Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-03-11
CHICHESTER MAKE DENIAL
Judge Issues Statement Replying to
Delegate Powelrs Charges

Richmond, March 1.-THE senSa-
ton caused in the House OF Dele
gates yesterday when Delegate S. P.
Powell of Pittsylvania, charged from
the foor that Judge R. Fl. l.. Chic
hester, of the Fifteenth judicial cir
cult, has been guilty of gross politi-
cal corruption; that he had dellbera-
rely padded the. electoral board Of
that county so that he could control
the next primaries, and that ne
violated the Constitution when he APP
pointed Fred Fraser, deputy treasurer
and land assessor Of Spotsylvanla
county, to the county electoral, board,
is still the theme of conversation.
Delegate Powell was in the midst OF
TRADE against Judge Chichester
when Speaker Cox declared a recess.
When the House rcassemnled vol
Icy of questions were fired at Dele
gate Powell, who had resumed the
floor to speak against the bill pro-
viding for the appointment or mem
bers of the board of local review by
corporation or by circuit court judges.
"I repeat that am able to prove
the charges / have made" SAID MI.
Powell. 81 said, and | repeat, that
the Judges appointments are made
with reference TO their political
significance, but ! do not charge the
Judge with moral turpitude. !
charge political corruption and not
dishonesty or immortality"
Delegate Helm gained the
and said he would introduce a resolu
ton requesting a thorough investi'
cation of the charges against Judge
Chichester.
81 deny them and defy the gentle
man to prove the charges, he said {.
Responding to telephone message
asking him to come to Richmond and
face the charge Of political corl'up-
ton entered against him in the House
of Delegates yesterday morning by
DELEGATE S. P. Powell, of Spotsy!-
yania County, Judge R. Fl. l..
! Chichester arrived in Richmond early
last night, and, after conference
with several friends issued q definite
and categorical denial of all the &C
cusations. He denied that he had
ever packed the electoral board, as
charged by Mr.. Powell, and that ne
had knowingly appointed Il deputy
treasurer as member of the ciec-
toral board in violation Of the pro
visions of the State Constitution. AS
to the question Of the eligibility OF the
deputy treasurer to hold Office in the
electoral board, his friends stated
that il was an issue that had never
been decided. and that many ether
Judges had followed the same prac-
tice as that Of Judge Chichester.
Further in his signed statement,
Judge Chichester states That ne did
rot know ut the time Of the appoint
mcnt Of Mr.. Frazier that he was q
deputy treasurer. and that if there
had been question at the time OF the
appointment he would not have
given the position to Mr.. Frazier.
Judge Chichester courts inVesti-
ration, and is unwilling that further
efforts be made to have Mr.. Powell
withdraw his allegations. Much pre-
fcrably he would have the most com
plcte examination Of his official re-
cord. and says he is willing to abide
by the results. There was some dis
position among the jurists friends OF
r;diculc the charges made by Mr..
Powell. but Judge Chichester would
have none of this, believing, he stat
ed. that the judiciary should be above
reproach and suspicion.
Under the resolution introduced by
Delegate Hcnin, of King George
County. and adopted by the House
last night, Mr.. Powell must put his
charges in writing and accompany
them with such proof as he may he
able to bring.