Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-10
DELAY IN STARTING
CHICHESTER TRIAL
Chairman Oliver, of Legislative
Committee, Fails to Reach
Fredericksburg.
EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO-DAY
Presence of Well-KnoWn Public
Men Shows Wide Political
Significance of Inquiry.
EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO-DAY
CBy a star CorrespendentD

FREDERICKSBURG. VA, August o.
Somewhere between Fairfax and
fredericksburg. Walter Tansln oliver,
in his motor car, is struggling with
Obstacles that prevented him from
reaching here TO-DAY in time 10 pre-
side at the inaugural session of the
committee of the House Of Delegates
investigating the charges OF corrup-
tion in Office made against Judge r.
Ii. l.. Chichester, of the Fifteenth Judi
cial Circuit. The committee was
scheduled to assemble az noon in the
courthouse. All OF the members ex-
cept the chairman had arrived at that
hour. After waiting three hours for
Mr.. Oliver. and receiving no inforra-
tion as to his wherein bouts, Subchair-
man John w. Stephenson took the
chair, called the body TO order IN ac-
cordance with the schedule. then or
dercd an Adjournment until 10 o'clock
tomorrow. Efforts TO locate Chairman
| Oliver by telephone and telegraph were
unavailing. He left Fairfax at Q
o'clock in the morning His motor car
probably is mired In some isolated sec
ton of Prince William County, the
roads in that county being notorious
ly bad.
y
Is GREATLY DELAYED
The failure OF Chairman Walter
Tansill Oliver TO arrive delayed the
assembling Of the special committee
OF the House Of Delegates appointe ed
by Speaker Edwin p. Cox 10 investigate
the charges OF Delegate Samuel P.
Powell. OF Spotsylvania County, against
Judge z II. l.. Chichester OF the Fiji
tcenth Judicial Circuit
The hour fixed for the opening of
the inquiry was noon. All Of the in
vesiigators except the chairman were
on time. Delegate 2. V. Barley was
frst on tho scene. arriving sunday
night. Delegates John W. Stephenson,
y. b. Commins and ]. z. Spatig put in
their appearance early to-day. Accom-
panying Mr Stephenson was Thomas c.
Owen court stcnographer who will
| make s;enograph!c record of the
proceedings. Colonel 4. NJ" Newhouse,
sergcnntat-arms of The House OF DaIe-
gates. is attending The committee in
his official capacity, and the members
OF the investigating body are served
also by Tom Morgan, one OF the House
pages. from Charlotte County
COMMITTEE QUARTERED
AT FREDERICKSnURG HOTEL
The committee is quartercd at the
Princess Anne Hotel. where the Chi
| chester forces have also established
headquarters Delegate Powell. who
has been here since last Saturday, has
his headquarters at the home of c. w.
Jones a business man, one Of his sup
porters.
The presence Of well-known public
men from distant parts OF the State
bespcaks the widc political significance
attached to the inquiry.
Il vii! be content with nothing short
OF complete vindica tion,' Judge Chi
chester said to-day.
IF have to summon all the people
Mr.. Powell wants az witnesses" said
Colonel Newhomse. the Lord only
knows how many months we will he
here. He is already asking for Wit
nesses living in Richmond. Norfolk and
other cities"
Il can't see how we can possibly get
away earlier than some time in Sep
tember.'' was Mr.. Powelrs estimate Of
the time he Will need to present the
evidence he has assembled.
What Mr.. Powell expects to prove
from the records he is asking all the
court clerks in this circuit to pro-
| duce, is n mystery" was the comment
OF a. B. Yates, the veteran clerk OF
the court here. Mr.. Yates referred to
the request for the records in the chan
CONTINUED on Fifth PaCe)