Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-25

Pullen VS.. Payne. He never told Judge
Chichester OF the proposed opinion of
Judge Mason. and Mr.. Hunter and lie
wcrc not satisfied with the proposed
that the case, be argued before Judge
Chichester. Mr.. Powell asked IL he
thought II right not to tell Judge Chi
chester of Judge Mason's proposed
opinion. Mr. Rose replied that he
thought 1t entirely right.
PROTEST. Is ENTERED
BY ATTORNEY PATTERSON
MIR. Patterson. counsel for the prose
cution, protested against the ruling of
the committee in not allowing to be
read a letter written by Thomas l..
Hunter. Judge Embrcy opposed adj
hitting the letter. 1t was not adj
mitted.
Clerk f. c. S. Hunter said he had
been clerk of King George Court since
1909. He was deputy clerk eight or
nine months before that. He was APP
pointed first by Judge Mason. and since
had been elected without opposition.
He had known Judge Chichester ever
since he became judge Of the circuit
He knew OF no ring" except from
rumors and references through news
papers. He never discussed politics
with Judge Chichester, had never tried
to influence the judge in any appoint
ments, but had suggested appointments
In open court. He never saw Judge
Chichester try TO influence any one in
politics. He said the Offices In King
George did no, pay much, and II was
hard TO get good men to act. Judge
chichester had never asked him con
corning the politics OF any Of the APP
pointces. Mr.. Hunter said ne knew all
or the appointees. and they were as
competent as any set of men that could
be secured in King George for tho
Offices
Questioned By MIR Powell, Clerk
hunter said he had heard that he had
been referred TO by Mr. Beck with
belonging to the so-called ring" He
gave the names OF tn" commissioners
IN chanccry for the county, all OF whom
mad been appointed by Judge Mason
1t was customary, he said, when proper
men could be secured to have four
Orders appointing justices were read.
Clerk Hunter said he always voted for
Senator Martin and Congressman Car
lin in the elections. He knew Of no
appointment made by Judge Chi
chester from corrupt motive.
Emerson Purks was called to the
stand. Questioned by Judge Embrey.
ne said he was a member Of the cleo
toral board appointed by Judge Chi
chester He had not acted as constable
Tor three months before he vas APP
pointed on the electoral board Asked
vtsed by counsel that his contract with
the United States government vacated
mis- office constable, Mr. Patterson
objected. and tho objection was sus-
tained Questioned by Mr.. Powell Mr.
Purks said Dr. Minor FIRST suggested
that he be appointed to the electoral
board. Judge Chichester never suy-
Eested TO him any men for Judges or
clerks Of election. No one had been
appointed constable in his district 10
succeed him. His brother. the sheriff,
lived in his district, and he notified
mis- brother. the sheriff. before he was
TO the electoral board In
answer to Mr.. Oliver. he said ne did
some work after he stopped carrying
the mail.
Lewis J. Bill!nEsle%. o. King George.
Democrat in national affairs. but who
says he votes for the best man in
county affairs. said Judge Chichester
had never tried TO influence him. The
only two elections he had worked in
was the bond-issuc election. which ne
opposed. and the prohibition election.
which ne worked for. He said he MAS
not a politician Questioned By Powell,
he could no, recall any Republican
appointed TO Office except Mr. Staples
an excellent Young man. He said all
nc mbers OF the board OF review were
Democrats. He did not know whether
Tom and Fred Hunter opposed any
appointecs or not.
&. w Purks. sheriff Of King George
for the past three years Democrat
said ne could not recall recommending
any one TO Judge Chichester for ap-
po!ntment. Judge Chichester had
never tried TO influence any one in
politics. so far as ne knew He said
Iotts MAS a competent officer. All OF
the appointees. so far is he knew. werc
good ny
turks said he did not know whether
the men appointed were opposed Or
favored by Tom and Fred Hunter He
did not know OF any appointment
made from improper motive. He knew
Of no wrong -dongs of Potts.
NEVER
TRIED TO INFLUENCE HIM
George ogle Tayloe. OF King George.
Democrat. hau signed some petitions
asking FOR appointments. He said
Judge Chichester never tried TO in
huence him. He considered the ap-
pointees good men. He thought Judge
Chichester fair and impartial. CUES
toned ny Mr.. Powell he said Potts
usually worked at elections on one
side or the other.
]. a Billinglsey. young lawyer
Democrat candidate for Common
wealth's attorney. said he had prac-
ticed law three years. had been in
King George over one wear. He lived
ut Colonial Reach for time. He knew
judge Chichester. and had signed
Staples's petition. He wrote TO Judge
Chlchester asking the appointment.
Judge Chichester never mentioned
politics 20 him. Questioned by Powell
he said il was hard TO tell whether
there was ring" in King George
or not. He was running for Common
attorney on his own merits
and not on any ones dement's. Asked
If there was a "Bilingsley ring" nc
said he could not say there was, but
he would like TO have one. He had
heard of the Hunter ring" and the
Potts ring" He said Hunter and Rose
are closely associated in business, and
Ii Hunter voted for Rose, he would not
hold II against him. Party lines were
not strictly drawn in county affairs
by Mr.. Oliver. Billingsley
said he knew of no improper motives
that guided Judge Chichester in max
ing appointments.
HeZekiah Potts. of King George, was
called. He said he was Democrat, a
member Of the electoral board, first