The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-20
VOTE SELLING IS
CONFESSED BY 50
LEE COUNTY men
Three Are Tried Before Judge
Skeen at Jonesville and
Two Convicted
SERIOUS TROUBLE
NOT ANTICIPATED
Court Refused Petition to-
Have Bribery Cases Ger
titled to Justices of
Peace for Trial -

Especial To The Richmond rirginian.
BRISTOL, VA, August i9.-Refun-
ing petitions seeking to have the elac-
ton bribery cases in Lee county, soma
two hundred In number, certified 10
the Justices OF the peace for trial,
Judge Skeen. sitting In the Circuit
court at Jonesville. Va, today entered
into the trial of the cases,
The courts opinion denying the
petition was considered eonservA-
tive and able ene, and It's tone cal
cuiated to preserve peace rather than
incite' riot.
Al the conclusion of the DAVIS hears
inss IL was the opinion of the law
yers for the defendants that no sert~
Gus trouble will arise. Jenesvifie way
thronged with visitors today. but there
was no indication whatever that the
threatened trouble would materialixe.
Thirty eight Men confessed today
TO vote selling twenty cases were dis
missed and fifteen cases were retired
on account of the advanced age Of
the defendants,
Three cases were tried today, re-s
suiting IN two convictions and one
acquittaL 1t is not expected that the
penalty will exceed fine OF 800 ex-
eept In aggravated cases,
No Disturbance.
There was not the least sign OF 4
disturbance today, although Judge
Skeen in view of the anonymous LETT
ter he had received. and the indirect
threats that had come to him, had
guard stationed at the courthouse
door, and everyone who entered was
was "frisked' to gee IL he had u
gun In his pocket. No armed men
tried to enter,
Throughout the day the utmost
good feeling prevailed. those who have
been indicted having evidently come
to the conclusion that the best thing
for them 10 do would be to take their
medicine. with as smiling face as pos
ssble. and those who have fallen
afoul OF the law managed to get 4
little amusement out OF their predica.
ment.
Two turies OF seven men each sat
In the cases today. The Jurors are
c. b. Woodward, C. j Steele, I. J..
Chandler. c, p. Horton. ]. r. Hern-
don. J. \, Hamilton, F, II. Childress.
OF jury No. L.. and G. w. Horton.
w X. Munsey, J.. u. johnson, n.
Il Flv, j. F. Gillenwaters, r. J.
Hfckam. and c. w. Russell.
Cost Will he Ltsxcicd.
As result of the present proceeds.
ings, It will not cost so much to
run fer office in this part OF Virginia
IN the future. The cost has become
almost prohihitory
In congressional elections the mars
ket price OF votes has been as high
as SIS to $50, while in ordinary coun-
" elections they have ranged from
| SIS to $50, The Democrats har6
been almost as bad as the Republicans.
Republicans have the advantage I'M
that this congressional district. theS
Ninth, is the only Republican district
In Virginia. and Congressman BascOm
Siemp controls the Federal patronaeos
for the entire State. Consequent1yxs
there In an assessment on all the Of
hficeholders at election time. and that
money together with that which the
national Republican COMMITTEES appOr-s
tons to Virginia Is. II IL said, N
spent In the Ninth district
| Judge Explains Situation.
judge Skeen yesterday gave ~
statement explaining much that Anns
| been In error regarding the real sit.l
uation In Lee county.
This statement Is given.
While ! had long been imprAaseA
with the evils of the situations" I.
felt that could do but little to check
II under the law as II stood: thu
Barksdale law. however. was amended
IN 1908 SO as to provide immunity
fer those who might testify In elac~I
ton cases but I did not discover
this amendment until after the Core
gressional election In 1910. The Gem@l
eral impression at that time was thar
we could not reach election offcnae6
Of this character and In tho Sl0rnpss
Stuart Congressional fight II waD x(|
ported that an exceedingly large IT.
| had been spent. served wara1UT
that the thing would have To atA9
| that / would take no action 20 31
eestigate bribery in that election AM4
cause people thought they were n3<
| In buying and selling votes, but IT,
| II had reason to believe that t36
practice was continued In tho c0u11&1
elections In 1911 would certatn1
have It investigated. This wArnim
was, given In March. 1911. CAN
attention TO the Barksdaie
| amendment which provided tha4
witness could be compelled TO t11
but II no incriminatad himself
would be given immunity. III
Warning Unhecd0d.
I'm spite OF this warming thu
buying continued In Dickeng0n
Lea counties. 1t was StoppOd N
the leaders OF both parties an&Q
to stop 1t, and they lived up n
agreement 30 far ~ I can A1n&
But In Lee county understAAA
$1,000 was spent. OF which t
mocrats spent $4,000 and tAo
pubiicanu about $ti.000. Al tll4
embsr term Of Wise county M
the investigations were bNGM
were continued IN the Dec~m1
| In Lee. ard the March fsru1
enson. Wise county canS
the others did not. the gF4M
| In Lee found about 14s inaf
| IN December and 40 o. N
February. making shout 3e4
lwhile about 16S tndiG1A1eN