The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-12
THOMAS COOPER

s-.----~-e---l-----.s:
THOMAS COOPER
% In Pennsy,vanis, the Judges are uot'yet
absolutely above the Law and the Constitution.
Tine following will remind them Of the saluta-
ny Lesson. that their powers are besto we'd, not
for their own use. but for the benefit OF the peo-
pie. -r
From rhe Pha Democratic Pysss.
Ex,rdet eta letter to the Editor dated LANcAs-
TER. March IS. 1911,
Mr.. Sateilee chairman of the committee in
she Case of Judge cooper, this morning made the
Following report
1ise coa.siattee TO -shon ,reye referred the beti
tory Of si4'idry i,ha6it,ts IF fhe eighth judicial
district Of Pennsylvania, complaining of rte Of
jseiat conduet o: Thomas Cooper, Leg president
j9Ges Of tie said dis;yict,
REPORT
That fully impressed with the Importance of
the duty assigned them, they have diligently at
tended TO the evidence adduced in support of
the-accusation, and in vipdication of the accus-
ed, keeping at once in view the propriety of af-
1ording no countenance to unfounded sugges-
lions, and the solemn obligation of the legisla-
ture as the constitutional guardians Of the rights
and liberties of,he people, TO repei every inva.
sion OF those rights keeping in view the neces.
sity OF protecting those, who faithfully discharge
the trust contided TO them in the exercise ofiust
and legal authority. and ofdefending the citizens
from those approaches towards arbitrary pow
rr, which ,iie official situation of President
Judge Of d court of justice, affords such facility
IN making, Your committee have deduced
from the evidence the following conc !usioas 10
wit:
LIST That he fined and imprisoned Iohn Han
ma, for wearing his hat in the court house of
Northumberland coi.nty--tle said Hanpa then
sts,ting outside of he bar and jury box, md ma
sing no disturbance and this without any in
See thc eeidente aa9Ykea f.
2. That he fined and imprisoned three respec.
tabie citizens. viz. William Hartman, Ma
eh'as HsHer & John Brown, hastily, and arbi-
tr@i!y, without any inquiry, & witncut sufIici-
snt caase-See eoidence marked b.
80 That he tined John Dreisbach uniustly
and arbitrarily See svise,ice .,,G,IeG'C
18th. That he fined Nehemiah Hutton hastily
without sufficient cause or hearing-See evideace
nsrked D.
Sta. That lie arbitrarily and rrecipitatelv fin.
I'd and imprisoned Stephen Hoilister, for mere
whisper, and In an insulting and overbearinr
msnne: refused to hear bis detence-See' evidence
marked q.
9th. That he improperly exercised the towers
OF justice OF the peace, under the law respect
snS roads and bridges and fined Anderson Da
ma, supervisor OF the high ways, fifteen dollars,
IN an ARBITRARY and Passionate manner; after
winch he ordered the Rne to be deposited in the
The same on certain conditions-See eeiGence
marked r.
1th Ihat he sentenced hoy between four
teen and seventeen years OF to one wears i'm
prisonment for horse stealing, and afterwards
added two years to the term of his imprison
'nent without any evidence, on the suggestion &
pretence ofteaching the boy q trade See cyl
lence n,ayke9 C.
9Th Your committee also report, that it ap-
pears that previous to the seventeenth of Nov
1907 he entered into an agreement with the
then parliamentary, and other officers the court
of common pleas efNorthumherland county and
with George LRngs, TO purchase AZ Sheriff's sale
:. tract OF ield, called IS Limestone Lick" the
property of Jo-;a G4!braith, levied upon bv an
execution issued out OF the sad court < that
che same tact was accordingly Purchased ON the
day las! mentioned BY the said George Langs for
their nat beneh.--pArt Vt which tract is now
held by the said Thomas Cooper under that sale
This conduct, your committee do not assert to
De violation of any positive statue but, they
do consider that il the president of q court be
suffered to make himself interested in 4 matter
depending before him, he mast either deprive
the public OF those services, which he is bound
20 render Or sdludicate in his own cause, and the
danger to the pure ana impartial! administration
of justice is immediate and alarming-See evi-
dencc marked Il.
Your committee, from the premises, are of O.
pinion, that the official conduct of the said Pre-.
sident Judge has been arbitrary, unjust and pre-
cipitate, contrary to sound policy and dangerous
&c the pure administration OF Justice. Thew
therefore submit the folio wing resolution
ReSo!rca, That committee be appointed to
t1raught al address to the Governor for the re-
moyal of Thomas Cooper, Esq from the office
of President Judge of the courts in the eighth
judicial district of Pennsylvania.
g Immediately after the report was read and
Had on the table, letter was received from
Judge Cooper, requesting to be heard in his de.
Ience-which was granted-and counsel were
accordingly heard.
EEtract Of letter 10 the EGi.ar, dated
LANCASTER, March %
"Upon the second reading and consideration
last evening of the Address for the removal of
3.ttge Cooper from otfice--the same was adopt
ed by Yeas II Nays 10
g THIS morning it presented to the Sc.
ate, who made it the order for the afternoon. al