The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-29

to make personal explanation to the mem
bers Of the bar, and by his remarks indi-
Gated that he, the said Chambers, judge, was
the chief prosecutor in this cause, and said,
among other things, that he had been called
upon by a surety of A. Brown, one of the
defendants, said Brown being the admins
traitor pro ten. of Jacob Luder, deceased, for
protection against the acts of said A. Brown,
administrator as aforesaid, and had also
been called upon by said A Brown for pro-
lection against the acts of the defendants,
John W. Leonard and Robert H. Leonard,
his attorneys, and for the appointment of
other attorneys to represent him. the said
a. Brown, III the administration of the said
estate OF Jacob Luder deceased: and fur
Their stated that an effort had been made by
some attorney-at-law without nalning HIM
before the grand jury of Hardin county, at
the November term, A. d. 1872, of the Dis
trict Court of said county, to indict him,
said Chambers, judge, for receiving and re-
tanning in his hands the sum of seven hun
dred dollars of the moneys of Jacob Luder,
deceased; and further said that until appli-
Cations were made to him by said surety and
said administrator, he, William Chambers,
judge, did not know that anybody had done
anything wrong, land that certain parties
mot saying who) had made certain reports
about fhim, said Chambers, in connection
with this case apparently to effect his inf
ence in the trial of this cause SSn5 1urther
said that /" this court knew -6tsi rights,
duties and powers, and wOuld protect Its
/ rights, perform It's GutIeS and enforce its
powers to the utmost, " and many other re-
marks directly bearing on the merits of the
cause of the State of Texas V. 4. Brown,
John ". Leonard and Robert II. Leonard,
aforesaid, all of which was made in de-
clamatory, excited and passionate manner
and tone of voice, and designed by him,
said Chambers, judge, corruptly, malicious
" and Oppressively to influence the jury and
bystanders against the defendants in the
trial of said cause, and procure their con-
victiOn of the crime of swindling, whereof
, they then and there stood charged.
Wherefore the House OF Representatives
5 of the State of Texas, in view of the prem
Uses, do charge that William Chambers,
: Judge as aforesaid, by reason of his acts
? aforesaid, is guilty of malfeasance in office,
f oppression and other wrongs, and by reason
of his acts as aforesaid, has rendered him
self unfit longer to exercise the duties of
2 district Judge of the State of Texas.
| ARTICLE VII.
The House of Representatives Of the
State of Texas, in the name of all the peO-
4 pie of said State and in the name of them
: selves and in the name and by the author
n ity of the State of Texas, do charge that
William Chambers Judge of the First Judi
: cial District of the State of Texas, while
n acting in the capacity of judge, heretofore
: to act at the March term, \. ID. 1873, of
g Hardin county, the criminal cause No. 1872,
9 to-wit, the State of Texas V. 4. Brown,
1 John w. Leonard and Robert II. Leonard,
. the said cause causing one to be heard and
j determined, and the parties defendant i'll
c said cause being put upon trial, the said
Il William Chambers was sworn and testified
y as Il witness in behalf of the State in said
Il cause, and that when George w. O'Brien, at
e tOrney for the defendants, John w. Leonard
o and Robert II. Leonard, presented a point
, of law to the court bearing upon the case,
,, ''that where the judge was a witness in any
q cause, he might postpone the trial of the
!, cause for trial by another Judge" and pro
ceeded to argue the application of said prin,
IS ciple to tine cause then on trial, the said
II William Chambers, judge, did then and
> there order two several fines of fifty dollars
d each, to be entered against said O'Brien, at
1t tOrney, which fines were ordered without any
ri legal cause or reason, the said attorney not
n beIngin contempt, but said fines were ordered
:, for the malicious and oppressive purpose
L of affecting the minds of the jury unfavor-
o ably against the defendants, and defeating
W and confusing the arguments of said attOr-
e ney, which said attorney was presenting IN
y the case, and to prejudice the minds of the
e Jury against the said attorney and his argyll
r ments in behalf of the defendants; and the
y said Chambers, Judge a few days thereafter
'r and outside the courthouse, did make the
q following remark: ''That he had been Yory
!e X was e5Jt5 HBE9aSmonf TczrFrv; IND
n there is jail there for the disorderly, and
, he would have some of them in there, il
they do not mind, y which said remark was
IS malicious and slanderOus of the attorneys of
l. the First Judicial District.
> Wherefore, the House of Representatives
- of the State of Texas, in view of the prem
=, ises, do charge that William Chambers,
p Judge as aforesaid by reason of his acts
,e aforesaid, is guilty of malfeasance in office,
u and by reason of his acts rs aforesaid, has
rendered himself unfit longer to exercise
the duties of District Judge of the State OF
: Texas.
ARTICLE VIII.
g The House of Representatives of the
n State of Texas, in the name of all the peO-
:, pie of said State, and in the name of them
II selves, in the name and by the authority OF
+ the State of Texas, do charge that hereto
:, fore. to-wit. at the March term. \. d. 1872,
# of the District Court of Hardin county, Viii
liam Chambers. Judge of the First Judicial
p District of the State of Texas, while acting
in the capacity of Judge, there came on to
i be heard certain criminal cause, to-wit,
o. The State of Texas V. Wesley Holland,
= founded upon bill of Indictment charging
# said Holland with robbery, by his taking an
"a OK from one Jacob j. Busby, the property
4 of said Busby, and issue being taken on the
, plea of mot guilty, put in by said Holland,
: when the defendant Holland attempted to
4 prove that the OK charged to hav, been
4 stolen by defendant was not the property of
>, said Busby, and was not in the possession of
said Busby, but was in truth the property of
q said defendant Holland, the said Chambers,
q Judge, maiciously and Oppressively, to
= cause a verdict to be rendered by the jury
4 against said Holland, and to procure the
! conviction of said Holland, of the crime of
q robbery. whereof he stood charged, did
n then and there refuse to let such evidence
# 90 to the jury offered by the attorney of
# said Holland.
d Wherefore, the House of Representatives
l. of the State of Texas, in view of the prem
It ises, do charge that William Chambers,
l. Judge as aforesaid, by reason of his acts
Il aforesaid, is guilty of malfcasancc in office,
O and by reason of his acts as aforesaid, has
s rendered himself unfit longer to exercise the
" duties of District Judge of the State of
d Texas.
n ARTICLE IN.
d The House of Representatives of the State
1t of Texas, in the name of all the people OF
V said State, and in the name Of themselves,
l. and in the name and by the authority OF
d the State of Texas, do charge that William
/ Chambers, Judge of the First Judicial Dis
V trict of the State Of Texas, heretofore, to
l. wit, on the twcnty-first day of March, A.
= d. 1871, the same being the second day Of
J. tic March term. \. ID. 1871. of the District
d Court of jefferson county, the said Cham
d hers actingas judge thereof and there com
st ing on to he heard Il certain criminal cause
IL No 49,, entitled THE State of Texas V
IF Bartemus Cooper" founded upon a bill Of
d Indictment presented by the grand jury Of
Il said county, charging said Cooper with the
crime of rcscuing prisoner from the Gus