The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-11
Issues Clear-cut Statement in
Reply to Allegations of Spot
sylvania Legislator
Delegate Charged
Improper Conduct
Declared Judge Had Packed
County Electoral Board In
Order to Control Primary
Election

For the first time since j. W. c.
Blackstone. OF Accomac. vas removed
court has been accused of Irregular
practices in the discharge OF his duty.
The accusation was made yesterday
by Hon. s. p. Powell, member of the
House of Delegates from Spotsyiva-
MIA. and the Judge accused is Judge
K. Fl. l.. Chichester of the Fifteenth
Judicial Circuit.
Mr.. Powell made his charge yes
terday noon in the course of an ar
gument in the House of Delegates
against the Eill putting the appoint
ment of members Of the proposed To-
cal boards of review In the hands of
ment placing them in the hands OF
the city councils and county boards
of supervisors.
,ir. Poweips Charges.
Briefly. Mr. Powell charged that
Judge Chichester had been guilty Of
packing the electoral board of Spotsyl-
vania County for the purpose of cor
trolling primary elections in the in
terest of his faction Of the Democratic
party. In addition he charged that a
clerk of the court had been appoint
er--to fill an unexpired term--in di-
rect violation Of the wishes OF the
majority of the people Of the county
and that he had appointed q member
Of the electoral board in violation of
the constitution OF the State of yir-
ginia. Although at the morning ses-
sion Of thu House he replied. in answer
20 a question propounded by Martin
williams, Of Giles, that Judge Chi
chester had been corrupt In the ap-
pointment of members OF the electoral
board, he declared at the afternoon
session that hes made ne charges OF
personal or moral corruption AGAINST
/, the Judge.
Yesterday afternoon Judge CHI
chester hurried to Richmond from
Fredericksburg to answer the charges
and last night gave out a signed state
ment denying categorically all the
charges made by the delegate from
Spotsyivania. 1t was stated by judge
Chichester's friend last night that the
entire bar Of Fredericksburg wished
to accompany him. but that he had
objected that it was unnecessary
VIII File Proofs.
Mr.. Powell said last night that in
response to resolution introduced
In the House by Delegate Helm. Of
King George. he would file in writin &
his charges and his proofs Of them.
He repeated to a reporte for The Vir-
gilman that he did not attack the per-
sonal charac of the Judge. but that
he does charge that he has made ap-
pointments to office with the end in
view of helping his faction of the
Democratic party, the courthouse ring
In Spotsylvania, and what is know n
as the State machine. He said.
furthermore, that he is prepared TO
show that his appointments have been
followed by election results favorable
to his political faction.
The charges came suddenly upon the
House and was the result OF dues-
ton BY Judge Williams. The latter
had asked the gentleman from spot
syivania II his remarks on the politi-
cal influence of judges, especially In
his own county. were meant to Imply
that the Judge of his circuit was so
corrupt that he had packed the cleo
toral board for the purpose of cor
ruptirg the elections. THAT Is ex-
actly what I am saying" declared MFR.
Powell In clear tones.
Later. Mr. Powell declared that he
was able and willing to produce the
proof This occurred just before adj
journment OF the morning session. At
the afternoon session several members
read excerpts from the report OF the
proceedings in the afternoon ncwspa-
pers and asked Mr.. Powell II he had
been correctly quoted. Mfr. Powell $
response was to the effect that he
had not meant to charge personal cor
ruption. but that he did charge that
Judge Chichester had used his office
for political purposes.
The Henis Resolution.
The resolution demanding OF Mr..
Powell proof of his charges. In
troduced by Mr. Hefiin and passed by
the House last night. follows:
Whereas. the member from Spot
sylvania and Fredericksburg. Hon s.
p. Powell, did this DAY in response
TO the following questions propounded
by the Hon. Martin Williams, the
member from Giles. viz:
do / understand that the Judge
OF your circuit is so guilty of political
corruption as to be now packing the
electoral board OF Your county for
the purpose OF corrupting the cleo
tions:"
Make the following response.
THAT is exactly what ] am say
ing"
And. whereas, as member or this
body. IL he has any definite informa-
ton upon which such charges are
based. 1t is his duty to give to this
House such information and to place
his charge in such form as that ac-
ton may be taken for the purity Of
the judiciary and tire good of the
Commonwealth.
Therefore resolved, That the mem
her from Spotsylvanla and Freder-
icksburg De requested to formulate
his charges in writing, and TO give
this body such, any and all. informa-
ton upon which the said charge was
ba sed.
Judge Chichester Replies
Upon his arrival in Richmond last
night. Judge Chichester Immediately
went into conference with his friends
AND shortly bsfore. ynidnisht gave aaus
the following statement:
My attention has been called this