The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-08-24
MAY HOLD TRIAL
IN SPITE OF SICKNESS

RI c II NJ OND, VA Special. -
II is not believed that the illness
Of the venerable w. T. Tinsley. faith
er-in-law OF Judge Walter \. Watson
Will tend to delay the trial of Henry
e. Bcattie. Jr., for any great length
81 time, even though Mr.. Tinsleys
condition should become critical.
II Judge Watson is kept away from
the courthouse next Monday when the
case is called, some other judge. desig-
mated by the Governor, could easily
take the bench and adjourn the mat
ter over until Judge Watson was free
10 resume his judicial duties
Mr.. Tinsley, who is eighty-seven
years old, is in a serious condition and
his symptoms yesterday were most
alarming. Indeed, il is feared that he
can survive only a few hours.
Realizing this. Governor Mann yes
terday designated Judge J. +. West
OF WaVerly, Sussex county, to hold
"a part of the term of the Chester
field Circuit Court"
Judge West has other engagements
which would make il impracticable
for him to preside during the entire
term, but it would be an easy mat
ter, even in the event OF short notice
TO name another judge TO act for
Judge Watson should he be detained
at home Monday.
The Chesterfield cases, which will
engage the attention of Judge Wat
son from a public standpoint, are not
interesting, as they involve persons in
more or less obscure stations Of life.
The Fourth Circuit, over which
Judge Watson presides. includes the
counties OF Chesterfield, Dinwiddie.
NOttoway and Amelia. and the city OF
Petersburg and the dates for the vari-
Gus terms of these tribunals are fixed
by statute.
In Nottovay the term begins the
first Thursday in September-that is,
September 9Th; in Dinwiddie, the third
MOnday-that is, September 18th, and
/ in Amelia, the fourth Monday, Sep
/ TENDER 25th.
1t will be observed from these dates
that Judge Watson has some busy
times before him. To prevent the
terms from lapsing he has to be at
| each OF the places mentioned on the
dates prescribed, but after he has
/ once opened court, he has a right tC
| adjourn il.
There are few people who believe
! that the Beattie case, even though ii
actually begins next Monday, will be
| completed by the date set for the be-
ginning of the Nottoway Circuit Court
| term, September 18th. The situation
could be met, however, by Judge
WatsOns going to NOttoway, opening
| court in accordance with the statute
and then adjourning it for such time
as may be necessary.
Speaker Byrd's Position.
| This paper on Monday made a
| somewhat infelicitous slip when il
stated that Speaker Byrd had Of
fered his services to the prosecution
in connection with the Beattie case.
A more happy and a more accurate
way to have stated the proposition
would have been to say that Speaker
Byrd had been asked by certain
| friends of the murdered wife to assist
! the lawyers representing the State
| and had consented to do so on con-
| litiOn that neither Commonwealth s
| Attorney Gregory nor Louis Wenden-
| 0urg objected.
In other words. Speaker Byrd did
not butt into the case and had nc
| dea of so doing. Such course would
Dc contrary to professional ethics.
AS matters now stand. Mr.. Byrd
! has no idea that he will be asso-
! ciated with the prosecution. Com
\ monWealths Attorney Gregory is OF
| the opinion that he and Mr.. Wenden-
| burg will be able to get along all
right without the aid of third man,
and so there the matter ends.
But the fact remains that Speaker
| Byrd actually was approached and
asked to lend his assistance to the
State.