The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-08
'STURGISS ON STAND
in HIS. own BEHALF
Talked Plainly About For
mer Head Of Monongalia
County Court.
Especial Ilispatcll to west Yirginianl

Especial Dispatch to West Virginian)
CHARLESTON. w. Va. Feb. S.
Testifyiag in his own behalf before the
House judiciary committee Judge Geo.
Sturgiss, Of the Monongalla circuit,
charged with official misconduct, last
hight denied every charge made
against him except the specification
in the bill Of complaint which alleges
that he asked the county court to ap-
point him receiver for the Morgan.
town and Wheeling railroad. He
freely admitted that he had made such
IA proposition to the county court and
said he saw nothing improper about
1t.
]. "entlelnen," said Judge sturgiss.
II that is q high crime and misde.
meanor and something on which to
base proceedings OF this sort then I
admit that have no conception Of
the grounds for impeachment"
In this connection the witness point.
ca on that the entire railroad case
bad been placed In the hands OF a
special Judge. Il was permanently
disqualified and had nothing to do
with It," he said. Judge sturgiss was
on the witness stand nearly two
hours AMI when adjournment was
taken moro than half OF his testimony
was yet to be given. He resumed his
testimony this morning. Cross exam.
nation is expected to last an hour or
more.
Showing none Of the fiery tempera-
ment which he Is reputed to possess,
Judge Sturgiss was the calmest Wit.
ness that has yet appeared on the
stand. He vent in detail on every
question, aud once he said: II want to
make everything clear, and IL fail
to respond to these charges fully,
gentlemen Of the committee. l invite
you to ask me questions" The aged
jurist asked the committee rot to
go into vague charges" OF the pro-
secution Which are not included in
the bill cl complaint. at would he
eternally unjust to me for this com.
mittee to- go into the yauge charges
which have been limited at"
Under ditect examination by Clyde
B. Johnson. one Of his attorneys,
Judge Stureiss began his testimony
by stating that he ia as years of age
and had resided in Morgantown sixty
years. He went into detail in describ-
ING his activities as a railroad builder
and told OF the public positions he
had held ranging from county super
intendent Of schools to member Of
congress. After leaving congress,
Judge sturglse said he came back to
Morgantown and was pressed into the
race for Judge Of the circuit court by
"these gentlemen here" AS the Judge
said this he looked at Vim. E. Glass
cock, Gas. A Goodwin and others who
are leading the fight for the prose-
cution.
al consented to make the race, said
the witness. att was the greatest>mis-
take OF MY life. But I got into the
field and received more votes than
the other four candidates combined.
Since l have been on the bench l
have worked hard, harder than ever
worked before in my life, and ] have
kept that docket clearner than 1t ever
was BEFORE"
Referring to his trouble with Jno.
G. Price, former president Of the
MononeaIia comfy court and other
members Of that body, Judge Sturgiss
said Price was very forceful," lin
the Management of county affairs he
was very autocratic.v said the witness.
"He was worse than the Car Of all
the Russias and ! want to say to this
committee that he was worse than
the Judge Of the twenty-third judicial
circuit court. He has been in office
twelve years and have been in only
six, therefore he has it on me-"
It was predicted that the Judge
would not leave the stand before the
end Of tonight's session. Attorneys
for both sides will likely sum up the
case Monday ansdthe matter with then
rest with the committee.
It is understood that Attorney Jas.
A. Meredith. OF Fairmont, and former
Governor William 2. Glasscock, Of
Morgantown, will sum up for the
prosecution while VIM g. Conley and
Clyde B. johnson, both Of Charleston,
will speak for the defense.