Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-26
CHICHESTER ALWAYS FAIR
AND IMPARTIAL JUDGE
Other Jurists and Lawyers Testify
as to Propriety OF His
Conduct.
HE NEVER TALKED POLITICS
Counsel Not Allowed to Introduce
Evidence Concerning Character OF
Appointees in Caroline and Han
over Counties.


when the Legislative committee in the
Chichester inquiry opened it's session
. this morning. Questioned by Mr.
Powell he stated he thought John
Beale and r. a. Cloc. members Of the
county school board. were Republicans
He said he had had several cases in
Spotsylvania Circuit Court. When
asked by Mr.. Powell If he thought his
practice there justified his taking part
IN the affairs of the county. objection
was made by Judge Embrey. bu. the
question was allowed. and Mr.. Wallace
answered that he thought he had a
night. as other members of the bar
had signed petitions.
William F. Stephens. deputy treas
urer OF Spotsylvania. in answer to
question by Judge Embrey. said IT was
fals" that Judge Chichester tried TO
get him TO serve on the electoral board
while he was deputy treasurer. He had
q talk with Treasurer Massey and
asked his advice as 10 trying to secure
q place on the board. DR.. Massey adj
rised him not 10 apply. and the matter
was dropped. He said Judge Chichester
knew nothing of IT,
Rev d. J. Shopon, Presbyterian min
lister OF Stafford. member OF school
trustee electoral board in answer to
living in Stafford for thirty years. and
had been on the board eight years He
said Judge Chichester had never talked
politics with him. and that there had
been no intimation OF Judge Chiches-
'er's wishes in regard TO appointments
bH the board. He was not questioned
hT MIR. Powell. In answer 10 Mr.
Oliver, Mr.. ShopoN said he did not
think that the public service had SUI
fered on account Of any of Judge Chi
chester's appontccs.
+. T. Hudson. member of the cleo
toral board OF Spotsylvania. stated
that he qualified as member OF the
board in August. 1914 and held no
Office at that time. He said he did no,
know Judge Chichester. except TO
answer questions in court as :, Juror.
and that Judge Chichester had never
tried 10 influence him in making ap-
po!ntments by the board. In answer TO
Mr. Powell. Mr., Hudson said he did
not apply for the position. He said
William Stephens told him he had
recommended him. and later he was
notified By Clerk Crlsmond that he
had been appointed. He did not know
who recommended him. Mr. Powell
asked Mr.. Hudson II he knew why GER
tain judges were dropped Judge EN-
cided that no charges since the original
charges were made against Judge Chi
chester would be allowed. He said
7. r. Payne was trustee and land
assessor for Chancellor District :,
number OF changes were made in the
ofacsrs OF election. the changes being
read by Mr.. Powell. Mr. Hudson said
the parties were removed before he
went on the board. Answering Mr..
Oliver. he said he was not acquainted
with all OF tho appoin,ees of Judge
Chichester and knew OF no efforts made
TO influence the board, in appointments.
=. 3. Chandler Sr.. lawyer. of Caro-
line County. was called to the stand.
and said he retired from the practice
OF law on May last. He said he knew
Judge Chichester since he had been on
the bench, practccd in Judge Chiches-
tcrs court up 10 last May and had
never heard Judge Chich. stcr mention
politics since he had been on tho bench
Judge Embrey requested Mr.. Chandler
10 tell something Of the appointments
of Judge Chichester in Caroline County
Before Mr.. Chandler could answer Mr.
Powell objected. MIR. Oliver asked Mr..
Powell II he would admit that the ap-
pointments in Caroline We're proper
Mr. Powell said that he had no infor-
OIllCerS. L,
oliver said the committee would rule
out the evidence as to Caroline officers
unless there were charges against the
appointees.
SHOULD BE ALLOWED
TO DISPENSE. CHARGES
Mr. Fitzhugh read one OF the Powell
charges, which applied IN a general
way TO the entire circuit of Judge Chi
10y Judge Embrcy, Mr.. Powell. Mr..
Patterson and Mr.. Fitzhugh Mr. FitZ-
hugh said the so-called prosecution
had consumed two weeks assailing the
character and judicial conduct and in
;cSrty of Judge Chichester, and that
Judge Chichester and his counsel
should certainly be allowed to disprove
these charges as applied to the entire
circuit. The committee went into
executive session to consider the point
When the committee returned Chair
man oliver announced that the ma
1ority OF the committee had concluded
mar, as no testimony had beer intro
duced by the prosecution concerning
appointments in Caroline and Hanover
Counties. II was improper for the de-
Tense to introduce evidence as to these
appointments. number of questions
were asked. but were objected 10 bv
!Ir. Patterson, the objections sustained
and exceptions noted by Judge Embrev.
.Ir. Chandler concluded his evidence by
stating that he regarded Judge Chi
chester as an eminently fair and i'm
partial judge.
w. E. Ennis. Commemorative attor-
ney OF Caroline County, was sworn and
the same line OF questions asked bv
Judge Embrey. Questions overruled
Mr.. Ennis considered Judge Chichester
as entirely fair and impartial.
Hill Carter. lawyer of Ashland said
he had been practicinS law since 1871
knew Judge Chichester. Same oues-
lions to appointments were pro-
pounded and overruled. Mr. Carter
regarded Judge Chichester as an excel
lent Judge: said he believed there were
few better circuit judges.
Willoughby Newton. lawyer Of Han
nclko