Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-09-17
JUDGE ]. N WOODS
SCORES PRACTICE
OF VOTE BUYING
Again Calls Attention to Cor
ruption In Berkeley County.
INDICTMENTS RETURNED
BY THE GRAND JURY
Circuit Court Opens Here To-
day For Regular September
Term--May Be Only Few
Cases For the Petit Jurors.
The regular September term of

The regular September term of
Berkeley Circuit Court was con-
vened at $50 this morning by Judge
John M. Woods, who Immediately
summoned the grand jury for work
and delivered the customary charge.
The grand jury is composed OF the
following:
James II. Smith. foreman;. 8. 8.
Cline, Sidney Lemastcr, II. %. RaucIl
Fl. L. Couchinan, Thomas s. Will
liams, Peter Sperow. r. n. Rooney.
Edwin Henshaw. IT, Il. Sperow, r.
IG Horner. w A. Burkhart, Thomas
r. Kline. D. O. Bartles. r. =. Miller
and G. G.. Grove.
The charge Of Judge Woods. while
along customary lines, was yet ~.
pecially strong and interesting
There are number OF state laws
to which Circuit Court judges arc
required to direct attention---elec.
ton. taxation, drug, liquor, payment
Of employees, etc.--and these were
Iall given due consideration by the
court. But Judge Woods again took
occasion to dwell with especial en-.
phasis upon the well-known prac-
tees which obtain In elections In
Berkeley county--the buying Of
votes for the purpose OF securing
the election of certain men to a.
fee, men whom the votebuyers hope
and expect to uae for private and H.
Legitimate purposeses.
Judge Docs Missionary Work
Judge Woods has been doing
splendid missionary" work along
this line ever since his election TO
the bench. and states frankly that
this corrupt practice is brought
sharply to the attention Of the peo-
pie whenever he addresses grand
jury in the hope that the evil will
finally be brought home to the pco.
pie in snch manner as will awaken
their conscience and result In such
an overwhelming demand for its
elimination from our elections that
those who have been guilty will not
only be compelled to cease the prac.
tice. but will be brought TO Justice.
Judge Woods declared that the
practice of vote-buying in Berkeley
county was matter of such COM
mon knowledge that no man would
have the hardihood or effrontery TO
deny it, He said that everybody
knew of 1t, that hundreds were en-.
gagged in it, either as purchaser or
seller. and that 1t was a most baf-
fling and difficult matter to graphic
with, because the practice was SO
common that grand juries could not
be induced to return indictments
for ii. He declared that it would
cause decided shock and sensa-
ton in this community were a grand
IJITy W Ittuin an iiiAiSthShh W sHc
purchase of votes, for the reason
that so many men have been guilty
of the practice that it is looked up
on with federation by even grand
juries.
Hoped For Later Results
Nevertheless, the judge declared.
he expected that some day. and
that before many years had passed,
the public would arise and demand
that such practices cease, and that
elections be made elections in fact,
instead Of in name only as has
been the case here for many years.
HE warned the people that, unless
1.-The guilty ones did hearken to the
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