Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-21
THE COMING TRIAL,
MEETING OF THE SENATE As A HIGH
OLD IMPEACHMENT COURT.

MEETING OFTHE SENATE As HIGH |
OLD IMPEACHMENT COURT.
The Trial of Judge Page, Which is to Begin |
observation-disclosures ofthe Inception and |
PROGRESS Of this Case Up to the Present
Time-Interview With One of Judge
Pages Attorneys
The approaching impeachment trial of Judge
Sherman Page, of Mower county, is beginning
to excite good deal of interest in political and
judicial circles, and already quite number of
the State Senators have arrived in the city, and
are CHARTERED at the several hotels. The long
and bitter factional fight within tho ranks of
the Republican party of Mower county, which
finally eliminated in the inauguration of these
proceedings, and the various important events
in their development, have already been given
the fullest publicity to time and again, and do
not now need to be repeated in detail A brief re-
sumo, however, of the proceedings before the
Legislature and the action had by the two
Houses, will undoubtedly be of general interest,"
and the GLOBE therefore gives its readers this
morning carefully prepared digest from the
records.
BEGINNING PROCEEDINGS.
At the session of the House Jan. %, there
were presented largely signed petitions of citi-
zens of Mower county, praying for the impeach-
ment of Judge Page for malfeasance in his
Office of Judge Of the 10th judicial district,
the charges accompanying the petitions con-
tanning twenty distinct counts The petitions
were received, and the charges, on motion of
Mr.. Sanborr, of Mower, were referred to the
judiciary committee, with instructions to ex-
anime and report as to the truth or falsity of
the same, said committee to have power to
send for persons and papers, and to examine
witnesses under OATH The judiciary commit
tee, to which the matter was referred, was com
Campbell, chairman; ". Il. Mead, Sumner
Laid, j. P. West, H. G. Hicks, VIM. Colvill
and Edmund Rice.
Jan. 81 number of petitions were presented
in the House from citizens Of Mower and Free
born counties, testifying as to Judge Pages
official integrity, and protesting against the
proceedings inaugurated as inspired by hatred
and malice. On the same day the House by
resolution authorized the committee to employ
stenographer.
February 1st the committee commenced ex-
animation into the charges, the sessions being
secret except that the petitioners and Judge
Page were allowed the attendance of counsel to
examine witnesses, Judge Page himself con-
Quoting his own much of the time, j. A.
Lovely and E. N. Stacey of Albert Lea, also
being in attendance in his behalf and Hon.
VIM. P. Clough for the petitioners.
The examination was conducted with great
vigor by the committee, long sessions being
held almost daily, and often two and some
times three sessions day, until the 18th of
February, in which time some forty witnesses
had been examined on each side.
DECIDING TO 1MpEAcH.
On the night Of Monday, the 18th Of Febru-
airy, the committee after having thoroughly
analysed the testimony brought OUT exclu-
sively published in the GLOBE of the following
morning, decided to recommend the impeach-
ment of Judge Page, relying mainly in these
proceedings upon the twelfth and fifteenth
counts in the charges preferred. Those voting
for impeachment were Messrs. Campbell, Mead,
West, Colvill and Kinds, and against impeach-
ment, Mr.. Ladd, the remaining member of the
committee, Mr.. Hicks not being then prepared
to take either horn of the proposition.
The next day the committee held three ses-
sions, in the morning, afternoon and evening,
to perfect their findings, and decide upon the
finally decided that accompanying the pre-
sentation of the findings, the chairman of the
committee should offer a resolution for the i'm
parchment of Judge Page. The report as
agreed upon and signed at the late night SEES
sion of that day, and as subsequently presented
xcriatim, the findings being briefly as follows
The first three being merely preparatory matter
were not considered in the report. The fourth
charge, referring to the suit for libel brought
by Page against Davidson & Bassford of the
Austin RegiSter, and the committee found that
while it might be true there was no cause for
ccnsure.
AS to the fifth, referring to Pages libel suit
against D. 8. B. Mollison, the committee found
that he was not justified in holding Mollison
from term to term of court.
The sixth and seventh charges were dis
missed.
The eighth referred to Pages appearance be-
fore the county board to prevent the allowance
of claims, which the committee decided to be q
gross improperly.
The ninth, charging Page with sitting on the
bench in a case in which he was personally in.
terested, was found to be true.
The tenth, relating to the dismissal of
turnkey by Page and refusing him pay for thu
time served, was found to be substantially
true, except as to motives, which the commit
tee decided not apparent.
The eleventh, charging Page with refusal tc
make an order to pay NJ. T. Vaudeville as
court deputy, was sustained.
The twelfth and leading count, which charged
Page with acting arbitrarily, and in exceeding
his judicial powers in procuring the indictment
OF Treasurer Ingmundson, was sustained.
The thirteenth and fourteenth were passec
over by the committee.
:. The fifteenth, charging Page with the ma
licious prosecution of D. H. Stimson, deput,
sheriff, for interesting himself in the circula
ton of petitions criticising his. Pages, officla
conduct, and demanding that he, Page resign
his office of Judge, and for arbitrary conduct
generally in connection with such petition, was
sustained.
The other counts in the charges were passed
over.
At the morning session of the House, the
Fol UInfr 6ov ho %lo
sented two reports, the majority, signed by al
the members: and sustaining the findings al
above and the minority, signed by Messrs
Ladd Colvill and Hicks taking the groune
that the delinquencies proven were rather er
rors OF Judgment, rather than wilful prosecu
ton of his Office and as liable to occur in Grim
inal as in civil administration of law.
After the reports had been read, Mr. s. L
Campbell offered the resolution agreed upon b,
the committee that Judge Page be impeache,
for corrupt conduct in Office and crimes an,
misdemeanors, which was agreed to and it
consideration made the special order for Frida
the 22d.
MIR. Purdie followed with resolution tina
the evidence be printed, and that no DISPOSE
tion be made of the report until the evidenc
is so printed and laid before the members fo
their examination. This resolution, after de
bate was defeated, and there the matte
stopped for the day.
On Friday the 22d, the House resolved int
secret session for the consideration of the re
port, having three sessions, the proceedings o
which were fully reported in the GLOBE of tn
next day. Saturday was REPETITION of Fri
dry: Monday the House gave the troublesome
subject the go-by. Tuesday evening the mat
ter was again taken up, and "Wednesday tn
18TH long afternoon and evening session wa
held vote being reached at midnight, an,
impeachment being ordered by the decisiy
vote of II to 81 as follows:
YEAS.
Alfred, Fulton, Peterson.