Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-12-31
Corresp,ndenee Of the Hu.ek. Eye.

tives destroyed.
Iowa CRY, Dec. Is. 1916.
Sir: The multiplied conlempts against
pnblic authority and public morals are
grown so rife here az not only 10 excite
establishment but excite serious apprehen
slous for the safety of the State. Not on
" is bribery openly tolerated and The au-
,hori,y Of the House 10 inquire into and
punish ,he offence practically denied BY
almost a majority of that body; but The
pnwer of co-ordinaie department, of the
government is invoked with success 20
deliver offenders from condign punish
ment. To review a single instance OF
high handed usurpaiion of authority in re
gard to this matter of bribery is the object
of this letter. In this review shall ex-
olude every thing Of rumor or gossip and
rely on official documents for my facts.
NELSON KING a member of the house
from Keokuk county on the 9th inst. i,
arose in his place and announced to the
house. tina, since he had presented his cre-
dentials and taken hs seat As a member
of the House, he had heen approached by
several distinct persons, relative To cast
ing his vote for IT, S. Senators. and lha,
several distinct propositions Of money and
other reward, had been offered To him if
he would vote for Gen. Dodge for Senator
or j. G. Hall.or either of them. as NAV or
might be determined on; which de,ermin-
alton was to be made known 10 him, KING
previous to the casting Of his vote. And
tina. they would secure him from all blame
or suspicion,by procuring written instrnc-
lions from his. Kings, constituents, in
slruc,ing him So TO vote.
And further. that S. II. MARSHALL gave
him .fue dollars, on yesterday evening.
and told him 10 call on him at any future
time, and he would give him one hundred
dollars. or any amount he wanted: and
further that said Marshall told him Kiny)
that ii was Dodge's money. He also gave
King two receipts Of Indebtedness. of
which the following are correc, copies:
"West Point, Nov. 25. 1916.
Mr. Nelson King-Sir: please paw s.
L. Marshall or bearer two dollars and fif-
~ cents on my account and obIige
Yours truly, WM. STOTTS.
Received payment.
s. r. MARSHALL" -
"Decemher. A. ID. 1916.
|, S. +. Marshall. hereby relinquish
and release all my right. claim or claims
which may have against Nelson KING.
for legal services done heretofore, and this
shall be his receipt. S. II. MARSHALL. :"
In all of which he had acted under the
advice and with the full knowledge of Mr.
Goodrell, and others. his friends. for the
purpose Of fully exposing the corruption
and disposition To bribe. Of men employ
ed for that purpose, that others of this
House might he on their guard. All Of
which he submitted for the action Of the
House. On motion Of Mr. Goodrell.
ResoiUed. That a committee Of five be
appointed to investigate the charge of at
tempted bribery. as divulged by Nelson
King. a member of this House, and that
they have power to send for persons and
papers.
The Speaker appointed Messrs Coch-
ran, Goodrell. Hebard, Leech and Whit
more said committee.
On motion Of Mr. Gondrel,
ResoiUed, Tina, the Speaker be and he
is hereby requested and authorized to issue
a warrant for the arrest of 3. II. Marshall
Adjourned ill tomorrow morning. 10
o'clock, A. NJ.
Thursday Morning, Dec 10, 1916
MIR OmSted moved to amend The Jour-
nal 40 as To exclude the statement os Mel
son King. which was disagreed 10,
Yeas II, nays 10. Mr. King not voting.
The Chair announced that s. II. Mar
shall wac now in the custody of the Ser
gean-a-arms, subject to the further or.
der of the House.
On motion of Mr. Hebard. ordered. that
the Sergeant-at-arms retain 5. Il. Mar
shall ~ custody until otherwise ordered.
During the progress Of the inquiries by
The committee thus raised and whilst a
witness was on the stand, before be had
closed his testimony in regard to The al
tempted bribery by Marshall, the prisoner
is taken from the custody Of the Ser
geant-al-arms by writ Of Habess Cor
pus issued by order Of the Hon. JOSEPH
WILLIAMS one Of the justices Of the Su-
preme Court Of Iowa Territory and by
him ordered 10 be set a, liberty. These
are The facts and are believed tn be all the
facts necessary to full understanding oI
the case in legal point Of view. The
act of this discharge by the Judge is wha
is meant when | speak of high-handed
usarpation Of authority.
There has never occurred case unde,
any constitutional government in which
one department of government has songh
nate branch. In the darkness or past age,
under monarchical governments and be
lore the appropriate spheres Of the sever
al departments Of government had an,
known boundary such things were some
times done and allowed.
In the case Of the Earl Of SALISBURY
2 State Trials, els. Mod. I44,) VIII,
was imprisoned by the house of Lords fo
thigh conlempts committed against it,
and brought into the Kings Bench, III.
court held that they had no authority C.
Judge OF the contempt, and remanded The
prisoner. The court in that case seem I,
have laid down principle from which.
repea. no cour, or authority undet con