Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-31
CHICHESTER COMMITTEE
AUD|Ts ITS ACCOUNTS
Investigation Of Powell Charges Will
Cost State Between $4,000
and $1,000.
WILL MEET AGAIN IN DECEMBER
Chairman Oliver Says Committee Is
Receiving Much Gratuitous Advice.
Wants Geometrician to Define d.
mansions Of SpotsyIvania citing"

WEAKNESS. lassitude of body and
spirit was reflected upon the placid
countenance OF Walter Tansill oliver,
of Fairfax, chairman of the Special
Committee OF tho House of Delegates
which investigated the charges OF Dele
gate Samuel T. Powell against Judge
II. I'll. H. Chichester, OF the Fifteenth
judicial Circuit, as he lay upon
lounge in the Office Of John w. Will
liams. OF the House, yesterday after
noon. presiding at n meeting of the
investigating body.
The right hand OF the chairman
toyed pensively with the military
Goatec that partly covers his shapely.
dmplcd chin: his left held an eight.
ounce vial OF castor oil.
1t was mathematical session that
the Chichester investigators held yes
terday. They came from Frcdericks-
burg to audit the expense accounts
which will show later I'm the week
whether Delegate PoweIrs attack on
Judge Chichester and the judges re-
pulse of his political foemans charges
cost tho State nearer $4,000 or $4,000
The committee will conclude the
figuring to-day. and the accounts will
he certified by the committee to the
clerk of the House, who will certify
them to State Auditor Moore, who in
turn Will cash the warrants.
COMMITTEE HEARD
FROM III WITNESSES
Only majority OF the committee
was necessary to do the auditing, so
Delegates SpatiC and Commins went
TO their home from Fredericksburg.
The accounts were audited by Chair
stephenson and L. v. Barley. tho three
lawyer members of the inQuisitorial
body.
Official Stenographer Thomas c.
owen. who was impressed for clerical
work was designated to figure out the
ices and mileage due the host OF wit
ncsses.
How many Witnesses" Chairman
oliver Quericd OF Sergeant at Arms
Newhouse after swallowing second
dose OF castor OIL
MI in all. on tho. lists handed to
were 800 witnesses. We got as many
as III to the courtroom. The statistics
are here"
Then stcnographer Owen began
figuring on the fees and mileage The
committee decided to adjourn to-day
will reconvene the investigators mt the
Capitol on that date, and after con-
siderng briefs that are yet to be SUBJ
mittcd by Delegate Powell and Judge
Chichester, preparation OF the report
and findings will be begun. This will
report will be handed to the clerk Of
the House. who will present It TO tho
next House of Delegates on the openinc
day of the session of 1915
EXPECT COMMITTEE TO GIVE
CHICHESTER CLEAN BILL
1t is regarded as forcgone con-
clusion that clean bill of health will
be given the accused jurist Likewise
it is regarded as very probable that
the committee will comment in the re-
port on the circumstances that pre-
cipitated the Investigation. The in
vcstigators decline to discuss at this
time even the form of the report they
will make
When 1t was suggested to Chairman
Oliver that the work of the inqusi-
torial body was now completed. he
smiled wan smile:
Not yet" he replied. I'VE need
some expert advice, and we will send
out for an adept politico-geome
who may he able to define for us the
exact dimensions OF the Spotsylvania
Courthouse ring, it's diameter and cir
conference.
Judging from the volleys OF criti-
cism fred at this committee written
and oral. all alike gratuitous, we are
ringed about with rings and don't
know it. Maybe such fellow as
have suggested, as amhidextrous polit-
ico- gcometrician, could tell us much
The critics have told us nothing eX-