The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-09
CONCLUSION OF TIE BENNETT
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL. -

oSoSh, Nhen tno Aiosiuohs eHN
that at 1I:29 the Senate sitting as
Court of impeachment would commence
to vote upon the articles. There was
large crowd of spectators gathered in the
lobby, and good deal of speculation had
been INDUCED in as to the probable
result.
The same formal solemn proceedings
was gone through with as in the BUR
pETT case. The vote was taken on arti-
Gle first. This article charges the
Auditor with perjury and malfeasance
in failing to make certain semi
annual reports of fees, as required
by law. The vote stood as follows:
GU1LTY-Berkshire, Bishop, Cunning
ham, Grantham, johnson, Looms, Scott,
Sherrard-8.
Nor GUILTY-Arhett, Bennett, Bur
dett, Caldwell, Camden, Clayton, Dennis,
Dickinson, Eastman, Ferrell, Gof, Gus.
ton, Mcdonald, McGinnis, Price, Shell
tonic.
On article 2, which charges embezzle-
lnent of certain insurance fees the vote
stood:
GUILTY-Berkshire, Bishop, Clayton,
Loomis-4.
Nor GUlLTY-Arnett, Bennett, Bar.
dett, Caldwell, Camden, Cunningham,
Dennis, Dickinson, Eastman, Ferrell,
Grantham. Goff, Gnston. johnson, Nc.
Donald, MeGinnis, Price, Scott, Shelton,
Sherrard-D.
On Article 3, which charges corrup-
ton in receiving 5000 for deposit of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad check in
the Merchants Bank at Charleston stood
GUILTY-Bennett, Berkshire, Bishop,
Caldwell, Camden, Clayton, Cunning
ham, Dennis, Dickinson, Grantham,
johnson, Loomis, Mcdonnell, Scott,
Sherrard-l5.
Nor GUILrY-Arnett, Burdett, East
ham, Ferrell, Gotf, Custom, McGinnis,
Price. Shelton-9.
Less than too thirds having voted,
guilty" the respondent was acquitted.
The vote on article 4, charging extor-
ton in collecting certain fees, stood:
GU1LTY-Johnson and Sherrard-2.
Nor GUILrY-Arnett, Bennett, Berk,
shire, Bishop, Burdett, Caldwell, Cam
den, Clayton, Cunningham, Dennis
Dickinson, Eastman, Terrell, Grantham
Golf, Custom, Loomis, Mcdonald, Nc
ginnis, Price, Scott, Shelton-22.
At this point the Managers announced
that they abandoned the prosecution o
articles and 8, and asked to have pro
ceedlngs as to them dismissed, which wa
accordingly done.
The vote was then taken on article 4
which charged the Auditor as Secretar.
of the School Fund with improperl.
drawing 81, 100 from the First Nationa
Bank of Wheeling, ard stood as follows
GUILTI-None.
Nor GUILTY-All the Senators-24
The vote on article {, which charge
an improper proposition made to IsAA'
n. SMITH, President of the First Ma
tional Bank at Charleston, stood;
GUILTY-Berkshire, Bishop, Cald-
well, Camden, Clayton, Dennis. Dickin-
, son. Grantham, johnson, Loomis Scott
| Sherrard-l2.
Nor GUuTY-Arnett, Bennett, Bur
dctt, Cunningham, Eastman, Terrell
Cot, Custom, Mcdonald, McGinnis
| Price. Shelton-l2.
Judge RAYMOND announced thai
the Senate having concluded the vote OF
the articles of impeachment, and the
the respondent having been acquitted o
the charges, stood discharged. The court
then took recess until 4 o'clock, II
order to give the clerk time to make ur
his journal.
Thus has ended the last of these i'm
peachment proceedings, which begun
nearly one year ago at Charleston, one o
the accused having been convicted and
the other acquitted. The large vote fol
acquittal on the majority of the articles
indicates tina: the Court thought tina
there was but little in them. The close
vote on article is an indication that
while the respondent stands acquitted
the seal of condemnation was Intended t
be placed on the practice Of an otlica
compromising the dignity ofhis office by
going beyond his plain duty as laiC
down in the laws and Consultation, anC
will probably have the salutary effect o
preventing repetition in the future.
The vote on article would indicate
that the Senate concurred with the At
tornev- General IN his construction of the
insurance laws. This trial as well as the
| one of Mr.. Burdett was conducted i'm
partially and the judgment of the Court
must be received as conclusive.
1t will be a relief to the people Of
the State to know that these proceeding
are at an end, for they were proving
quite expensive TO the tax payers But
1t was proper to take time to fully and
thoroughly investigate these matters in
order that no injustice might be done
either to the parties accused or to the
State