The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-27
JUSTICES WARNED
BY JUDGE WRIGHT
Strongly Condemns Certain
Existing Practices Regarding
Collection Of Fees.
Especial to The Times Dispatch, !

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
Lancaster. Va, November 26.-In
his charge 10 the grand jury sum
moncd for the November term of the
, Circuit Court for Lancaster county,
t.on had been cailcu to the fact that
justices of the peace In some counties
; of his circuit arc IN the habit of COL
Letting money IN cases tried before
/ them and cnnrSIn6 In addition 10 inc
fees allowed tncIn by Law a certain
fec for collecting the money ana pay
| ms It over TO the persons In whose
favor they had decided cases. lie
| read from paper published ~ one OF
the Northern Neck counties the an
, nounccment OF candidate for JUSTICE
| OF the peace, printed just before tho
recent election. In winch the caudl-
date declared that while he was no
, cheap John man." he would not IL
elected. charge more tnan 10 per cent.
for collecting claims decided In his
court,
Judge Wright said lie was sure the
justices of the peace who were en-
gaglnG in this business did not think
they were dong wrong. lie. however,
contendcd that while there is no stat
nevertheless a justice OF the peasc is
judge, and as such has no more
right to collect claims tried before
him and charge fee for the same
| than has circuit judge or justice
OF the Supreme Court OF Appeals lie
strongly reprenendel the practice, and
declared that If 1t were persisted in
he would deal summarily with the
offenders.
The remarks of Judge Wright on this
subject created 4 decided sensation in
the courtroom Several prominent
members of the bar. including such
, men az Thomas j. Downing. Joseph w.
Chinn and State Senator c. Harding
walker. warmly supported the conten-
ton of Judge Wright. and expressed
the hope that the practice would be at
once und forever abandoned.
Attention was subsequently, called to
he fact that the Virginia oyster law
virtually clothes an oyster inspector
with the powers of a sheriff, a witness
and q judge in that Ii authorizes him
| to arrest men for violating the oyster
law. and on his own Testimony to
pronounce him guilty. and levy upon
him n fine, onc-half of which. accord
ing to the provisions of the law, goes
into his own pocket.
The grand jury found two indict-
| ments. one against Levi Carter (col-
| ored) for attempted assault; the other
against Sydnor Landon. young white
| man. for failure to support an old,
decrcpit and feeble minded woman,
whom he married some time ago,
Landon contends that he was drugged
| before tho ceremony was performed,
| and that he did not know what he
was doing when he married the wo-
| man. 1t Is said when tho case is In
lyestiGated somo startling disclosures
Will be made.
The storehouso of ]. Il. sullivan &.
Brother at Rcboboth Church, on the
| border line between Lancaster and
Northumberland. was entered several
nights ago by thieves, who carried off
a quantity of goods and about 5000 in
cash and checks. AS yet no clue has
been found leading to tho perpetra tors
of tho robbery. There arc known 10
be several desperate characters living
in that locality.
Hon. Thomas Brown, of The Hague,
recently elected TO tho House of Dele
gates from Westmorcland and North-
cumberland. who was gallant soldier
| In tho Confederate Army, has succeed
cd in finding the lost roster OF Con-
Tolerate soldiers from Westmoreland,
and Judge Wright has instructed tho
clerk OF tho Circuit Court of that
| county to copy the roster IN the order
| book of the court. Tho roster was
made up several years ago by tho
Rev. George w. Beale, son of the late
General r. L. T. Beaie, and the hest
informed man living In regard to the
i history and traditions of the Northern
Neck Of Virginia.
The village OF Wheaton, in the
Northwestern part OF Lancaster on
the Rappahannoek River. Will on the
FIRST day OF next January resume its
ancient indian name OF Morattico
The change Is to DO made by direction
OF the Post-o Once Department at the