Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-08-11

is NOT A MACHINE MAN
Believes Whole Case Result of Re-
fusal to Give His Accuser De:
sirable Appointment.
=; $r ---%

Richmond, Va, Aug. 11-This
mornings session of the Chicheste
investigating committee at Freder
icksburg lasted but half an hou
when the committee recessed until
o'clock, owing to the fact that th'
answer of Judge Chichester to thu
charges had not been completed b!
his attorneys.
A new list of witnesses containing
names not heretofore subpoenaec
was submitted this morning. A fight
is being made to have the committee
sit at Spotsylvania court house fol-
several days, but the attorneys fol
Judge Chichester are bitterly oppos.
ing it. The object of this cannot be
ascertained. The committee will de-
:ide on it this afternoon.
Fredericksburg Va, August IL
Less than two blocks distant from
the courthouse and Immediately
across the street from the City Hal
Judge R. H. L. Chichester, whose
conduct on the bench Of the Fifteenth
Judicial Circuit is under investiga
lion by the special committee of the
House of Delegates, has his private
office, Frank M. Chichester, attorney
at-law, is the judges brother, and
the Judge occupies 4 part OF the. lat
ter,s Office suite. Conway Chicheste'
the city sergeant, makes his head
quarters .here too.
Sitting in his office with his two
brothers. Judge Chichester was dis.
cussing the Powell charges.
"Utterly ridiculous said Judge
Chichester. "The mans conduct car
be attributed only to his disappoint
ment and chargrin at my refusal tt
appoint him to the office Of Common,
wealth's attorney.
.."Or course, those who know. me anc
know the circumstances realize the
situation. Unfortunately for, me, how
ever, the wild allegation Of Powei
have been. published broadcast, anf
in. some quarters the impression j.
fixed that there :. is some foundation
for the charges.
81 am told that in some parts OF
the State the belief obtains that am
what is known as machine man,
and that have appointed to the dill
ferent boards, whenever. opportunity
offered, only friends and followers OF
Senator Martin. 1t is needless to re-
peat that Iahave never. made an ap-
pointment of any kind where the ap'
pointee's afliliatipn, machine or anti
machine were taken into considera'
ton. That charge is simply false and
absurd.
"The wide currency the false i'm
preston gained after Powell pre-
ferred the charges, however, prompt
ed me to inquire into the affiliations
of the different men to whom l have
given board appointments. l dis
covered that more of my appolntees
are Montague men than followers ol
Martin.
Speaking for his brother, Attorney
Frank NJ. Chichester said:
"We are confident that the char
ges will be proven what they are, the
rawlings of a disappointed office-seek
or. There is no more honorable, high
minded or cleaner man in the judi
riary than Judge Chichester. His re
cord in the Supreme Court is one o
the best in the State. 1t is almost in
conceivable to me that he should b'
made the subject of Powell's sham
less attacks. s."
Mr. Chichester explained the sum
mons issued at the request of MI
Powell for Gov. Henry c. Stuart
The governor will be asked to .testi
fy to the recommendations on whicl
he exercised the executive power il
the case of a man named Bahen
whose fine of 500 was reduced t
S25. Bahen had an encounter with
, man who was trespassing on his pre-
misses. He had revolver in his hant
and the weapon either exploded ad