Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-22
CHICHESTER HEARING
= IS DRAGGING SLOWLY
ton, and Attendance Has
Fallen on.
eANIENEss IN TESTIMONY
End B Drawing Near, and Defense
VIII Begin It's Side of Case on
Observation-Disclosures Produce Moth
Ing Sensational.
Especial to The Times-D,spatch,1

Especial to The Times Dispatch1
FREDERICKSBURG. VA. August 21.
Tho attendance on the sessions or
tho legislative Investigating commit
tee looking into the Samuel p. Powell
charges against Judge r. H. l.. Chi
chester Is falling on This is due pos
sfbly to the fact there Is samcness
OF tho testimony by tho many wit
nesses, and the proce edinEs drag along
In an embarrassing way. Nearly all
OF tho witnesses testify that thcv do
not know whether Judge Chichester
belongs to any ring or not; that he
never tried to influence them politically
or otherwise: that they never saw him
take any active part in politics Many
OF the witnesses pay 4 high tribute to
the appointees OF Judge Chichester: say
they are good men and they had no
ooJection 10 them personally. Some
charge that they seem 20 belong to n
certain faction of the Democratic party.
Many incidents concerning politics in
Spotsylvania County and some in King
George County are brought up by Dele
gate Powell. hut. as Judge Chichester
canot he associated with these matters
the evidence is either not allowed or
thrown out after being introduced
Mr.. Powell consumes a great deal of
time In having witnesses brought be-
lore the committee and in attempting
10 have read rolumi nous records with
which Judge Chichester apparently has
no connection The members of the
committee are anxious to proceed as
rapidly as possible. but they arc care
1ul to give considerat ton to every point
and question.
There was very small number OF
spectators at the session to-day.
POWELL WANTS TO READ
MINUTES INTO RECORD
When the committee was called TO
order this morning Mr.. Powell an
nounced that no desired to read into
the record OF minutes OF tho meetings
OF the electoral board OF Spotsylvania
County for the years 1912. 1918 and
1914. Inquiry by MIR. Stephenson rs TO
the relevancy OF these minutes in the
case brought forth no information.
II. l.. Cammack. Democrat. md su-
perNisor of Chancellor District. Spotsyl-
Hania County. also secretary of the
Spotsylvania County Democratic Com
mite. was called to the stand. In
answer TO a question OF Mr. Powell, he
said the list Of members Of the com
mittee was furnished TO him bv c. r.
10
not present when the committee was
elected. and said the committee had
held two meetings since. He. however.
had no records OF the meetings: the
nrst meeting named the judges and
clerks OF election and the other con-
s!dered the nominees In the primary.
MI. stephenson again questioned Mr..
Powell, and asked him what this line
OF examination had 10 do with the in
resugation. Mr. Powell said he wanted
70 Snow that Judge Chichcster's nm
pointInents were Influenced bv This
committee. 3lr Cammack said he
signed the petition asking for the an
pointH'ent Of Mr.. Fraser and Mr.. Hud
son on the electoral board and thar
he Endorsed Thomas Payne and Mr..
Chl!ton Tor the positions of land as
SCISSORS Mr.. Cammack furnished a list
OF members OF the Spotsylvania County.
democratic Committee. and stated that
~ was correct as far as he know lie
said he is the same man who is denu,v
treasurer and land assessor for Cour,
land District. He explained the roec,-
sings OF the Board OF Supervisors ana
the fact that 4. II. Crismond acted as
clerk for tho board. roinr back ,,d
forth 10 the clcrlt's Office as no j.,
needed He had known T p. povnn
for forty years. and his appointments, no
land assessor was IN. excellent one. uc
MAD known Judge chichester since H..
became judge. The Judge had never
spoken 10 him about politics or tried
10 influence him
tuStace Gordon was pres.n, hu, NJ.
io"c!l SAID under the ruling OF IN.
'-:"i"'t'ee his testimony would NOT ho
aainlt"d. Mr.. Powell asked to hc al
io"co 10 PUT In the records The. minutes
OF IN electoral board Mr.. Stepbcnso,
ASKED POWELL II what he pronosoa ~
snow was not admitted In jude c,bi-
chester answer. Powell said ne had
ho' read the answer. Mr.. Stephcneon
stated u was strange he was procecd.
ing WITH Tho case and had nor road me
IIe"ni nSS Powell then said he Ind
heard Mir. Noel read /; hu-rIe,;lv
Mf' POWELL said there were o,hcr
witnesses ne desired 10 examine when
'hey could be gotten. H.. satd he nro-
Poseo 20 prove by j. II. Biscoe ,bat
l,i'eoe voted for W. y. Jones against
Ihomas s. Martin, and ina, J,,dr,. C,i
chester knew that fact.
MIR Stephenson annou,cs
committee had decided 10 ,,,.,t,
proceedings tina, Mr. Powell wo,,,d 10
given until II p. ". Monday 10 cnnnr,,ss
inc testimony Of hts witnesses ana ,,
the rest OF to-day could no r.n,r.s
Mr. FowcN in examining N. l.
ne desired 10 see. The suhcb.tr,
Mr.. stephenson, further stated ,b., ,,
committee would adjourn untu 1n.so
a. NJ. Monday and at tho conclusion
OF inc testimony OF Mr.. Powelrs ,v,,
nesses al p. NJ. Monday adtourp,ron,
would be had for dinner. ana i,n,,,,lt,
h,eiy following dinner the tcs,j,no,'..
OF me defense would bc taken I'm ~
Committee then adjourned. '''e