Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-17
MORE "R|NC" DISCUSSION
IN CHICHESTER HEARING
Witnesses Tell OF Inside Politics in
Spotsylvania, and Insist Peoples
Wishes Are Disregarded.
CAPTAIN NJ. b ROWE ON STAND
He Pays Tribute to Judges APP
pointees, but Thinks Them All OF
One Political Way Of Thinking.
Opposed to MARTIN Faction"
Especial to The Times-plspatch.l

fEDERlCkSBURG,V VA, August 16
The legislative committee which 1.
inqufring into the charges made by
Delegate s. P.'Power. of SpotavlvnnIa
county. against Judge r. H. L. Chiches
ter. OF the Fifteenth Judicial Circut
reconvened in the courthouse here to-
DAY at noon. pursuant to adjournment
on Friday afternoon with all Of the
members present. The committee, how
ever. could not proceed because Of the
absence of Delegate Powell. who tele-
phoned that the automobile in which
he was travelling from his home to this
city had broken down near Chanccl-
lorsvillc The committee then adj
Jonrned until o'clock. The commit
Tee reconvcned at o'clock, Mr.. Powell
having arrived in the meantime, and
the investigation proceeded.
j. T. Coleman. OF Spotsylvania, who
was on tho stand when the committee
adjourned on Friday afternoon, was
called Mr.. Powell announced that he
had been informed that NJ. S. Chancellor
and NJ. Fl. Willis had told the witness.
Mr.. Coleman. that he had better be
careful he would be sued Mr..
Powell was asked to furnish the names
10 the committee.
SAW SLIP OF PAPER
BEING PASSED AROUND
Judge Alvin T. Embrey proceeded TO
question Mr. Coleman. Asked what he
had observed to cause him to think
that c. r. Coleman was member OF
the ring" Mr.. Coleman said that at n
meeting Of tho Democratic party at
Spotsylvani Courthouse to elect the
county committee nc saw G. r Coleman
ana others pass around n slip of paper
containing the names OF the new com
rnittee and he thought that proved he
belonged TO the ring" When asked
II he voted for the Democratic nomi-
nee at the election preceding the time
he was dropped from the committee
Mr.. Coleman said he did not vote for
either w. s. Enbrey. the Democratic
candidate, or Mr.. Powell. tho Indepen-
dent candidate. in the legislative con-
test. He said ne had offered before
that time a resolution asking for the
resignation Of any member of the com
m.ttcc who did not vote for the Demo-
cratic nominee. In reply to Judge EN-
brey's question as 10 the definition OF q
ring" Mr. Coleman said II was few
who controlled the affairs OF the county
without regard to the wishes OF the
people
Judge Embrey asked the witness IL
he had not contributed towards the
iund 10 employ counsel TO aid Mr..
Powell in his charges against Judge
Chichester. The question was objected
10 by Mr.. Powell. AR oliver, however,
asked Mr.. Powell Ii he did not think
the committee had the right to know
what interest the witness had in the
case, and the committee ruled to admit
the question. Mr.. Coleman then stated
that he had contributed 81 towards the
fund 10 employ counsel TO aid Mr..
Powell. and that some of the best pco-
pie in the county had also contributed.
When asked by Mr.. Stephenson IL
Judge Chichester was at the meeting
OF the Democratic county committee
when Il was reorEanized. Mr.. Coleman
said he did not know whether Judge
Chichester was there or not. but he
did not think he participated even If
he was there. He said he could not
remember ever seeing Judge Chichester
take part in a Democratic meeting.
Judge Embrey asked the witness il
he ever knew Judge Chichester TO do
anything II the interest OF politics in
the county. Mr.. Coleman answered
that he did not unless the statement
OF Judge Chichester that Mr.. Butzner
and +. w. Coleman were the only ones
who had said anything TO him about
the appointment OF the land assessor
could be considered as such He said
he was certain that Mr.. Chandler was
qualified TO vote in Spotsylvania when
he made application as land assessor
Mr.. Oliver asked the witness IL Fred
Frazer was qualified TO tlo the work OF
a land assessor. Witness answered that
he could not say.
NO MORE ATTENTION
TO "RING" THAN OTHERS
Mr.. Powell then examined the witness
and, in answer TO a question. Mr.. Cole
man said that he could not remember
how long it was before the organization
OF The party when he saw the call for
the meeting for organization. Answer
ing question. he stated that he could
not say that Judge Chichester paid any
more attention TO the ring" than
others. Mr.. Oliver said the committee
could not see how the organization
of the Democratic committee affected
Judge Chichester. as he was not pres
cni and did not take part
Mr.. oliver asked Mr.. Coleman IL the
men elected on the committee were
representative men of the party. Mi.
Coleman said that they might have
been representative, but they were not
the choice OF the people: said the
meeting.
the lists were "railroaded" through.
Mr.. Coleman complained that he had
been misquoted in The Times DISPATCH.
and asked If he could make a correc-
ton. He was told by the chairman
that he must take that ND with the
paper.
]. L. Hippo, OF Spotsylvania, was the
next witness. He said he was one OF
? the delegati who waited unop rudro
Chichester to advocate the appointment
of ]. H. Biscoe as clerk to fill the
vacancy when Clerk Harris died. He
said the delegation was large one. all
of the members being Democrats with
the exception of one man. He said
that Dr. F. P. Dickinson was the
spokesman for the committee Mr..
Flippo said Judge Chichester told him
L,,aI1. that Crisraar,d