Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-11
HOUSE AFTERNOON
SESSION

Delegate $. Il. Powell, OF Spotsyl-
vanIm. resumed his speech against the
bill providing for the appointment OF
members OF board of local review by
Corporation and Circuit Court judges
when the House reaasembled al 4
o'clock
He was interrupted by volley OF
questions fired at him from all parts of
the House by members demanding that
he explain the charges he made at the
morning session against Judge r. II.
L. Chichester. of the Fifteenth Judicial
Circuit
repeat that am able TO prove such
charges as have made" he said II
said and repeat that the Judges APP
pointmcnts are made with reference 10
their political Significance"
Aubrey c. Weaver asked. Did YOU
charge Judge Chichester with political
corruption" ask because ! was not in
the House when YOU spoke on the sub
jcct."
POWELL SAYS HE DOES
Not CHARGE MORAL TURpITIDE:
II do not charge the judge with moral
turpitude," replied Mr.. Powell, III that's
what you mean and what you want to
know"
What want to know" said Mr..
weaver is whether the gentleman
means to charge Judge Chichester with
any sort OF corruption. That's plain
enough. isn't it?"
II have already answered you" Mr..
Powell replied
Captain Myers, OF Richmond, asked:
u understood YOU this morning to
charge Judge Chichester with poiitical
corruption. Those were the words you
used. A hundred OF us heard YOU What
want 10 know is. do YOU still stand
by the charges you made?'
Il want II understood" said Mr.. Pow
ell. that ] made no charge In q per-
sonai way. That is, | don't charge him
with dish honesty. or immortality. or any
thing like that. | charge political cor
ruptIon."
Mr.. Jordan: Did you use the words.
Yes. do. can furnish proof OF my
charges when you were asked whether
YOU meant to make charges against
Judge Chichester"
Mr.. Powell; II have explained enough.
don't know. may have used the Ian
Euaec YOU quote"
Mr.. Montague: Il can't understand
how you draw a distinction between
wrong actions. You say you do not
make any personal charge, yet YOU
charge the judge with political corrup-
non. Don't YOU know his character
IL affected"
HELM SHARPLY REBUkEs
MEMBER FROM FREDERICKSBURG
Mr.. Field. OF Madison, suggested thar
Mr.. Powell be allowed To answer or
not, as he pleased. saying that under
the parliamentary law he was priv
LEGGED TO express himself. Speaker Cox
held the point we'll taken, and Mr.
roweH concluded his speech without
further Interruption
When he concluded however. Mr.
Helm got the floor and proceeded 10
administer rebuke to the member
from Spotsylvana. He said he wanted
10 eNpress his resentment Of the
charges. What he now SAWS Is In
hnitely worse than the charges he
made this morning. said Mr.. Helm.
II am going to state right here that
the charges arc untrue. deny them,
and I defy the gentleman to prove the
ugly and villanous charges he has
brought against this distinguished
member OF the judiciary.
II say these charges demand the
fullest investigation. I realize that
the man making them is a duly ac-
credited member OF tho House of Dele
gates OF Virginia. Therefore, am
going TO offer resolution requesting
the gentleman to bring before this
House such evidence as he may have to
substantiate the charges. We will give
him ample opportunlty. If he can
make good his charges I will be the
first to ask for the removal of Judge
Chichester from his bench
The House then proceeded TO the
business OF passing the tax bills rho
bills were for the most part uncon-