Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-14
POWELL IS BALKED
IN PRESSING HOME
RING MAN CHARGE
Committee Rules Against
Testimony to Show Rep
utation of Judge.
HOST OF WITNESSES
HAD BEEN SUMMONED
Accuser of Jurist Makes Virtually
No Progress With His Case
at Days Hearing.
RECESS UNTIL MONDAY NOON
Prosecution Apparently Has Been
Badly CriDpIed nv shvenca
HOST OF WITNESSES
HAD BEEN SUMMONED
RECESS UNTIL MONDAY NOON
prosecution Apparently Has Been
Badly Crippled by Absence
OF Noel
[By a STAFF Correspondent.l |

BY STAFF Correspondent
FREDERICKSBURG, VA. Angus, "a
-DeieSatc Samuel T.. Powelrs efforts
10 prove that Judge r. II. l.. Chichester
10 poIticai ringstcr. who appointed
men TO Office for the purpose of serving
rs own ends. were attended by little If
any success to-day. He made virtua,lv
no progress with his case
ny ruling OF the committee at the
"''erhoon session. testimony intended
10 show the general reputation or
Judge Chichester In Spo;syivania County
as Tingster is excluded henceforward
Powell is thus prevented from, put,trr
on the stand a nos, OF witnesses who
arc presumed TO he eager To give tcsti-
'hoh| against the accused jurist
IL was " matter OF general comment
To-Day that tn" prosecution is sorely
crippled By the absence Of former Som.
tor Noel. who was compelled 10 win.
draw from the case by reason OF tho
cr'ucai illness OF his wife. a new
ngurc occupied the chair beside Judy.
'h'chesters accuser at the morning and
afternoon sessions lie is Professo,
William w. Powell brother OF tho man
who is now fighting desperately and
single handed 10 substan,iatc the grave
charTes he made against distinguished
member OF the judiciary
PROFESSOR Powell. who bears a stronp
resemblance in face and figure TO hi.
brother. Is member Of tn" faculty Of
baylor University. Waco, Tex He is
attending the investigating merely as
a spectator. ne explained
In accordance with the rule adoutcd
Yesterday. a halt Was called in the
nearing or evidence at I o'clock this
afternoon. and the chair was vacated
Monday at noon. Mr. oliver, accom-
panied by his wife. departed immedi
atelH for Washington In his motor car
Delegate T. C. Cominius went ia his
nome In Rumford. and Delegate l. T.
SpatiE left FOR Cata wba. where he will
attend meeting to-day OF tho Vir-
Einia Commission on Tuberculosis Of
which he is member. Two OF tho in
rcstiSntors remain 10 hold the commit
tee in constructive session Thcv arc
Suhchairman John ". Stephenson and
Delegate z. V. Barley Like Chairman
Oliver. these Two members OF tho com.
'nittee are lawyers.
TAKING OF DOCUMENTARY
EVIDENCE IS RESUMED
The taking Of documentary evidence
offered by Delegate Powell was ro
sumed at the opening of the morning
seAsioh' Win y. H. 'riSmond. clerk OF
the Circuit Court OF SpotsvIyania
county IN the witness chair. reading to
Official StenoSrapher Thomas G. owen
the orders indicated by Mr. Powell
This tedious but essential fornalitv
consumed some time. Some animation
was injected into il when Mr. Powell
stated that he had requested the clerk
to show him the personal fee book"
which the law requires court clerks TO
keep. He said Crismond had failed TO
produce the book. and he was. there
fore. constrained TO believe that there
was no such book.
We deny that any such request
was ever made said Judge Embrey
Powell asked Crismond to produce the
fee book. II was done Two books
were exhibited. The personal fee
book" showing fees paid TO the clerk
on deeds, held the attention of Mr.
Powell
Did you keep a personal fee book
prior to January 1872" he asked
No, because tho law did not require
it," answered Crismond
Following verbal exchange be-
tween Powell and Judge Embrey
Chairman Oliver took occasion to re-
quest counsel on both sides TO refrain
during the remainder of the pending
investigation from addressing "nagCinE
remarks to each other Nothing could
he accomplished thereby. he reminded
the lawyers, and ii could ONLY create
annoyance for the lawyers and the
committee alike.
Petitions on which Judge Chichester
made certain appointments i'm Spotsvl-
Vania County were produced and en-
tered upon the record. Powclrs purnose
being evidently to show that some of
the petitioners whose names wore
signed were residents of other conn
ties.
Clerk Crismond replied TO many and
frequent questions asked by Mr.
Powell He proved himself what cx
amining lawyers would call an excel
lent witness his answers at all times
being prompt. clear and carrying the
convincing ring Of sincerity.
After listening patiently an hour and
half to the call of Mr.. Powell for
court records of various kinds, Judge
Embrey protested that it was unrea-
sonable and wholly unnecessary to ask
Clerk Crismond to produce all OF the
documents desired by the prosecution
ITO comply with his requests, it would
be necessary for Crismond to get a
truck and haul here about a ton OF
papers and books" said the judge
Powell explained that he expected
TO show that the fees charged by COM
missioners OF the court i'm certain chan