The Washington times., 1922-03-04
DIVORCE JUDGE
DESIRED TO BE
CONGRESSMAN
Lawyers Tell Probe Committee
How Political Ambitions A.
fected Moncure's Decisions.
By A. CLOYD GILL.


BY A. CLOYD GILL.
Little Reno's' divorce Judge 10
an ambitious man.
"A seat In Congress or some other
high office has been the goal Of
Robinson Moncure since he a.
cended to the bench Of the corpora.
ton court of the City Of Alexandra.
To try for political Job In Alex
andria has meant for the past two
years that Moncure must be reck-
oned with.
These facts were revealed at the
divorce evil hearings held yesterday
by the Alexandria Bar Association
| COMMITTEES.
In more than one political con.
test, Judge Moncure left the bench
and took the streets" in advocacy
OF his favorite. 1t was testified.
| The political Vaccinations OF the
divorce Judge were Investigated by
\ the committee because Moncure was
| charged with nonenforcement OF the
divorce laws and with playing poll.
tics in a manner unbecoming
| Judge on the bench.
Robert ]. Thomas, Alexandria at.
torney. testifying before the com.
| mittee yesterday afternoon. said
that last summer, prior to the date
Of the Democratic primary, Mon
cure sent for him and discussed at
| length the merits and dement's OF
the several candidates.
Urged Vote for Smith.
He said that I was a new man
| in Alexandria and needed guidance;
| Thomas testified. He urged me to
vote for Howard w. Smith for Com
rnonwealth attorney. declaring that
he was more competent and ex'
perienced. w. s. Snow, the other
candidate" he said. was young and
! inexperienced"
Moncure told Thomas that Frank
Stuart, candidate for civil and pc.
lice justice, was unreliable ana
temperamentally unfit" for the OF.
flee. The Judge also accused
Stuart Of being too set In MS
ways" Thomas said.
+. @. Duvall was Moncure's Ia
vorite in the contest. He asked
Thomas to support him.
| Moncure vigorously attacked A:
B. Nicol another candidate for ciVil
and police justice, Thomas testified.
| Strange to say a few days after
discussing the candidacy OF MT
Nicol with Judge Moncure, met
Mr.. Nicol and he solicited my vote"
Thomas told the probe committee.
He named among his most promi'
nent supporters Judge Moncure.
Judge Moncure also took an IN
terest in the office Of city manager.
He openly sought the appointment
Of z. c. Dunn to that office.
Thomas told how he had asked
Judge Moncure to change a final
decree In an equity suit that was
pending in the corporation court
The paper had been drawn In the
office OF Howard w. Smith. who
had been successful In his contest
for the office Of commonwealth's
attorney.
Judge Moncure stood in awe OF
Mr.. Smith and would not make the
change" Thomas said. He said
he did not want to offend Mr..
Smith because he was so powerful
In. the community"
At another time, Judge Moncure
told Thomas that II cannot sign
that paper, because ! don't want
to get Dickinson down on me. /
won't be on the bench much longer,
for ! am going to run for Congress
or some other high office and i
win need his support"
Told 70 Get Out Of Race.
Attorney W. s. Snow was another
Alexandria attorney who was forced
to play a losing game with Judge
Moncure. Snow was a candidate
for commemorative attorney against
Howard w. Smith. Judge Moncure
advised him to get out of the race.
He made no definite proposition
TO me II l would consent to leave
the field open to his candidate. but
he did say that I must not Of
fend certain political powers and com.
nit political suicide" Snow testi
fled.
In a hypothetical way, Snow told
the bar association committee
Judge Moncure said he would be
the ultimate winner" should he &C
cept Moncure's directions.
The judge told Snow that he
would soon go to a higher office
leaving his seat on the bench tc
Howard w. Smith. 1t was indi
Gated to Snow that he would then
succeed Smith and at the some
time have the support Of the Mon
cure organization.
Snow testified that Judge Mon
cure took such an active interest
in the candidacy of Howard w
Smith that he left the court and
took the streets" on his behalf.
Mr.. Smith is chairman Of the
bar association committee now
probing the divorce evil Of Alex
andria and the judicial acts Of
Judge Moncure.
While before the committee yes
terday Mr.. Snow was questioned
by Frank Stuart as to what took
place In a conference in Judge
Moncure's office last summer
when Stuart was charged with
using liquor at the polls.
Snow said that Judge Moncure
sent for him and asked him to "cal
Stuart. Snow said he advised
against calling" Stuart, he said
and told the Judge II would cause
trouble and an unpleasant occur
ance."