National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-07-28
JUDGE HUMPHREYS.
1nvestiratius III. charges Made Against ]

Investigating the Charges Made Against Him,
The special committee of the House of Rep
| resentatiyes, Hon. VIM. W. Warren, chairmao,
having charge of the investigation of the
charges against Judge Humphreys met at
their rooms yesterday morning.
Mr., Return ]. Meigs, clerk of the court,
was sworn as to the indemnity of certain papers.
Nathaniel Wilson testified that he considered
Judge Humphreys unfit to hold his place; that
his rulings were not sound; that he on one &C.
cssion refused to sign bill of exceptions on a
case appealed from his judgment to superior
court. Mr.. Wilson said that Judge Hum
phres had never borrowed money from him,
| but that on one occasion asked him to raise
| him some from others, for which he would pay
| ten per cent. interest and give an order on his
salary.
| Wilson, on cross-examnation, denied that
he had con- pired with others to smirch Judge
| Humphreys.
| c. A. James, cashier of the Bank of Wash
inqton, said that Humphreys had borrowed
| $500 from the bank on a note dated June "a
! 1872, Endorsed by John S. Norris and Henry 8.
| Davis 1t was paid March IL, 1873; also, $500
| in April, 1873, Endorsed by Messrs. Hine and
Norris; also, $500 on October 6, 1874, Endorsed
| by H. s. Davis.
| UBIQUITOUS AND GANGRENED.
Cross examined: Did not know that Humph-
reys had given Davis an order on his salary as
collateral security, but that he knew Davis
| must have had sufficient security or he would
borrowed by Humphreys had been paid.
Judge Humphreys. And you charged me s
| per cent. INTEREST,"
A. Yes, sir.
Judge H. When the legal rate is only per
cent, unless by contract. Am the only one
I,,.lxD hnrro ral g.
A. Oh no, sir.
Judge H. The bank would not go on, would
it, If l wasa
A. No.
Judge II. Did Mussey ever borrow any money
from you!
A. don't remember.
Judge II. What is his reputation as to money
matters?
The Chairman. Well, Judge, what difference
will that make
Judge H. want to show that he is iniqui-
tous, and is gangrened from the sole of his foot
to the crown of his head.
A. B. Williams WAS sworn. He said that
he had been practicing law eight years. In his
judgment Humphreys is wholly unfit for his
position. Witness read several rulings made
by Humphreys on what he (witness) termed
the so-called safe burglary conspiracy, to show
that his utterances were incohefent.
VIM. Birney, sworn: Is a practicing attor-
ut1 utlbIC IuC " uIu Luluh
Humphreys has the judicial instinct or char
artcr of mind to be a judge; did not think he
was ignorant of law; thought he had delivered
in various cases good opinions. his manner to
the jury, witness and members of the bar is
somewhat unfortunate; did not think the
Judio has the capacity for extemporaneous
speaking on points of law; did not think that
the Judge was frequently intoxicated on the
bench;
HAD SEEN HIM DRINK WHEN ON THE BENCH.
Judge Humphreys. When!
A. SIN the summer of 1874" Had seen
him once in an intoxicated condition on the
benefit was quite recent; knew nothing of
his having sat in any case where he had
direct pecuniary interest in the suit. Knew
nothing of his havirg borrowed money from
members of the bar and failed to pay it back;
think that in several cases of my own his
conduct as judge has hindered justice; many
of the decisions rendered by the judge have
been the subject of much jest among members
of the bar
The Chairman. Any questions to ask the
witness, Judge!
A. No, except that will give him the benc-
fit Of a rumor that card, and that is that he
is an expectant to take my place when am
removed. Laughter.
The Witness. That is something new to
me. l do not think l am competent to be a
Judge, and certainly would decline the Office
If it was rendered me.
The committee adjourned until this morning.