River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-05-30
IMPEACHMENTs

ST. Paul, Wednesday Nav %. AT noon
to-day the State Senate, sitting as high court
of impeachment for the trial of Judge Sher-
man Page, of tina Tenth Judicial district was
called TO ORDER by Lieut.. GOV. WaKeneid;
Nearly all the members responded to the roll
call. OF the managers on the part OF the House
there were present Speaker Gilman, and
Messrs. Campbell, Mead aad West. The coun-
sci for Judge Page, Messrs. Davis, Lovely, aud
Losey, were also present. Mr.. Davis presented
protest gainst Senator Clough, of Mower
county, being allowed 10 sit In the court on the
ground that he had formed and Expressed an
opinion; that he was one OF the grand jury
mentioned in the articles of impeachment;
because he was elected under pledges TO vote
for conviction; because OF personal bias;
one Of the witnesses. The court then nd
journed for the day.
THURSDAY, May 23.--The court of i'm
parchment was called to order at 10 o'clock
and after a little preliminary business of no
special interest Mr.. Davis proceeded to argue
againstth admission Of Senator Clough. He
| was ans wered by Mr.. Campbell on benalf of
| the managers, and after short secret session
the court decided that it would not receive
| the protest. The counsel for Judge Page then
| raised the question of jurisdiction, on the
| ground that the articles of impeachment in
| the House had been adopted by lffa poce
| vote, and that There was no evidence that they
were properly before the Senate. After argu-
ment. this point was oyerruled, ant the court
| adjourned.
FRIDAY, May 24-Thc court being
| opened, manager Capmbell proceeded TO open
the case tor the prosecution. He spoke of
| the law In cases of impeachment, and then
took up the specifications in the articles
against Judge Page, reading each one, with
the answer, and commenting on them seridtina.
| The per diem of witnesses was fixed in secret
session at $3.50 per day and mileage foni
cents. The court unanimously resolved,
"that while this body recognizes the right of
| the newspapers to publish all of the proceed
| ings in full, it disclaiIns the propriety and
right of the press to comment upon its pro.
ceedings and upon the parties to the eontra-
versy as being prejudlcial to the course of
Justice"
| SATURDAY, May 25.-The court adopt
ed resolution ordering that only witnesses
who are examined for the prosecution or de-
| Tense, whose testimony is material to the
issues shall be paid fees and expenses. Ex-
| Governor Davis made motion to quash the
| tenth article of impeachment, and proceeded
to argue that this charge was indefinite, inn
proper, and its introduction in violation Of all
/ legal rules, and contrary to precedent. Man.
ager Mead replied to Mr.. Davis arguing that
| the Senate had power to authorize the man.
| ayers to amend the charges. He claimed that
| the counsel for the defensa misconstrued the
! character Of the article. He argued that if
| all other charges TAIL the tenth article alone
| will sustain the charges. The senate went in
| to secret session to consult upon the matter,
but without coming to a conclusion. Upon
| opening the doors the President announced
that they would take the matter under advise
ment until Monday and shortly after adjourn
ed till Monday at $50 O'Clock,
MONDAY, May 2s.-There was no quor-
um at the Morning session, and after waiting
for an hour for absentees to arrive, the court
adjourned till o'clock, when nearly full
Senate was present. ID s. b. Mollison of
Austin was called by the managers, and tes-
titled to the facts. connected with the indict-
ments for libel brought against him by Judge
Page, and which constitute the basis for the
first article. He claimed that his bail had been
fixed at an excessive amount, and there had
been great delay in bringing him to trial al
though he frequently demanded trial, On
the cross examination he acknowledged that
| he had never been ready for trial. Mr.. II.
Davidson, of the Austin Register, testified as to
| the publication of the libelous article and its
retraction, during which there was good OF
| sparring between counsels as to the admissi-
| bility of certain evidence. Mr.. Davidson ac-
knowledged on the cross examinat on that his
firm had paid $3.50 towards paying the ex-
| penses of the prosecution.