Evening star., 1933-04-25
MOVES TO ABOLISH
LOWELL'S POSITION
Representative Dies of Texas
Acts to. Do Away With
Federal Judgeship.

A resolution to abolish the Fedora
judgeship held by Judge James A. Lowell
of Boston, who yesterday freed George
Crawford, colored. wanted in Middle
burg. Va. on a charge of Staying Mrs
Agnes Boeing Illsley and her maid, Nina
Buckner was introduced today by Rep
resentative Dies, Democrat, OF Texas.
The resolution attracted congressional
notice especially in view of Representa-
tive Smith. Democrat, of Virginia, hav-
ing told reporters he would move I'M
parchment Of Lowell If grounds could be
found.
Dies charged that the judge, who de
clined to permit the eXtradition of the
prisoner after it had been approved
by Gov Ely because no colored persons
served on juries in Virginia, had fla
grsntly violated his oath of Office
Decision Is Scored.
The resolution said that Judge Low
ellis act was contrary to the laws OF
the United States and every sense 0.
decency and Justice" and had set frea
the self-confeSsed criminal Georg=
Crawford, who is charged with one OF
the most brutal crimes ever perpetrateo
in the United States"
The Judge" it continued, has dis
played a venom and prejudice unparal-
ieled in the judicial history of this ol
any other country and has arrogatec
to himself the powers of dictatorship
and ruthlessly trampled upon the laws
of the Nation and has had the effrontery
to attempt to justify his shocking con-
duct by asserting that the fact tina,
Negroes do not serve on juries in Vlr-
ginia renders any trial in the State
illegal"
nacloripo the decisiop of Jlldpe Low
ell an insult to the people Of Virginia
Representative Smith announced he VIII
confer with otner members of the Vlr-
ginia delegation in Congress and ascer-
tain their views toward possible i'm
peachment proceedings.
Earlier in the day Mr. Smith said
he would take the matter before the
House Judiciary Committee to urge
Impeachment if he finds sufficient
grounds for action.
Senator Carter Glass, Democrat, OF
Virginia, also took issue today with the
decision of Judge Lowell The Senator
declared that colored persons are ad-
mitted to jury service in the State OF
Virginia
Holds Decision i'm Error.
Judge Smith joined with the attorney
general of Virginia. John R. Saunders
WHO yesterday dGtdChcO JklC NldoodIAlA-
sets Federal judges decision as COM
pletely in error as to fact"
Meanwhile other members OF the
Virginia delegation In Congress re-
Trained from comment. as did Vir-
ginia's Governor, John G. Pollard. Gov.
Pollard took the view that the matter
was a judicial. not an executive one,
although he expressed surprise at the
decision
Judge Smith. who served on the Cir
cult bench in Arlington County before
he was elected to Congress. said Judge
Lowell went out of his way to gra-
tuitously insult the people Of Vir-
ginia."
Alexander Silent.
''He had no right" Judge Smith
continued, "to 60 out into the field OF
speculation of what might happen when
Crawford goes to trial" He contended
Judge Lowell had two points before
him for Characterization
of whether Crawford was the man
identified in the indictment and
whether the papers presented by Vir-
girlia authorities were properly drawn.
The Virginia judge in whose jur1sdic-
ton Crawford. if extradited. would be
tried. today also refrained from COM
ment. on the grounds that 1t was a
judicial matter upon which he might
be required to rule later. He is Judge
J-R. H. Alexander of the judicial cir
cut, which includes Middleburg.