Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-09
EASLEY MAY TEST
NEW TAX STATUTE
Would Call on Supreme Court to
Decide Legality of Re-
moval Order.
DARK CONSPIRACY CHARGED
Deposed Examiner Says Judge
w. r. Barksdale Furthered
Son-in-Law's Campaign.

Charging Judge William r. Barks
dale. of Halifax, and Attorney Benja-
min watkins Leigh. of Houston. with
secretly preparing against him
charges which were. for the most part.
! proven later to he unfoundcd-a pro-
ceedIng which he characterized as
| part of contemplate plot" to secure
| his removal Examiner Of Records
I for the Sixth Judicial Circuit-Jamcs
| s. Easley yesterday announced his In
| tention to consult counsel as TO the
| advisability of testing the legality
| of the Tax Boards action in summarily
| removing him from office.
The action, II 1t is brought, will be
| directed against the act placing ex-
| aminers of records under the Tax
| Board. The law contains several ap-
parently contradictory provisions, and
| Is In many quarters regarded as de-
fectivc. MIR. Easley will consult coun-
| sci. among them Attorney John l.. Lee,
| Of Lynchburg. and If they share In his
doubts as to the legality of the Tax
Boards action, the State Supreme
| Court of Appeals Will be asked for a
| writ of quo warranto or prohibition.
| in which the Tax Board will be called
| upon to show legal warrant for its
| act
| In passing upon the application for
! the writ. tho Supreme Court will be
! called upon to review the law In
question and construe the Tax Boards
| powers under II.
EASLEY WILL SEEK
RELIEF IN COURTS
| Mr. Easley's decision to seek a rem
cdy in tho courts was yesterdays in
teresting contribution to the after
math of the Sixth Circuit examinership
| fight which ended Friday with the Tax
| Boards removal Of Mr.. Easley as ex-
| aininer of records. and the appoint
mcnt in his place OF Tucker c. Wat
kins. Jr., of South Boston. The whole
controversy had stirred the Sixth Cir
cult to It's depths and had called to the
support Of one or the other of the two
candidates the entire legislative rep
rcsentation OF the circuit.
Supplementing his statement to Tho
Times Dispatch on Friday. Mr.. Eas-
ley yesterday issued an amplificd
statement dealing with the examiner
ship contest. in which he attributes
his removal TO a plot concocted by per-
sonal and political enemies, one OF the
most active of whom, he says, was
Judge Barksdale. of the Circuit Court
of Halifax, iather-in-law of the man
| who was appointed examiner to sue
coed him.
Both Governor Stuart and Judge
Prentis. said Mr.. Easley yesterday,
had substantially assured him months
ago that they would attach little or
no weight to petitions. The Cover
nor he said. all but assured him that
he had nothing 10 fear as long as he
discharged his duties as examiner
| fearlessly and without favor. With
| reference to the charge that he failed
| to report certain moneys in the hands
of special commissioners Mr.. Easlcy
| quoted State Auditor Moore as saying
that these funds were omitted by all
the examiners of the State. Governor
| Stuart. Judge Prentis and Auditor
| Moore compose the Tax Board. 1t is
| understood that they voted unanimous
| ly for Mr.. Easley's removal.
SAYS JUDGE RARItsDALE
TRUMPED UP CHARGES
Mr.. Easley made the following state
| n.ent:
The charges preferred against me
were trumped up by Il. w. Leigh, n
| personal enemy OF mine. with the as
sstance of Judge William X. Barks-
| dale, OF the Sixth judicial Circuit try
Ing TO further the campaign of his SON
in law. Tucker c. Watkins, Jr. Tho
charges made were met by my reply
and proven by the records to be untrue,
with the exception of my failure to re-
| port some of the funds held by special
commissioners OF courts. The law
makes the reporting of these funds the
| imperative duty of the clerks. and i'm
poses upon the Judges the duty OF see
| Ing to the payment Of taxes thereon.
| The Auditor stated in my presence. be-
| fore the board, that these funds were
| omitted by all the examiners OF the
| State. He Will not deny this. These
charges were secretly prepared by Mr.
Leigh and Judge Barksdale and sub
mittcd to the board on July /, at the
time when they expected the board to
act on these appointments. and thus
| calculated to avoid any answer from
me. That they are merely Il part OF
n contemplate plot is evident to the
casual observer The real cause OF my
removal was my activity in assessing
omitted property in Lynchburg held by
those who had the ear Of the authori-
| ties who ousted me.
WAS TOLD PETITIONS
WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED
Regarding the monster petition for
Mr.. Watkins, which emphasis is laid
on. 1t will be observed that. after four
months OF strenuous effort on tho part
OF Mr.. watkins and his friends, which
embraced numerous politicians. he has
only secured 1000 names. IT will
further be observed that these 1000
names were obtained from the city OF
Lynchburg, with n population of about