Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-12-22
Illegal Voters Flee From Grand
Jury Probe
HE TO KENTUCKY
AND TENNESSEE
Many Politicians Accept Immun-
ity Offer and Tell
whole Story

JONESVlLLE Va, Dec. IL
Coming events cast their shadows
before, and, picturing in these sha
dows storm clouds of dreadful real
ity, men guilty of political bribery
are leaving the county fearful les
they be dragged before the gran(
jury, which is investigating the No
vember election frauds or made de
PENDANTS in the criminal proceedings
which will speedily follow the grand
jury's report.
News of the preliminary batch OF
fifty indictments returned yesterday
doubtless served to lend wings to the
feet of many who were hesitating
The unmistakable evidence of the
intention of the grand jury to in
dict the guilty is causing a stampede.
Fugitives are scurrying across the
state line into Tennessee and Ken
lucky. They represent in large
measure that element which, being
without civic conscience, sells every
year to the highest bidders.
Though sensational big suit is
being tried before the circuit court
one of the most prominent citi-
zens of the county suing neighbor
for $4,000 for the alleged aliena-
tiOn of his wife's affection-the ac-
cOmpanying scandal oft repeated is
almost lost sight of in the avalanche
of political disclosures.
Officers Admit 1t.
Five county offcers-elect, taking
advantage of Judge Skeen's promise
of immunity, have appeared before
the jury and admitted that large
sums were spent buying votes at the
November election.
A prominent county merchant has
admitted that he acted as treasurer
for the Democrats in the vote buying
campaign.
An eX-sheriff Of the county has ad-
mitted that he banked the game for
the Republicans. Witnesses, six OF
them, have sworn that the Common
wealth's attorney advised them that
they did not live to testify, Judge
+ Skeen has retained two other attor-
neys to represent the Common
wealth, the Commemorative attor-
ney being excused from service.
In justice to the judge and the
grand jury which is conducting the
inquiry, it may be said that the in
vestigation is not being pursued
along party lines. The judge warned
the county against corrupt practices
and is now earnestly working with
Olin Woodland, foreman of the grand
jury. with the interests of the coun-
ty at heart, to eliminate the floating
vote from Lee county politics for all
time by hunting down every man
who sold his vote and disfranchis-
ing him for life. Previous to the
election the Democrats, having the
county clery and county treasurer,
controlled the county.
The Republicans now have both
offices and are more or less salts
/ fed regardless of the outcome OF
the investigation.
There are two kinds of floatere
and all were listed in Alphabetical
order in a ledger now in Jolesvillc
With each mans name his record
and price were entered.
The Derelicts.
These two classes are derelicts and
party floaters. The derelict will
vote for the party paying him the
greater amount of money Ere
quently, however, when once bought,
his sense of honor will rise like a
bubble to the surface and he will re-
gret his action. Under such cir
cumstances he will Immediately hire
himself to the vote of the other par
ty and sell himself over again. In
this way man is frequently able
to get as much as SIS for his vote.
The FlOaters.
The party f1oaters will not under
any circumstances vote against his
political convictions, but they will
not vote at all unless literally paid.
"a Democrat could never induce a
Republican foater to vote the Demo
cratic ticket, but by seductive argu-
ment can keep the foater from vot-
(Continued on page two. }