The New York herald., 1872-11-22
JUDGE PRINDLE'S TRIAL.
fhe senatorial Impeachment Committee Try
Ing the Chenango County Judge.


Tne State Senate met at ten O'Clock this morn
ng. The following Senators answered to their
uaraes :-Messrs. Adams, Allen, Ames, Barker,
Benedict, Bowen, Chatfcld, Cock Dickinson,
Foster Graham, Johnson. Lewis, Lowery, McGowan,
Murphy, Perry, Tiemann, Weismann, Wagner, WINS
tow, d. P. Wood ana James Wood.
X. A. stanton, Of counsel for the people, pro-
seeded TO sum up the evidence taken in the case
Of Judge Prindle. After referring to the duty OF
the Senate in cases such this and the object or
sOunsel appearing to sum mp the evidence and
make argument, he proceeded to show by citing
authorities that all that was required in both
criminal and civil actions TO be proven was the
substance OF the charges made. This he said was
the practice In our courts. 1t was unnecessary to
prove oil the technical parts OF the charges made.
HE THEN TOOK UP THE CHARGES sERIATIM.
The FIRST was that this Judge had charged and re-
ceived fees for the discharge OF duties appertain-
ing to his ONCE County Judge and Surrogate,
and counsel referred 10 the Laws OF 1890, chapter
$40, section 3s, which prohibited such officers from
receiving such iccs and in 1867, he said, an act
was passed aboshing all ices charged by Surro.
gates. That the respondent knew OF this is proven
by the evidence OF the witness, Ray who sworc
that his attention was called to it, so the plea OF
ignorance would not hold good Counsel referred
to the testimony of other witnesses to show that
the Judge had charged Tor drawing papers to
be used before him in his Official capacity.
COunSel pulsHpu IHlS line at some length
TO show that though Ray ostensibly acted as
attorney III those cases the Judge was the prin-
Gna in inc carrying m on tnis bpsness that ne simply
law. The second charge was that the Judge de-
clined to perform mis- duties and referred parties to
Ray; That Ray was merely clerk, and that the
Judge aided Ray in obtaining pay for services he
1.-THE Judge should perform giatuitously. In sup
port OF this charge counsel referred to the evidence
taken. Counsel argued at some length, frequently
referring referring to the testimony that Ray was q
ney ior work the Judge should i'd have az per per.
the charge that the Judge has wilfully refused to
discl aree the legitimate duties of his ONCE and
cited the acts setting forth the services to be per-
formed ny County Judges and Surrogates He also
referred to the constitutional provision which pro-
to the statute providing salaries for Surrogates
70 take the place OF fees: This act likes the
shall pay over all these fees to the County Treas
nrer after deducting his salary. Thus this act
orm All these duties. charge @ Certain fees, deduct
his salary and pay over the balance Of his receipts
tne to1ny o m ne n turn over
IN, ana charge Tor them, and thus divert money from
rkINpLn ACTING AS AN ATTORNEY.
S@e 1asn h,rs to the charge that the
sere 20 @ 1S as @
preme Court charging for his services and taking
is pay out OF the State counsel quoted the statute
promoting surrogate from tnus acting. and
dwelt at some length on the details OF the circum
stances. Counsel referred to the charge that the
bonding the town OF Greene in behalf OF the
Greene Railroad Company, and read portions OF
Elisha Prindie. cousin Of the Judge, was en-. en-.
pl0yed as counsel at the Judges mmendation;
tion was asked il the Judge had no charge taat
Elisna responded he did not knew that he tElisla)
lars; that he also said the Judge ought to have al
much as he; he would make out the bill after din
neT se hs aS ts ns dim
sci merely called attention TO the charge OF official
long pending before the Judge, ana yet undecided.
REFUSAL TO PRODUCE OFFICIAL RECORDS
the next charge which was IN effect that the
Judge, In violation OF law, refused to answer calls
made upon him by the Supervisors to produce the
records OF ms ms oiice was taken up by counsel who
these calls and aid the Supervisors in examining
not avail him. Were he an honest man, and had
ms accounts been honestly kept, why should he
refuse to have them examined ? Counsel then re.
ierred to the charge that the Judge had allowed
large ana excessive fees to counsel and attorneys
and that executors were obliged to pay the same
ine senate then took recess till four O'Clock p NJ
Afternoon Session.
The Senate reassembled at four O'Clock p. NJ,
when Mr.. Stanton, counsel for the prosecution,
that the Judge had made no fun and truthful Re-
turn OF the fees he received as required by law.
He turned to the testimony Of Mrs. Russell, an old
lady seventy-two years OF age, who was induced
ny the Judge to sell number OF government
that she WAS imposs..d upon; and further, he con.
The TG ss 5udss hs
guilty Of violation Of the usury law dc; the Judge
NV, a. what is generally known as the @ows ana ana
tuMony, rob TINS old woman for his own bel@py
szss NJ sos5Ss iSS esr{ss Ssss
the Judge secured. the bonds Of this old lady,
without with out paving the premium for Dlbbe, s.
the premium fec. Counsel having reached the |
twenty fifth charge, and there being nifty four he
mony bearing on the succeeding ten charges could
be found. and then reviewed the testimony con-
erect that the Judge had made charges for services
which by law he had no right to do. Counsel
sSer O s
The Senate took recess till seven O'clock p NJ
Il. Evening Session.
The Senate rcassembled al seven P. NJ, and Mr..
@ Stanton continued nue. his argument dwelling at mr.. On
M Ea Tnfn S only
= some length The ssct cn1net he spoke POae
.n part Of g er susn snd ca%ed a
this man whom y lens OF Chenango county that
srcstss casea SO with pca SSe es
the y lie origin and progress OF the case up to
.,me it was brought to the attention OF the
>.,enate.
E. H. Prindle, OF counsel for the respondent,
iOnowed. Belore takiug W snc ona,ges ng oShe1 h1
permission TO refer to the remarks which mad
lalIen from the counsel on the other side. One OF
them, Mr.. Peckham, had frequently spoken OF thus
appearing here for the people. he mr. Prindle)
denied that they were here Tor the people OF
Chenango county or for the people or the State.
Two Of their witnesses had sworn that they had
furnished money to carry on this prosecution and
he INT. Prindle had thought they were here under
the employment Of men who were opposed to the
people of Chenango county-the people who had
recently and after these charges had been made,
reelected the respondent to the position he holds
The counsel said:-
AS the Grand Jury had been referred to by the
counsel who had just taken his seat he would also
refer to that Jury. During the years In which
these charges were made the counsel was the
prosecuting officer OF the county. lie was the Dis
irict Attorney OF Chenango county. Why did he
sit idle 7 Why did he not bring this
Ia