Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-11
his paper the following signed state

his paper the following signed state
| nent:
Il have noticed number OF state
nehts made by Mr.. Easlcy in regard to
this matter. some of which | wish to
correct.
"IIc says that the charges preferred
against him were t:umped up by tho
writer with the assistance OF Judge
w. K. Barksdalc.
This statement is absolutely false
In 50 far as Is stated that Judge Banks
daic assisted ME or knew or had any
thing to do with the charges 1 pre-
ferred against Mr.. Easley.
Tic further SAYS that these charges
were secretly prepared by Judge Barks-
dale and myself and submitted to tho
board on July l. ut the time when we
expected the board to act on these
appointments. and thus calculated to
avoid any answer from NJ: Taslcy.
This statement IL absolutely false tho
only charge L made against Mr.. Easley
was this: that the law mado 1t his
duty to examine all causes pending In
the courts OF his circuit and report all
funds In the hands Of special com
missioners for taxation, and that he
had neglected and failed to discharge
this duty, thus allowing property to
go untaXcd My charge was prepared
by myself without any aid or sugEcs-
ton from Judge Barksdale and with
out his knowledge: and without his
knowledge ] went To Richmond in the
month Of May and filed ono COPY OF
this charge with The Governor, one
with Judge Prentis and one with Audi
tor Moore. and my charge then became
Il part Of the records, and anybody
could have seen it,
DISAGREES WITH POLLARD
AS TO INTENT OF STATUTE
MIR Eifilcy further states that It
was proved by the records that my
charge was false. but there is not
word OF truth in his statement. He
made the same statement before the
State Tax Board and l replied to him
by producing before the board and lay
ng on the table before them, ffty-six
If the original chancery causes which
had been pending In the Circuit Court
of Halifax. In which Mr.. Easley had
negligently failed TO report $4,000
funds in the hands OF special commits
sioners liable 10 taxation. ! stated to
the board what was true, that they
were not all. and I have those causes
now and can exhibit them to anybody.
not a dollar Of which had Mr.. Easley
eported.
"He states that the law makes II tho
duty OF the clerks 10 report these funds
and the duty of the judges to see that
they are taxed and the taxes paid.
That is not true. The law in regard
TO this will be found in Section 2633a,
Pollard Code, and reads as follows:
AS soon as such examiner of records
shall have qualified, he shall proceed
to examine, and annually thereafter
shall examine the papers OF all pend
Ing causes in said courts In his cir
cult. and ascertain what moneys, bonds,
etc, are held by any commissioner,
and. as soon as such examination is
made. he shall forthwith make a report
thereof to the commissioned of the
revenue If the law made il the duty
OF the clerk TO report the funds for
taxation and the duty of the court to
see that the taxes were paid, I should
like to know what need we have Of an
examiner of records.
SAYS JUDGE BARKSDALE KNEW
NOTHING OF CHARGES
Now. as to Judge Barksdales con-
ncction with my charge. He had alb
solutely nothing to do with it and
knew nothing of ii until after / had
filed it. On then hearing OF it, he
expressed a hope that ! would do Mr..
Easley no injustice. 1 informed the
Judge that my charge was certainly
true as to Halifax County, and 1 was
satisfied that 1t was true in other
counties. ! did not know who to get
to examine the records in Mecklenburg
and asked Judge Barksdale to get
some one to do that work for me, and
he got Irby Turnbull to examine
the records of that county. Mr.. Turn
bull wrote the result of his eXamina-
ton and I filed his letter with the
State Tax Board. I mailed this letter
to Auditor Moore on June 80. without
at that time knowing when the board
would meet. After I had mailed the
letter ] was informed that night that
the board would meet the next day, and
! went to Richmond on the night OF
June 30 to attend the meeting of the
board on July /.
Mr.. Easley appeared on the 6th,
and. in the absence of Mr.. Turnbull,
said that every statement made by
Mr. Turnbull was false. He also stated
that my charge was absolutely false,
but had ut hand the record proof to
the contrary, and J have II yet Dir.
Easley tries to account for my con-
duct by saying am a personal enemy,
but he rcfrains from telling you that
the real cause of my opposition to
him is his neslec; OF duty. which has
cost this community no small amount in
the loss of taxes"