The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-19
INQUIRY ORDERED
BY JUDGE SKEEN
Developments Closely Guarded,
but Many Prominent Men Are
Expected to Be Involved by
Findings-Similar Investi-
CATION Will Be Con-
Quoted in Dickinson.
lspeciai "a TIL. Ti,ro..D,...c

Bristol. Va. December lS.-Despite
the fact that Judge II. a. w. Skecn
has warned the members of the spe-
cial grand jury against talking. it was
stated tonight by one OF the most
prominent officials of Lee county, which
Is the scene of judicial probe into
alleged wholesale corruption OF the
electorate, that nearly 1000 indict-
inents have been returned. The end
is not yet In sight
The prospects tonight arc that the
special grand jury will he In session
three weeks longer. though Judge
Skeen has indicated that he will I'D
iourn for Christmas in event the work
is not completed.
Judge Skccn Is personally conduct
ing what promises to be the most SEN
sational investigation into election
frauds I'm tho history of the State. and
his special grand jury has entered
upon It's third week. Twenty-Five Wit
ncsscs were before the grand jury to-
day. They vert examined by Com
mcnwcalth's Attorney NJ. q. Ely The
developments of the day In the grand
jury room were closely guarded.
Shipments of Liquor.
1t has developed that Judge Skccn
secured two witnesses from Bristol,
"a
houses, who told of many shipments
OF liuuor to the voting precincts OF
the counties in his circuit Just before
the last election. They could give the
grand jury no definite statement as to
who gave tho orders, but did tell that
each shipment consisted of a very
large number OF small packages made
up Of pints and half-pints of liquor.
obviously for general distribution.
Tho toet hot
grand jury that the day before cleo
tion they heard that tho liquor ship
ments were IN the express Office for
them. and that they wero prepaid
They took out the liquor. but none
seems to have known. according to
their own testimony. who sent the
liquor.
Tho foreman of the grand jury is
]. o. Woodward, n prominent lawyer
and farmer of Lee county The hap
pcnings inside OF the Jury room are
kept closely guarded. but news has
been leakinn out right along till 1t has
Become known that hundreds of true
bills have been found None will he
returned by the grand jury until 1t fin
Isles its work. 1t is known that many
prominent men will be involved BY the
jury's findings.
County Is Stirred.
Tho rural county is shaken from cen.
ton which Judge Skccn has set on
foot, and his honor has declared II his
purpose to punish every man. be he
Republican or Democrat. who has sold
his vote or has been tratiicking tn votes
OF others.
The law is very broad on the sub
ject. and besides furnishing heavy
fine and prison sentence to each, con-
viction perpetually DISTINGUISHES both.
Judge Skeen has not as yet Indicated
when he will begin similar InvestI-
cation in Dickinson county. which adj
joins Lee. but Will do so soon after the
hrst OF the year. lie declares he will
make clean sweep.
new feature in connection with the
investigation was sprung to-day whan
II was limited that there may be q num-
Der of office holders thrown OUT of Of
flee as n result of the investiga tions, IL
wholesale corruption of the electorate
Is shown, as the reported Indictments
would seem to toreshadow.
Confers with Judge.
Judge Skeen remained In the court
room at Jonesville all day to-day while
commemorative Attorney Ely was In
the grand jury room examining Wit
nesses before the grand jury. The
foreman OF the grand jury came ont
frequently and conferred with Judge
Skeen In regard to evidence and Wit
nesses. Judge Skcen is assisting in
securing Witnesses. and Is In active
charge of the probe Eeing made.