The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-27
OBJECTS TO TRIAL
BY JUDGE SKEEN
Indicted Men in Lee County
Election Cases Will Seek
la Change of Venue.
Especial to The Times-plspatch.l

Bristol, Va. June 2G.-News Of the
rumblings Of discomfort come from
Jonesville. the county seat OF Lee. as 4
result Of the recent decision of the
State supreme Court sustaining Judge
skeen. of the Circuit Court. in timing
Fiannary for having refused to testify
as TO whether he bought the vote Of
certain man for certain candidates.
The more than 200 men now under in
G!ctmen', charged with having partic-
ipated in election briheries In that
county, end their friends are said to
IL anything bat pleased, and it is in
timated that trouble may yc, follow
as result of anonymous threats made
against tho court. 1t is said that there
is no feeling against the Court OF APP
peals, but that the trouble comes as
tie result of what was embodied in the
brief OF Judge l.. w. Pennington. who
was appointed by the court to represent
the Commonwealth before the higher
court.
The decision. it is said. is not calcu-
lc.ea 10 quiet the troubled waters in
Lee county very much. and commo-
tlon among those indicted is said to be
not unlikely. Discussing the situation.
Lee county man who is more or less
familiar with tho details, said:
Il am Informed, whether correctly
80 or not, that the next movement on
the part of the indicted men and their
friends. as we'll as a great many citi-
zens Of both parties who were not in
dicted, but who are opposed to the
methods adopted. will petition Judge
Skeen, asking that hr desist from try
ins the bribery cases and permit some
other Judge To try the election cases.
or certify them to the several justices
of the peace in the county for trial,
alleging that they cannot get an i'm
partial trial in his court"
"Will any of the indicted people leave
the county?" was asked
SO far as 1 know. none OF these
people has left the county nor viii
vised. am told that they are follow
Ing the advice Of their counsel to stand
trial when they have to and make the
best fight possible"
The cases arc set for hearing in Au-
gust. beginning on the 18th The
question sought to nave decided by
counsel Tor the defense in tho Flannarv
case having been obscurcd by other
issues. was left undecided. and 1t is
animated that many people OF the
county VIII not be rcconciled with ref
orence 10 the election business until
other questions that will come UP in
the trial of future cases are decided
ty the Supreme Court
The organi2atlon OF a company at
Greeneville. Tenn, for the purpose OF
establishing a hydro electric plant on
the Nolachuckey River. al cost OIL
100000, and the purchase this week, |
apparently by the same people. of the
johnson City Traction Company's prop |
critics and the properties OF the Wa
tauEa Electric Company. at johnson
CITY. Tenn, is accepted as evidence OF
Il plan to combinc all the electric In !
terests of upper East Tennessee. w
Y. y Powellson and others Interested
in the Johnson City deal are also in
terested in the Greenevile deal. The
price paid for the Johnson City prop
critics was $4,000. Tie johnson City |
traction properties were owned mainly |
hy the heirs of the late Congressman
Walter 7. Brownlow, who invested in /
these properties few years prior to
his death.
= third suit has been filed in a per-
sistent effort TO break the VIII OF the |
late Alfred Luttrell. who was a citizen
az Bristol. and who is said TO nave left
property valued al about ssh. 600. Nci-
Their OF the two suits heretofore fled