems seems as If there will be
In Lee county. The population is al
most entirely white. and 1t Is believed
that at least several hundred viii be
t4s FiFha 90 se9m the exercise
ton plan is the same plan used In
Adams county. O.. where 1000 were
convicted OF vote.selling, they having
confessed to get the minimum fine, hut
period. s"oFt
Judge skeen ,intimates that II will
go hard with the people in Lee cornt,
who have been selling their votes M,
less they come forward and confsss
and II Is the opinion Tonight that 10
proclamation will bring many confess
VIII Continue Investigation.
IT is stated that whatever NAV no
the result of the investigation in 1.es
county. Judge Sksen is determined &c
Keep mis- promise to investigate eIec.
tionS IN every county In his circuit. nnf;
I IGr tnls reason 1t is expected that he
Wan next, summon special grand juries
Ior similar work in the counties oS
Wise and Dickinson. ot
II IS believed that few people antici-
Pated such positive course on ~
part of Judge Skeen at this ti,nn t the
the reason that the election being in !
Nestigated was for county of; oars
hi ntnss. and was therefore only Of local
Judge Skeen year ago was thot
would summon special grand juries 70
Investigate the next election. and ho
did not INDICATE that he Intended to
as might have been presumed by m an,,
persons who have INDUCED in uniaw-