Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-03-31
JAYBIRD JONES.
HIS TMPEACRmE&T-INT DE
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We extract from the Raleigh Sentinel the
following interesting proceedings of the
House in regard to the Impeachment of
Judge Jones
On motion of Mr.. Sparrow, the resolu-
ton impeacbing +. w. Jones, Judge. of
the Superior Court OF the % Judicial Dis
trio, was taken up and adopted by vote
of yeas rs, nays 49,
The following voted against the resolu-
ton Bryan, Of Jones, Bum, loIored,
Dudley, coiored, Hargrove, Loftin, Lyon,
Morgan, o. Montgomery, Morgan, of
Wake, Nilsson, Reavis, cOlored Smith, of
Halifax, colOred, Tucker, colored. Willis,
colored.
By Mr.. Sparrow : A resolution requiring
the Speaker to appoint . Board of five
Managers to conduct the impeachment trial
OF e. W. Jones, Judge Of the "a Judicial
District. The resolution was adopted un-
der Il suspension Of the rules.
By the same A re solution sending mes
sage to the Senate Informing that bOdy OF
the action of the House ia regard 10 Jones
case.
The resolution was adopted under su5-
pension Of the rules.
Mr.. Wther5 moved to reconsider the
vote 10y which the House adopted the reso-
luton impeaching judge Jones' He said
no die 50 because he did not want the tes-
sion OF the Legislature prolonged. He
thought this session had cost the people
| enough ard wished to bring it to close.
He th0ucht the mater could be easily
dealt With next session.
Mr. Jarvis (Mr. Robinson being il the
chair next occupied the floor in opposi-
ton to the motion.
Mr. Jarvis detailed to the House q long
list of soutrages that had been committed
by Judge Jones' II said that the m att Ell
OF cost should not he considered when the
question was whether the people should be
relieved of a man who was not only dis
| grace TO the bench, but to Humanity. dc.
MIR. Jarvis continued for some time in
| opposition to the motion.
| Mr.. WEIGH said the people were demand
! IEg al adjournment, and he did not want
any more lmpeachm ent until the next SEES
| sion of this body. He was not in favor OF
paying 100000 for the impeachment Of a
Judge at this time, Dc.
Mr. Warning was in favor of reducing the
per- diem Of members to So or S per day,
and stay here all the Summer, if necessary,
that these Infamous officials might be pro
perIy and justly dealt with. He was to
tally opposed to the motion to reconsider,
&c.
Mr.. Jarvis again took the floor, insist
ing that the House should take immediate
and prompt action in this matter. He said
that this disgraceful and abominable con-
duet of Judge Jones was matter of public
notoriety, and sworn evidence of it was in
possession Of the Judiciary Committee. He
did not urge prompt action in this matter
on party grounds, but as representative
of the people. AS to the cost, the gentle
| man from Haywood, most largely over-es-
| timated it. Its cost, as compared to the
| Holden impeachment trial, could be well
| illustrated b. comparison between the
cost of four horse wagon and a railroad.
! &c.
Mr.. Jarvis argued at length in opposi-
| ton 10 the motion to reconsider, and in
advocacy of a speedy trial. 60.
Mr.. Sparrow said:
The gentleman from Haywood, as is
usual with that gentleman, urges the re-
consideration of this vote upon the ground
of party policy and patty expediency. Mr..
Speaker, the question rises far above all
such considerations it is one which ad-
dresses itself to the sense Of decency and
to the Justice of every member on this
floor. 1t is not worth while to talk about
the case of Judge Pearson or Judge Watts
or any other Judge. Their cases are not
before us. This case is before us and we
cannot avoid it. What are the facts A
publication charging him with scandaIous
| behavior, was called TO the attention of
the House, and thereupon, by vote al
most unanimous, ia Committee was appoint
ed to investigate the charges. Here is
the result sir, this large role of sworn
testimony taken by this Committee, with
other testimony of subsequent misconduct
and beastly drunkenness. He left this city
last Saturday in this condition; had to be
taken to the Omnibus, held in his seat,
taken TO the cars, too drunk to walk alone
or to talk. He was at the hotel in Colds
boro' IN a state of drunkenness, with a
bottle of liquor in his hand. He arrived
at Iarboro in q similar condition. He
was drunk at Williamson, WHITTIER he had
gone to hold Court on Monday last, and
then again, on Tuesday, where he was to
hear case at chambers. Now, sir, my
Courts in the second district are going on.
Beaufort Court is to be held next week,
Pitt follows. Is this drunken debauchee
to hold these Courts and to disgrace our
bench with mockery of justice Not
only SO, sir, but he is to hold the Courts
IN that district next fall, as they are usual
y over before the meeting of this General
Assembly. Are the people of this district
to be outraged by the presence of such a
moral leper to sit in Judgment over them
until next winter? Can the gentleman
from Haywood see no merit in case like
this Now as to time How long will it
take to examine half dozen witnesses in a
case like this ? Sir, we could try five or
six assaults and batteries in County
Court in day, each one of greater magni-
tude as to witnesses than this. It can be
submitted to the Court on the part of the
prosecution without argument. It cannot
take more than twenty -four hours.
MIR. Guyther argued in favor of recon
sideratiop.
Mr.. Strudwick said he had not Intended
to say one word on this motion. but as the
gentleman from Washin gton has seen pro
per to bring his name forward IN the dis
cussion. he fels called on to say few
words. The gentleman from Washington
has complained bitterly that guard has
been kent ON Judge Jones' conduct. that