Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-18

II. Crismond and +. w. Coleman had
not suggested any OF them for appoint
ment. c. II. Coleman had suggested
several. He did not think Coleman had
any improper motive in making the
suggestions and did not know whether
the men he suggested were appointed
or not. Neither Mr.. Butzner nor Judge
Chichester had mentioned any one for
appointment to him. He never knew
Judge Chichester to tako part in poll
tics. Judge Chichester had not de-
clined to listen to or receive petitions
as to appointments and was most cour-
teous and pleasant.
BELIEVES CRIsMOND
HAS MADE GOOD CLERK
Mr.. Perry said he was first cousin OF
Mr.. Biscoe. He thought Mr.. Crismond
had made n good clerk. When asked
II he ever went to the clerks Office
and found it closed he said Yes" he
went there on Friday and Crismond vas
at his home. getting ready to come TO
Fredericksburg to attend this investi-
CATION. He said he asked Judge Chi
chester about the appointment of Judge
Waller, and Judge Chichester told him
that the people seemed to want Judge
Waller. He asked Judge Chichester II
he considered Dr. w. a. Harris, {. X.
Coleman. a. II. Crismond and the Fred
ericksburg bar the people Of Spotsyl-
II no had appointed Powell. that would
have been the last of Powell and there
would have been harmony In the party
and no further trouble.
f. H. Kicker was another member OF
Biscoc delegation. Answering A ques-
ton he said no one had threatened him
concerning his testimony or told him
he could he sued. He never knew Judge
Chichester to try to influence any one
In politics.
a. II. Crismond. clerk of Spotsyl-
vania Circuit Court, produced orders
called for by Powell. one appointing q.
+. Eastburn justice Of the peace, tho
commissioner in chancery. commission
err Of accounts and others offered in evil
dence for reference by the committee.
Powell desired to prove that Judge
vania Circuit Court while holding
court in Fredericksburg for Judge
Goolrick, but Chairman Oliver said II
was unnecessary as that had been adj
mitted by Judge Chichester. Clerk
Crismond. in response to questions by
Mr.. Powell. showed how his fee book Is
kept. gave names Of justices OF the
peace, the school trustees and electoral
board, and said he had not prepared the
land book for the assessors. His wife
assists him in his office, he said. and he
gave other minor details as TO the con-
duct Of his office. He said Lee J. Graves
and William w. Butzner sometimes act
ed as Commemorative attorney, that
Judge Waller has prosecuted one case
alone since he was appointed and pos
sibly two. The clerk said he had not
charged the grand jury; that was the
duty of the court.
Walter L. .Burruss, Jr, lawyer OF
fredericksburg. said that ne had gone
on one occasion TO the clerks office and
found 1t closed. He was told that Clerk
Crismond was In Richmond. He assisted
Powell in drawing his application to
Judge Chichester for appointment as
Commemorative attorney, and he pre-
scented the application to Judge Chi
chester. He had refused to sign Judge
Walters petition. Powell asked why he
refused. Objection was made and the
question was not allowed. Powell noted
an exception.
Mr.. Burruss said he did not think
Judge Waller competent to fill the office
legally. possibly not physically. He
would not say as to mental capacity.
Answering a question OF Judge En-
brcy. the witness said he was never OPP
posed TO or associated with Judge Wal
Ter IN a case.
NEVER INFLUENCED
BY JUDGES APPOINTMENTS
Rev. 7. E. Thomas, the next witness,
is a school trustee, Republican in ma
tionnl politics, but independent in State
politics. He voted for w. S. Embrey
for the Legislature. He said the Re-
publican and Democratic organizations
In county are not one and the Same,
as stated by Powell. and that he never
knew Judge Chichester to try to influ-
ence any one in politics. Judge Chi
chester's appointments. he said. did not
influence him in any way. He voted for
any one he considered the best man.
F. w. Coleman had never asked him to
vote for Embrey, and Coleman knew
him too we'll to try It,
w. H. Dickinson. former Independent
member of the House OF Delegates, said
right to vote for those he regarded as
the best men. He did not tell Powell
he would vote for him.
Powell asked how he voted. Dick
inson refused to state. The committee
decided that he need not answer. Pow
ell noted an exception to the ruling.
Dickinson said he was a member Of
the electoral board. but did not seek
the place. Judge Chichester had never
tried to influence him in any way. He
defeated j. Fl. Biscoe for the Lesis-
lature in 1908. Answering Chairman
oliver. he said DR.. Harris, c. r. Cole
man. A. II. Crismond and Fred Frazer
had never tried to influence him in ap-
pointing school trustees. The board
had appointed four school trustees. He
did not know whether they voted for
Embrey or not.
Z. II. Dejarnette. lawyer. OF Orange,
was called. He stated that he was
one OF the committee appointed to ex-
anime the accounts of j. p. H. Girls
mond, former clerk. as to his alleged
shortage. Powell asked If he thought
the shortage was willful or due to neg
ligence in bookkeeping. The question
was objected to by Judge Embrey and
sustained.
Answering Mr.. Fitzhugh. the witness
said the committee was two or three
months examining the records, and
found nothing to indicate that A. H.
Crismond knew of the Irregularities of
his father. A. H. Crismond did all he
could to aid the committee Up. m.
Crismond was tried and acquitted, was
prosecuted by the witness and defended