The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-11
Mr.. LEIGH REPLIES TO
Mr.. EASltY'S Charges
Declares Judge Barksdale Was Not
Connected With Movement to
Displace Him.
QUOTES HALIFAX RECORDS
Declares They Speak for Themselves
In SUPPORT of the Correctness of
the Charges Made Against Mr..
Easley.

Mr.. Benjamin watkins Leigh has
sent The virginian the following re-
ply to the statement of Mr.. James s.
Easley, in connection with the latter
gentleman's removal from office az
examiner of records in the Sixth
judicial Circuit:
Text of MIR. Lcigh's Reply.
Houston, Va. July 10.
The removal of James s. Easley
as examiner of records for the Sixth
Judicial Circuit, and his false explain
alton thereof.
/ have noticed a number OF state
ments made by Mr.. Easley in regard
to this matter, some OF which l wish
to correct.
He says that the charges preferred
against him were trumped up by the
writer with the assistance of Judge
W. r. Barksdale.
This statement Is absolutely false In
20 far as Il stated that Judge Barks-
dale assisted me or knew or had any
thing to DO with the charges I pre-
terred against Mr.. Easley.
He further says that these charges
were secretly prepared by Judge
B1TK9Qai9 ana myself ana supHlIteN
20 the board on July /. at the time
when ve expected tho board to act
on these appointments. and this cal
culated to avoid any answer from Mr..
Es ley This statement IL absolute
" false. The only charge ] made
against Mr.. Easley was this, that the
law made II his duty TO examine all
causes pending In the courts OF his
circuit and report all funds in the
80 hal tGsg
taxation, and that ne had neglected
and failed to discharge this duty. thus
allowing property 70 go untaxed. My
charge was prepared by myself with
out any ala or suggestion from Judge
Barksdale and without his knowledge,
and without hts knowledge ] went TO
Richmond In the month OF May and
filed one copy OF this charge with the
Governor, one with Judge Prents and
one with Auditor Moore. and my
charge then became part N the rec
ords and anybody could have seen
IT.
Mr.. Tasley 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 ADVISORY Board on Taxation.
and I replied 10 him by producing he
fore the board and laying on the table
before them ffty-six Of the original
chancery causes which had been pend
trc in the Circuit Court or Halifax. IN
which Mr. Easley had neghgently
failed - report Slf2.eoo fnhds IN she
hands Of sTeclal commissioners lAhle
~ taxatiou@ ! stated TO she board
,pea. was true that they were not all
nad have those causes now ana can
axbIhlt them TO anybody. not COL
80 az which had Mr.. Easiey report
u.
As to the law.
vIn starcs that the law makes II the
dufv Of the clerks to report these
.a.nGs and the duty Of the Judges 70
src mat thew are taxed and the axes
mai That is not true. The law IN
regard to this will be found In Section
2G3s-a. Pollard Code and reads as
follows: AS soon as such examiner
Of records shall have qualified, he
shall proceed to examine. and an
nually thereafter shall examine ne
papers OF all pending causes in said
courts in his circuit and ascertain
what moneys. bonds. etc, are held ny
any commissioner and as soon as such
.esH ffaiHatiaH- Is made he shall FORM
with make a report thereof 70 we
missioner of the revenue" II the
law made II the duty OF the clerk 10
report the funds for taxation and the
DUTY OF the court to see that the taxes
were paid should like 20 know what
need we have OF an examiner OF
records.
Judge Barksdale Expression.
Now as to Judge Barksdale's con
nection with my charges. He had alb
eclutely nothing 10 do with II and
knew nothing Of II until after / had
filed It. On then hearing or 1t he ex-
pressed n hope that | would do Mr.,
Easlcy no injustice. I informed the
Judge that my charge was certainly
true as to Halifax County. and ! was
satisfied that 1t was true in other
counties. did not know who to get
to examine the records in Mecklen-
burg and asked Judge Barksdale to
get some ono to do that work for me,
and he got Mr.. Irby Turnbull to ex-
anime the records of that county. Mr..
Turnoull wrote the result OF his OK
emination. and / f1ed his letter with
the State advisory board ] mailed
this letter to Auditor Moore on Juno
30. without az that time knowing
when the board would meet. After
had mailed tho letter was informed
that night that the board would meet
the next day and ! went to Rich
tend the meeting OF the board on
July i.
Mr.. Tasley appeared on the 9Th. and
in tho absence OF Mr.. Turnbull said
that every statement mad by Mr.
Turnbull was false. He also stated
that my charge was absolutely false,
but I had at hand the record proof to
the contrary and ! have IL yet. Mr..
Easley tries to account for my con-
duct by saying / am personal
enemy, but he refrains from telling
you that the real cause of my opposi-
ton to him is his neglect of duty
which has cost this community no