Justice Vincent's Position
June 8, 1895
Summary
A justice for Virginia lets a white Democratic constable off with no charges after the constable was accused of deceiving illiterate voters.
Transcription
Meyer Angle, a white Democratic special constable was before Justice Vincent, Friday, May 31st. He was charged with having violated his sworn obligations by having deceived illiterate voters by marking their ballots, so that they could be made to vote for the Democratic nominees. He was caught in the act by Mr. Donley.
In the face of these facts Justice Vincent discharged him saying that he was possessed of much information upon the subject now before him, and as there had been some criticism as to his sending cases on to the grand jury, he thought it best not to certify the case. Was there ever a more flagrant abuse of official power and disregard of sworn obligations? So Justice Vincent is to be swayed by outside criticism. He will fail to do his duty, if the public should not be pleased with his actions.
Meyer Angle was guilty so far as the evidence adduced was concerned. Citizens testified that he was worse than a thief. He had robbed them of the greatest boon of a freeman and should have been sent to the penitentiary instead of being turned loose upon the community. And yet this country Justice [God pity the designation] comes out boldly and declares that he will not do duty he stands sworn to perform.
Never during our entire journalistic career have we witnessed a more abject acknowledgement of one’s unfitness, a demonstration of a lack of moral courage so necessary to make a good official. We regard this decision as dating the beginning of the “passing of Squire Vincent” in the same minds of all right thinking people.
In the face of these facts Justice Vincent discharged him saying that he was possessed of much information upon the subject now before him, and as there had been some criticism as to his sending cases on to the grand jury, he thought it best not to certify the case. Was there ever a more flagrant abuse of official power and disregard of sworn obligations? So Justice Vincent is to be swayed by outside criticism. He will fail to do his duty, if the public should not be pleased with his actions.
Meyer Angle was guilty so far as the evidence adduced was concerned. Citizens testified that he was worse than a thief. He had robbed them of the greatest boon of a freeman and should have been sent to the penitentiary instead of being turned loose upon the community. And yet this country Justice [God pity the designation] comes out boldly and declares that he will not do duty he stands sworn to perform.
Never during our entire journalistic career have we witnessed a more abject acknowledgement of one’s unfitness, a demonstration of a lack of moral courage so necessary to make a good official. We regard this decision as dating the beginning of the “passing of Squire Vincent” in the same minds of all right thinking people.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cord Fox
Citation
“Justice Vincent's Position,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 20, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1415.