The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1912-08-28
Election Cases
Tried by Judge Skeen at
Jonesville last Week.

j II u X Ohccu campaign
against the traffic in votes in
the counties comprising his cir
emit has had startling results
and it is safe to say that the
practice has been broken up, or
al least made 80 dangerous that
few will care to engage in it in
the future. Both Republicans
and Democrats say they are
glad the practice has been
broken up.
AT the opening of court on
Monday, Judge Skeen ANNOUNCE
ed that he had received several
petitions stating that the sign
ers believed it to be for the best
interests of the county and him
self that the cases be settled as
speedily as possible and request.
ing that the cases be certified
to by the local magistrates.
After Reading the petitions,
which contained probably $50
names, Judge Skeen made
brief address, in which he de-
MED the petition and announc-
ed that he would try the cases
himself, that he had no preju-
dice in the matter. The fact
that be had taken an active
part in securing the indictments
would not prevent his giving
any accused man fair trial.
81 would be glad to have pub.
llshed to the world every act of
mine in this connection" he
said land also would like to
see the actions of some others
published"
He told of the warnings he
had given after the congress
sional elections in which it is
reported that probably 100000
was spent. The warning was
not needed and he proposed to
show the people that the law
was not dead letter and that
II must be respected.
After the "cyclone of corrup-
ton that had swept over the
county in tn @ Slemp. Stuart
campaign, he said, he called the
attention OF the people to the
law and told what he could do
and what he proposed to do in
the future. If they thought he
was bluifing, he declared, thoy
would have to take the cOnse-
Quences.
He referred to the intimation
that had been spread abroad
that the reason he had not gone
into the Slemp. Stuart frauds
was because he was involved
in them himself.
God knows that that is not
true" he said; "my hands are
clean. | will admit that | did
make contribution to the cam
paign fund for the publication
OF literature, but that's | had a
perfect right to do. Since this
thing has been started / have
received many compliments
and much commentator for
my efforts to break up bribery.
That has not given me swell
ed head. | have also received
threats and have received one
threatening letter. Those have
not made me afraid. Neither
compliments nor threats are
going to prevent me doing my
duty. Let the jury be called"
Mr.. Nj. G. Ely, former Com
monwealth's attorney, who
Is a Republican leader in the
county, represented Il number
Oh the men under indictment.
Associated with him was form
er Senator j, G. Noel and form
er Judge James w. Orr.
The prosecution was conduct
ed largely by former e. w.
remington. TIL o Common
wealth's attorney, E. E. Skaggs
Is a new man and his experience
at the bar has not been extern
slVe, SO at the request of the
court Judge Pennington agreed
10 assist n the prosecution
without expense to the county.
The usual motions of objec-
Ton were made by the attor
neys for the defense when the
hrst case was called. That was
The case of w. N. Burchett, Il
farm iaborer, who is popularity