The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-21
POWELL PRACTICALLY
CONCLUDES EVIDENCE
But Eight More Witnesses Against
Chichester To Be
Heard.
EFFORTS TO HAVE INSERTED
SPECIFICATIONS OyERRULED
Powell Receives Heavy Blow When
Consmittee Refuses To Take Cog
nirancc Of Charge-Hears OF Mid
night Meeting.

Fredericksburg, Va, Aug. 20.--Wftn
only eight more witnesses remaining
10 be examined, s. r. Powell has prac-
tically completed the introduction OF
evidence on the charges brought
against Judge II. H. l. Chichester. OF
the Fifteenth Circuit. now being heard
in this city by special committee OF
the House of Delegates. and the end or
the probe is very near. These wit
nesses would have been put on the
stand at today's session, but for vari-
GUS reasons were delayed in reaching
the city or had been overlooked when
summons were issued, 1t Will take
bur a short time to examine them.
Powell virtually concluded his case
today when he went thoroughly over
the charges, attempting to have In
serted IN the record many OF the spe~
cifications which he offered to prove.
but which the COMMITTEES overruied.
He noted exceptions to the rulings
Wanted To Show Court Records.
PowelIs attempt to get in evidence
on the various charges were overruled
mostly because he could not hrst con-
meet Judge Chichester with the mat
ter which he wanted to prove. The
worst blow he received during the day
was when the committee refused 10
take official cognizance OF his charge
that Judge Chichester had accepted
pay from the city OF Fredericksburg
while holding court for Judge John /.
Goodrich on days which the records OF
other courts in his circuit showed that
he had also entered orders or attended
TO court business in them.
In Offering this as evidence. Mr..
Powell told the committee that he
could introduce the records of the
local court to show that during the
forty-one days of open court between
May and September in 1912. when
Judge Goolrick was sick. Judge Chi
chester accomplished but little work.
all of which could have been done in
much shorter time, as could be
shown from the records Of the same
court for March, April and May. 1915.
after the investigation had been called
when the work of the court for the
three months was done in an aggre-
gate OF seven days.
The uestion was debated at some
length by both sides. following which
the committee ruled that as the mat
ter OF payment for Judge Chichester
time had been ruled upon by the City
Attorney, Judge Goolrick. who entered
the order instructing that Judge Chi
chester be paid and the City Council,
which appropriated the sum of $40
for his time, II was not matter for
the committee to consider. 1t was q
judicial matter, the committee held.
and one which 1t could not go behind.
Tells or Midnight Meeting.
Powell also stated he was ready to
prove that Judge Embrey, w. s. En-
brey, DIR. w. A. Harris. the latter q
member Of the board of visitors to ".
IN. 4, and Fred Coleman had partici-
pated in q political meeting In this
city shortly before the election In 1913.
which was held for the purpose of
forming plans to buy votes In the
county. The night following this and
the day before election, ]. p. HI. Cris-
mond, A. III. Crismond, DR.. w. A. Har-
ris Tom Harris and others were dis
covered at midnight at Spotsylvanta
putting money into envelopes with
which to purchase votes the nett day.
Mr.. Powell offered to prove.
They were warned aud facts In con-
nection with the meeting were at the
time published in q Fredericksburg
paper. The Spotsylvania matter was
admitted to the record. but the Fred
.ericksburg meeting ruled out. as 1t
had not been mentioned In the orig
inai charges
Mr.. Powell also offered to prove
that Fred Frazier. an appointee of
Judge Chichester. had paid = man
named Bullock to vote at the election
for Embrey. This was not admitted.
on the grounds that Judge Chichester
had nothing to do with It ard did not
know-of the matter.
10 Attention Of Legislaturc.
Many interesting matters were
brought to light by Powell In his at
tempts to get in the record charges
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