The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-21
NUMBERS TESTIFY
To VOTE-SELL|NG
IN lee COUNTY
Judge Skeen Hats Work OF
Special Grand Jury
Probing Scandal
MINIMUM FINE FOR
ALL WHO OWN UP
Commonwealth Attorney
Ely Says indictments
Were Made Possible
by. Confessions

Especial to The Richmond Ntrg1nlan.)
BRISTOL, VA, Dec. 2o.-The judi
cial investigation into alleged whole
sale corruption of the electorate in Lee
county, Virginia. with money and
whiskey, took different turn today,
when Judge Skeen issued q proclarna-
ton to the vote sellers OF the coun-
t. which, II Is believed, will result in
many confessions.
Judge Skeen announced that to-
morrow he will adjourn the special
grand jury which has been probing
into the election scandal for the past
three weeks. Ii Was his intention TO
convene the grand jury Immediately
after the holidays. and resume the in
yesttgation by that body. but his plan
now is to have the vote sellers con
fess. If possible.
In his proclamation Judge Skeen
states that all who come in and con-
TESS will be given the minimum fine,
but thai they will be forever debarred
from voting in Virginia The election
statute which DISTINGUISHES all who
are convicted OF buying or selling votes
is mandatory and self-executing.
One Hundred indictments.
Commemorative Attorney NJ. q.
Ely. who has been active in the mat
ter stated tonight. that over one hun
dred indictments were turned over to
him today. They were ali against
persons charged with selling their
votes. He expects fifty more tomor-
row before the grand jury adjourns.
Just how many have been returned
or will be returned IL not known. but
Judge Skeen hopes to Get the confess
sions Of the guilty. men without con-
tinuing the grand jury Investigation.
and to this end has offered the mini
mum fine to all who confess before
the special grand jury is reconvened
in February to continue the probe
Judge Skeens method In getting the
evidence. upon which the indictments
were made. was divulged tonight by
Commemorative Attorney Ely. who
stated that IN the outset nIs honor de-
cided that the only way to get the evil
dence was to get IL from the men who
bought the votes. He had number
OF men suspected of vote buying
brought before the grand jury. and he
stated to them that they would be
they would SHOW up" the men whose
votes they had been buying.
Says Mem Confessed.
II seems that at first they were a
lttt1e slow to do this. but seeing
that II was the only safe means, they
did 30 and upon their evidence the
indictments have been made. Com
monwealth's Attorney Ely stated to-
night that OF the indictments that had
been delivered to him more OF the
alleged vote sellers were Democrats
thAn Republicans,
Mr.. Ely said that the Democratic
vote buyers furnished evidence fol-
the indictment OF more persons fol
vote selling than the Republicans.
When asked ~ to the probably re-
suit Of tho proclamation which Judge
Skeen iss,ied this afternoon. Com
monwealth's Attorney Ely stated thai
he believed that It would result IL
many people coming in and con.
Teasing who have not as yet beer
indicted but who are likely to b
when the special grand jury convene'
In February. unless they do SO II
the meantime.
What Mr.. Ely Expects.
Mr.. Ely was also of opinion tina,
the most Of the indicted men would
como In and confess. accepting the
minimum nne and inevitable dis
franchisement.
It now seems that there will b
wholesale disfranchisement OF voter.
in Lee county. Tho population i
almost entifely white and It Is nov
believed that at least several hun
dred viii BE- forever disbarred from
the exercise Of the right Of suffrage
Judge Sksen win extend his inves
tigation into the adjoining counties
Of Dickenson and Wise, which. with
Lee. constitute his judicial circuit
Tho proclamation plan II tho same
plan used In Adams county. O.. wher,
the two thousand were convicted O
vote selling. they having confessed 4
get the minimum penalty. but wer'
disfranchised only for short periods
Judge Rkeen intimates that It vii
70 hard with the people In Leo coun
ty who have been selling their vote!
unless they come forward and con
fess.