The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-01-14
eleven COUNTS
STDRG|SS CASE
Charleston Stirred up Over
Charges Against Mon
ongalia Judge.

CHARLESTON, Jan. 15-1ntroduc.
ton OF an impeachment resolution ii,
the House, designed to remove George
g. sturgiss, Of the Monongalia county
has served to intensity the bitterness
mat already existed over the case Of
enc aged jurist The resolution which
makes eleven separate and distinct
charges against the Judge, was intro
duced by delegate shomo Of Barbour
county who explained that he did SO
by request.
me resolution was referred to the
Judiciary committee the procedure
in the case will be for the House IL
bring an Indictment against the Judge
The indictment would be sent to the
Senate for trial Of the case. The
president Of the supreme court would
sit as president of the Senate at the
hearing
With the lone exception Of the gas
fight, the sturgiss case is talked more
than any other question now before
the legislature. One hearing the talk
around the hotel Hobbies would be led
to believe that the case transcends
in importance the Virginia debt ques-
ton.
The eleven charges filed against
Judge Sturgiss are, in substance, as
follows:
% While holding the office Of
Judge he accepted employment from
the Morgantown and Wheeling Rail
way Company at the rate Of IS 900 a
year.
2. That 1t was improper for him to SIT
as Judge in the chancery cause Of Da-
vid r. Lemley ct al. VS.. Morgantown
and Wheeling Railway company mas
much as he held q thousand dollar
bond Of the defendant company.
8. That while holding the office Of
Judge he made q verbal proposal to
the commissions Of the county court
Of Monongalia county that they con-
sent to his appointment as special re-
ceiver Of the Morgantown and Wheel
ing railway, and that he submitted to
the county court proposed decree
which provided that he should as spe-
cial receiver receive an amount Of
money equal to ten per cent. Of the re-
ceiyer's certificates issued.
4. That while acting as Judge he
submitted an offer and proposal to
the Monongalia county court whereby
he offered to take and accept an op.
ton from the court to purchase $685.
900 Of the first mortgage bonds Of the
railroad company, held by the county
court for Morgan and Clay districts,
at the price of forty per cent; OF their
face value.
S. While holding the office of Judge.
he procured certain members of the
Monongalia bar to circulate a petition
addressed to the county court asking
for an order increasing his salary ST.
700 per year. The court granted an
increase OF $500 and it is alleged that
.Sturgiss presented to the grand jury
a written charge against the commits
sioners charging them with having at
tempted to improperly influence him.
in the discharge Of his duties by Of
fering a bride Of $500 per year.
6. That after the county court had
refused to agree to the proposal to
appoint him a special receiver for the
railroad and declined to increase his
salary to the amount stipulated, that
sturgiss had repeatedly said that ne
would remove the commissioners y
some one would prefer charges against
them. The petition goes on to recite
that he did procure charges by success
siye grand iuries and was only pre-
vented from asitting at their trial by
writs of prohibition secured from the
Supreme Court Of Appeals.
4. That he entered an order as Cir
cult Judge increasing the salary Of, the
official court reporter for the purpose
Of diverting and applying the increase
10 the purchase OF law books for the
Morgantown Library Association tor.
which he had given his note.
8. While holding Office he caused an
unnamed married woman to be near
icerated in the jail Of Monongalia coun.
~ without any charges being pre-.
ferred against her.
9. That while sitting as Judge ne
arbitrarily removed from Office two
az the most capable and efficient com.
smissioners in chancery because they
had voted for certain resolutions
laiopted By the Monongalia bar.
10. That while holding the office OF
Judge he entered an order in vacation
in the case against Wade Mayfteld.
charged with having committed rape
IN an infant under IA years OF age. IN
which he placed upon the record that
the infant swas reported and general
m believed to be lewd and indecent
girl. etc." which order was MADE anu
entered in the absence Of the girl
III. That Judge Sturgiss arbitrarily
rairseii 10 enter suspending orders
and orders giving litigants time n
which TO appeal to the Supreme court
of Appeals.
The witnesses named to sustain the
charges are Lee r. shriver. David
Lemley, A. ]. Derr. John G. Price. A.
w. Bowlbv, l. G. Lazelle, John Shriver,
William =. Glasscock, John N. Gregg.
G. A. Goodwin. S. F. Glasscock. s. Al,