Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-13
TREASURER MEREDITH
ANSWERS HIS ACCUsERs
Iolittcai Contest In Brunswick County
Grows Out of Alleged Payment
of Poll Tax.
AMOUNT INVOLVED IS si.as
Supreme Court Denies Petition for
+. Habcas Corpus, and Case VIII
Come Up on Its Mcrits-Mcrcditll
Has Not Been i'm Jail.

In rhc Times Dispatch Of January 6.
NJ :lercdith, treasurer or ErunswicN
county. was III Jail. Mr.. Meredith WAS
not ani has not been III Jail, hut IS in
the technical custody or his bondsrian.
pending the disposition OF a charge "
violation Of the state pure election
laws
hahcas corpus. on file in the oiiice Of
the clerk of the Supreme Court OF
Appc.uS. reveals Al interesting ana
som" what bitter political contest in
Brunswick County. in which Treasurer
Meredith has been tho subject of s;av-
rral prosecutions because Of the al
legged expenditure OF sl.5S in payment
Of the poll taxes OF II citizen of that
county
The petition for habcas corpus was
denied Ivy the supreme Court. and the
election ease will be tried on It's
its, Treasurer Meredith remaining
meanwhile technically in custody Of
his brother. W. W. Meredith. his bail
PETITION RE:tTUE:S INTERESTING:
POLITICAL. CONTEST
The petition for habeas corpus sets
forth i'll some detail t.,ni Treasurer
Meredith was Il candidate for nomina-
ton in the primary Of August ). 1919.
He received u large majority Of the
votes east and was awarded y CERT
ticate Of nomination. Later petit
ton was filed contcstinE the nomina
ton on the alleged ground Of vio!ati III
of the pure election law. ON Scptem-
Der IL. the Circuit Court of Brunswick
County decided the case in favor OF
Mr.. Meredith. and dismissed the com
plant Mr.. Meredith duly filed his
statement Of expenses rs required by
No.. 80, ..f 4.
Circuit Court an effort was made to-
have Treasurer Meredith indicted by a
special urand jury. which body re-
turned mot n true bill" Later Il peii-
ton WAS circulated asking Il further
investigation and after about thirty
signatures had been obtained it Was
laid before the regular grand jury at
the October term. Mr.. Meredith alleges
that several members of this grand
jury were personal and political
enemies. and that through their in
hucn"c and insistcncc an indicsm ent
was returned This indictment charges
Treasurer Meredith with having loaE-
ed TO one voter Sl.5S To pay his Sta.e
poll taxes.
IN CUSTODY OF Ills hail
PENDING. DISPOSITION
on November % Mr. Meredith was
admitted to bail in tho sum OF $500
with w. w. Meredith as surety for his
appearance at the first day of tn,
February term of the Circuit Court
To bring the matter to Il more
prompt determination he was taken
into custody by his bail, and petition
made for writ of habeas corpus
In applying for this writ TO the
state supreme Court MIR. Meredith al
legged that the Circuit Court was with
out Jurisdiction: that he il immune
from prosecution because Of previous
legal proceedings: that the indictments
is void, and that his arrest and dcien-
ton by w, w. Meredith. his bail are
unla wfui lie asserts that he has
violated no law. and thar the proceed
ines against him have been and are
the result OF malice and ill-wil OF his
personal and political enemies.
The supreme Court having denied
the petition for habcas corpus tho
case VIII come IN or its merits NJ tie
February term Of the Circuit Court Of
brunswick County.
Sinc" the case was brought to the at
| iehtion Of the grand jury Mr.. Meredith
has been reelected. in the November
general election. by larger vote than
had ben cast in general election for
great many years.