Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-28
IMPEACHED!!
Page To Be Tried.
Long House Debate
Vote at Midnight !!
II to 80 The Result!
Interview With Page
Ready for Trial Now +!
Il to 80 The Result!
Interview With Page
Ready for Trial Now {!

lUOCUuJ lVl IlINI 4,VV
So for as the House is concerned the crisis
has been reached in the matter of the
charges against Judge Sherman Page of the
Tenth Judicial District. After nearly six
weeks consideration by the committee and
House combined, a vote was reached at mid
night last night and impeachment was or
dered by the decisive ballot of II to 30. The
report below gives the House proceedings
yesterday on this subject and also brief in
terview with Judge Page at an early hour
this morning. He expresses himself ready
for immediate trial.
The Proceedings.
1t being $3.50 o'clock, half an hour. after
the time for the special order, Mr.. Christensen
moved that when the House proceed to the con-
sideration of the Page impeachment, it be with
open doors.
Mr.. Fiddes gave notice of debate.
Mr.. Bowler moved to suspend the rules.
Mr.. Muir opposed the motion. They had
started out to keep the testimony secret, and
he saw no reason for breaking the rule:
Mr.. W. NJ Campbell moved to lay the whole
matter on the table. Carried.
Mr.. Edison moved that debate be limited to
fifteen minutes, and that no one be allowed to
speak more than once.
Mr.. Purdie said there were some present who
didn't want to have any remarks, and these
were the same who didn't want to hear any
testimony. He was opposed to any gag law
any cutting off of debate.
Mr. Kinds favored allowing any one who
wished to speak to have all the time he wanted.
Mr.. w. NJ Campbell moved to amend by
allowing the members of the judiciary COM
mittee what time they wanted and giving the
members ten minutes each not more than
once.
Mr.. Purdie said that didn't help the case.
There were members who didn't belong to any
committee, who wanted to speak, and these
were the very ones he wanted to have that
privilege.
Mr.. Bowler moved to lay the motion the
table, Lost.
After some further wrangling Mr.. Camp
bells motion was adopted, and Mr.. Ladd pro-
ceeded to finish his remarks begun last
evening He said he might have made
some exaggerated statements last evening, but
if so they had been made in the heat of debate.
Mr.. Ladd then entered upon review of certain
portions of the testimony dwelling at consid-
cradle length and with great minuteuess of de-
tail, upon the charge and conduct Of Judge
Page to the grand jury. In conclusion he said
he did not think Judge Page a perfect man.
He admitted Page had done things he ought
not to have done, but he still did not believe
he had done anything to warrant impeach.
ment
Mr.. Mead addressed himself more particular.
ly to the last two charges, the testimony o1
which had not been read to the House. HI
then related two conversations between Page
and Sheriff Hall, in reference to the appoint
ment of Stimson deputy, in which Pag,
sought first to dissuade him from making tn,
appointment, and subsequently asked Hall i
he dared to appoint that deputy? Thes
feelings of bitterness had actuated Page in hi
subsequent treatment of Stimson, under tn
pretense that he had taken illegal fees. Wa
such man fit for Judge? Two months afte
court had adjourned Page had Stimson arreste
for contempt in circulating petitions askin
him to resign, and that too without warrant
and after keeping him under bonds for twent
days, had discharged him without having bee
able to find any thing on which to hold him
He said the committee had made the repol
mild and toned it down by degrees in orde
that it might be signed by all. The powers {
judge were practically unlimited. No civ
criminal action be sustained agains
him. He then read a list of causes for whic
men had been impeached and removed frol
Office. Page had not regarded his oath of offit
and had abused his high prerogatives. juds
has no right to abuse the discretionary power
his office, and in his conduct towards that your
man stimson, the deputy sheriff, he ha
certainly violated his oath of Office, and prove
All right minded men would see tn
enough had been brought to lg
to show there was probable cause for actio
Mr. Rice said the evidence satisfied him tn
Judge Page, who should have been conserv
tor of the peace in virtue of his high Office, h
stirred up strife, fear, terror, hatred and ma
ice; that his acts have been acts of terroris
and bullyism and that although he has judici
learning BETTING his Office and is not CORFU
in pecuniary sense he is by temperament u
for he off; md fhath
to crimes and misdcmeanors and corruption
Office, and that his conduct has been mo
prejudicial to the peace and good order of s
ciety than if he were incompetent and pee
niarily dishonest, and therefore he should
impeached.
Mr.. Teller moved that all who desired
speak should do so now, and that the charm
of the judiciary committee shall have t
privilege of closing the debate, after which
further debate should be allowed.
Mr.. Ladd said in criminal prosecutions t
defense had the right to the close
Mr.. West asked who was the defense he
Laughter.
Mr.. Ladd retorted by asking who was t
prosecution.
Mr.. Bowler opposed the resolution. He d
not believe any one should be choked off, b
that all should have the right to speak who
sired SO to do.
Mr.. Teller denied the imputation of wishi
to choke off anybody and to test the sense
resolution, which was ordered.
Mr.. Hicks said the question was one of
highest importance. The House had had p
sented to it a series of
mitt s0' had reported the ia
as found by them. In entering upon the
vestigation, he had done SO without bias.
ther of the twenty charges were sufficient
send the case to the Senate. He then took
the charges seriatim, and noted the action
no tfeat haroOn When he ron ha1
fourth specification, relating to the Davidson
Bassford libel case, he spoke Of the malign
Of the prosecutors and instanced their spe
ing of the Judge Of the 10th judicial distric
said Page" This feeling towards Judge P
cropped out in every line of the petition.
did not believe Judge Page was actuated
malice in his official conduct. The worst
dence against Judge Page was that of Lafay
French, and it was conceded by all that the