Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-07-08
State Board Ends Contro-
versy in Sixth Judi
cial Circuit
EASLEY IS REMOVED
Alleges Plot was Formed and Charges
Trumped Up in Order to Dust Him
For Position

Richmond, July S-Tucker c. Wat
ilins, ir., of South Boston, was yes
terday appointed by the State Tax
Board examiner of records for the
Sixth Judicial Circuit, to succeed
James E. Easley, of Houston, who
has held the office for the past eight
years. The appointment is effective
at once, and Mr.. Watkins will take
office as soon as the qualities.
With the appointment of Mr.
Watkins ends a sharply fought con-
test which dates from the last ses-
sion of the General Assembly. 1t
eliminated this week with the launch
ing of charges against ExanTner
Easley by Attorney Benjamin Wat
kins Leigh, Of Houston, who told
the Tax Board that Mr.. Easley has
been negligent in the administra-
ton of his office, and has failed to
report for taxation large sums OF
money in the hands of special COM
missioners in various chancery caus-
es. The charges were vigorously
denied by Mr.. Easley.
In behalf of Mr.. Watkins there
was presented to the Tax Board a
monster petition signed by more than
1000 citizens of the Sixth Circuit
including all of the State Senators
and all but two of the members OF
the House of Delegates from that
circuit. Mr.. Watkins is cashier Of
the Boston National Bank. of South
Boston, and is a son-in-law of Judge
W. r. Barksdale, of the Circuit
Court of Halifax.
Late last night, Mr.. Easley made
the following statement:
"The charges preferred against
me were trumped up as A plot and
subterfuge. They were met by my
reply and proven untrue, with the
exception of my failure to report
some of the funds held by special
commissioners of the courts.
"The new law makes the report
ing of these funds the imperative
duty of the clerks, and imposes on
the Judges the duty of seeing to the
payment of the taxes thereon. The
Auditor stated to the board in my
presence that the funds were omitted
by all the examiners Of the State.
"The action of the State Tax Board
in removing me is but another evi-
dence that the authorities do not de-
sire the enforcement of the. tax laws
The real cause of my removal was
nv activity in assessing omitted pro
pertv in Lynchburg held by those
who had the ears Of the authorities
who ousted me-"
Among the Lynchburg property
owners referred to by Mr.. Easley are
Craddock, Terry and Co., large shoe
manufacturers, against whom he as
sessed unreturned taxable property
for the year 1915 aggregating 81
2OO 900. The Local Board of Review
reduced this amount to 100000.
State Advisory Board on Taxation,
which referred to Attorney General
Pollard the legal question involved.
Mr.. Pollard sustained the construc-
ton placed on the law by Mr.. Easl-
ev The taxes in this case are still
in progress of adjustment.
Craddock, Terry and Co., as well!
as other large Lynchburg manufac
turers and jobbers, joined in recon-
merding the appointment of Mr..
Watkins. Friends of Mr.. Easley
freely made the charge that his re-
novel was due primarily to a combi-
nation of powerful interests in the
Sixth Circuit, whose hostility he had
incurred by his jealous enforcement
I,of the laws relating to unreported
taxable property.
The board met in executive session
at II o'clock in the morning inl the
office of Governor Stuart. At the end
of two hours it adjourned and made
. public the following official state
iment:
i "Resolved by the State Tax Board
That it will, at the end of the pre-.
u sent calendar year, consider the ap.