National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-07-26
IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE HUMPHREYS.
He Demands Specific Charges and Invites a
Hearing.

aedTlnSs
Judge Humphreys has appeared before the
committee authorized to investigate the
charges preferred against him, and the follow
ing proceedings took place:
Mr.. Chairman, received the other day the
following note:
"HoUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, d. c., July Il, 1876,
Judge d. C. Humphreys, Supreme Court, Wash
ington, d. c.:
DEAR SIR: The committee to whom was re-
ferred charges against you, propose on Thurs
day of this week to fix the time for their inves-
tigation. If you desire to be present and be
heard on the question the committee will hear
you at that time. They meet at 10 o'clock a.
m. Yours, respectfully,
w. w. WARREN, Chairman"
In obedience to that invitation, appear for
the purpose of consulting the committee as to
their convenience in respect to the time they
may proceed to take up any charges that have
been made against me. l understand the COM
mittee is about to close an investigation that
has been before it, and Il am ready at any time
to proceed in my own case; but 1 trust the
committee will require specific charges.
1 have been on the bench here for five years
and over. l came here in 1870 under an ap-
pointment which did not seek, but it was
rendered and accepted, and don't expect to
60 back in any way, shape or form upon those
who presented it. have had no politics since
came upon the bench; have shown no par
TALLY, but have endeavored fairly and hon.
estly to admisinter justice to all who came
before me. The committee have now the op-
nfh rin haf ton
those matters which have been heretofore mere
squibs put into the newspapers from time to
time.
All that can ask now OF the committee will
be that when the time is fixed for the hearing
of the charges they will require them to be
more definite and specific. There is, as far as
/ am aware, only one intimation in the charges
that would appear to affect the character of 4
judge and that is an intimation, without any
specific charge, that sat in a case-at least
one-in which l was pecuniariy interested:
and this asCertainCd from the introduction of
the papers by some one signing himself Mus
sey, who pretended to be, and is, | SUP pose, a
member of The bar of his District-a man who
has been received, so far as know, and treated
with every consideration in every case by the
Court.
But l think it is due to the people that there
a.
case or cases in which | sat and in which Twas
interested. This is due also to myself, for re-
ally if 1 have any pecuniary interest in any
such cases it is entirely unknown to me.
The chairman, Hon. VIM. W. Warren, said
the committee did not intend to inquire into he
merits of the case to day; it will probably hold
a session on Saturday tor that purpose.
Judge Humphreys asked: Does the commit
tee propose during this session of Congress to
proceed with the investigation! If so, would
like to lie informed. | will attend at any time
you may specify, for | feel myself under Obli-
cations to do so, as well as to avail myself of
the kind privilege granted by your communica-
ton, for you could have gone on with this in
vestigation without any notice of the time to
me. You could have gone on without inform
ing me at all, and if you had found prina tacie
evidence to sustain the allegations have pre-
sehted articles of Impeachment. But you have
not taken such a course, and love the tribu-
nal that conducts its business according to the
rules of law and justice and correct principles,
and have no fear Of submitting my case to
such hands. 1t is alleged that have sat and
given judgment in cases in which was pecu-
niarily interested, and in which my judgment
or opinion would be swayed by selfinterest,
and that such judgments could not obtain that
respect to which judicial opinions are entitled
If, therefore, the committee desires at an
early day to 90 into the investigation, l am
ready and await its pleasure, and l will ac-
commodore my convenience to theirs. lift is
the intention to adjourn Congress then, if the
committee will fix their time, it will suit me
and will be ready and willing to proceed.
But in the meantime l hope the committee
will demand specific charges in respect to any
case or cases in which was interested as al
legged, so that the community may be appraised
of what they are, and that also may know
with what l am charged.
The chairman asked: Have you seen the
charges and specifications that were fileda and
the Judge replied: Not the official copy. 1
have seen the newspaper copy published in
the Capital of this city, which 1 presume was
correct.