The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-22
WINCHESTER MAY mot
PRESENT WITNESSES
slx a PowcII's Witnesses Heard BE.
forc Recess Taken TIN
Monday.
DAY ENOUGH FoR Defense.


Fredericksburg. Va. Aug. 21.-Tes-
timony Of an unimportant nature oc-
ctpied the attention of the speciai leg
lslative investigating COMMITTEES wnicn
- probing into charged made agans'
Judge r.. H. l. Chichester. OF tne
>rfteenth Circuit. during the one noui
B * was In session this mornins- A.
the end OF that time Powell had ex-
AHMED ali Of his eight remaining wit
nesses with the exception OF John
eerar. Of stafford. and J. H Briscoe,
81 spofaylvania, both OF whom were
~ disfaift points and who sent worj
that they could not reach the city
untii Monday. After q short con.
ference the committee announced II
would take recess until Monday morn
tns q 1910 o'clock and would give
NJ. Powell until the hour for dinner
resess TO conclude the presentation of
she case.
when the afternoon session opens.
0t. George r. Fitshugh and A. T.
Embrey. who throughout the course
of the trial have made an able fight
Tor Judge Chichester, will begin in
PRODUCING evidence in behalf OF their
client and. Il Is thought. will be but
3 comparatively short time In examin-
Ing ali the witnesses they desire.
Defense May Rest Case.
In some quarters here 1t is even
thought Judge Chichester will not
put on q witness, but will simply rest
his case when Powell finishes, being
convinced OF the fact that the accus-
Ing lawyer has connected him with
nothing whatever and that the intro
duction OF evidence TO refute the
charges he has maize is unnecessary.
A. q matter Of fact IL ID known Chi
chester's lawyers held a conference
here today in regard to this matter.
What decision was reached could not
be learned. but that only a few, II
any, witnesses will pc put on is
fact.
Just before adjournment today Mr..
FttShugh stated to the committee that
his side would rush matters along as
rapidly ~ possible, that It would cut
the list OF witnesses down to the mini
mum and volunteered to summons al!
wanted without assistance OF Ser
geant-at-Arms Newhouse. The de-
Tense win probably need but day
10 complete It's side and II appears
now az II the case would be ready for
arguments by Wednesday morning.
These should be concluded during the
day and the matter officialIy ended.
with the exception of the committees
verdict. which will not be rendered
immediately.
There are several details of the
case. such a. the time TO be allowed
each side for arguments. which have
not yet been arranged. Mr.. Powell
will open the arguments. He will be
followed by Judge Embrey and Mr..
Fitxhugh, the latter making the main
argument for the defense, and Mr..
Powell win close.
Opinion Powell Has Failed.
The prosecuting attorney realizes
that his case ID hopeless 30 far as
getting q decision unfavorable 10
Judge Chichester IL concerned. In
fact. ne realizes he has not made out
c4ak against the jurfst. thought he
attributes this 70 the strict rulings
sof thu committee. which. he claims,
has cut out large part OF the evil
dAnce his attempts expected to pro-
duce. On the other hand those close
u Judge Chichester point to the fact
that the committee, when the investi-
cation was opened, announced II
would stick to rules of evidence as
recognised In the courts OF Virginia
and that wniie II has adhered to this
decision, II has In no way been severe
or stringent In Its rulings and has
barred Powell from introducing moth
inw that would be permitted in a
court.
The consensus Of opinion in the
community Is TO the effect that Pow
I'll has failed. While he has clearly
and undoubtedly shown the existence
OF . ring or combination of men
who manipulate politics for their
own personal benefit. he has not con-
nected Judge Chichester In the slight
81 degree with the organization. He
has shown. however, that Judge Chi
chester sought and abided by the adj
Vice OF these men. but that he did 1t
Ii good faith. Ia not generally doubted
here and that the ring" liz more to
blame for conditions in the county
than the Judge. 10 the opinion OF the
NM torfty