The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-04-17
The following
REPORT
Was presented /:

Was presented:
Mr.. SPEAKER:
Your Special Committee, appointed to in
vestigate the charges preferred by Attor-
ney- General Morris against Hon Robert
Lowry, member of the House from Rankin
county, contained in a communication to
the House OF Representatives. of date March
6. 1873 marked " A. and a subsequent
memorandum married b which WAS sent
10 the committee in response to a letter ad-
dressed to the Attorney-General, asking
the names of any persons whom he might
think important witnesses, beg leave to
submit the accompany ing testimony and
report:
Your committee proceeded to make the
investigation with which it was charged,
determined that the subject committed to
it should be thoroughly and impartialy eX-
amired. All material witnesses 80 lar as
| til, committee knew. We're called before u,
and every item OF information solicited tnat
was at all trIiuent TO the iuVe, igation.
So far as we have been able TO discover,
there is but one statement made by the At
toIney-General which is borne out by the
| testimony. We refer 10 that which alleges
that Mr.. Lowry supported and advocated
the provisions substantially contained in
sections and 10 of an Act u amend the
Rules of Practice and Procedure in Crim-
nal Cases in this Stat passed ut the last
session of the Legislature.
Mr.. Willing. then chairman OF the Jul
dietary Commit tee, testities THAT Mr.. lowry
| suggested the propositions contained tp
! those two sections 70 the comm Tee. Hlb
| on his suggestion. and with the aptrovai oi
/ the committee. he fMr Nillr44l cav those
/ sections and added j.5e.r 20 th- Oil. which
/ was passed through fi4-- COMMITTEES and the
! House without furlffr discussion.
! The testimony further SHOWS that Mr.
JAYNE. Cashier of the Rankin County
! Savings Institution, was one OF The
sureties on the bond Of Ralph Casteel,
! aud was responsible on the bond 81 The
time the Law in question was passed
/ but there Is nothing which shows tildt
! Mr.. Lowry MAS Interested In any man
ner ia the release OF this particular bond, or
that he has ever profited thereby. The tes-
! timony. on tie other hand, shows cunciu-
sively that he was pecuniarily interested.
The committee does not feel itself called
upon 10 express an opinion az TO lhA
/ wisdom or policy OF passing an Act OF TIE
/ character OF the one In question. but leaves
/ that subject To the intelligent Judgment %
the public. Exp srience will demonstrate,
if il has not already done 50, whether il Is
Il measure fraughC with good or evil 20 the
/ people of the State.
In order that a full investigation nigh {
be had, a subcommittee, consisting OF
/ MeSSrs. Mckenzie and Webster. was APP
pointed to proceed to Brandon: and make
such examination of the records of the Cir
cult Court OF Rankin county, and 70 take
such testimony at that place as was deemed
important. All the information elected by
them is herewith submitted.
In view, therefore, of the testimony taken
by the committee, and all the information
in its possession from whatever source, we
are of opinion that Mr.. Lowry WAS not
prompted by any peeuni2ry or selfish mo-
tive in supporting the act in question, and
that he has not since received any pecu-
mary benefit thereby. either under any de-
post of money in bank. or by fee or other
wise. We therefore recommend the adop-
ton of the accompanying resolution.
H. T. FISHER,
JNo. II. MCKEE.
JOHN d. WEBSTER,
C. f. SAWYER,
B. T. hdBRoUGH,
A. K. DAVIS.
Members of Committee.
THE resolution is above quoted, ant
passed by the votes of all but three dis
: senting members.l
MINORITY REPORT.
| refused TO sign the above report recon-
: mending the adoption of the accompany