Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-11
UTTERLY RIDICULOUS"
IS COMMENT OF ACCUSED
ellis Charges to Chagrin and
Disappointment.
FEELS CONFIDENT OF OUTCOME
Believes Whole Case Is Result of Re-
fusal to Give His Accuser Ap-
pointmcnt as commemorative At
torney-Not "a "Machine Man."
[Ry a stan correspondent.l ]

FREDERICKSBURG VA, August 10.
Less lhan;.tlYo blocks distant from
the courthouse and imm ediatcly across
the street from the City Hall Judge
r. Fl. L. Chichester. whose conduct on
the bench of the Fifteenth Judicial
Circuit is under Investigation by the
special committee of the House OF
delegates. has his private office. Frank
NJ. Chichester. attorney -at-law, is the
judges brother, and the judge occupies
n part OF the latters office suite. Con-
way Chichester. the city sergeant.
makes his headquarters there, too
Sitting in his office with his two
brothers, Judge Chichester was lis
cussing the Powell charges.
utterly Ridiculous" said Judge Cni-
chester. The mans conduct can be
attributed only to his disappointment {
and chagrin ut my refusal to appoint
him to the Office of Commemorative
attorney
'ht course, those who know me and
KNOW Tho circumstances realize The
situation. Unfortunately for me. how
ever the wild allegations of Powell
have been published broadcast, ana in
some quarters the impression is fixed
that there is some foundation for the
charges
I am told that in some parts Of the
State the belief obtains that am what
IS known ms n machine man. and that
have appointed to the different
boards. whenever opportunity offered.
only friends and followers of Senator
Martin. 1t is needless to repeat that
nave never made an appointment; of
any Kind where the appointee's affilia-
tlons, machine or antimuchine were
taken into considerations. That charge
is simply false and absurd.
The wide currency the false impr4s.
sion gained after Powell preferred the
charges, however. prompted me to in
quire into the affiliations of the differ
ent men to whom | have given board
appointments ] discovered that mere
or my appointecs are Montague men
than followers OF Martin"
Speaking for his brother, Attorney
Frank NJ Chichester said:
we are confident that the cbarens
viii be proven what they are, the raw.
ings Of disappointed Office seeker.
There is no more honorable. high
minded or cleaner man in the judiciary
than Judge Chichester. His record In
in the state, 1t is almost inconcciynblc
To me that he should he made the sub
ject OF rowelrs shameless attack"
Mr. Chichester explained the sum.
mons issued at the request of Mr.
Powell for Governor Henry c. Stuart
The Governor Will be asked to testify
10 the recommendations on which he
exercised the executive power in the
case OF man named Iahcn. whose fine
OF 500 was reduced 10 S25 Bahcn
ma" an encounter with Il man who was
trespassing on his promises. He had
Il revolver in his hand, and the weapon
either exploded accidentally or was
hrcd TO frightcn the trcspasser the
bullet entering the ground at Bahen's
rect lie was arrested and convicted.
IL being apparent that no actual at
tempt at shooting had been made,
Judge Chichester signed n recommen
dation for executive clemcncy. The
commemorative attorney who prose-
cuted the case and the attorney for tho
defense also. recommended clcmcncy.
Mr.. Powolrs interest in this case.
Mr.. Chichester said. was awakened by
tho discovery that the convicted man
has relatives who arc related to Judge
Chichester.
practically all OF Powelrs CHARGES
are OF an equally finsy character" ho
added. They are of such nature that
even if he could substantiate them they
would not justify the impeachment OF
the judge"