Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-01
The Charges Against Judge Conger.
ADDRESSING SUNDAY SCHOOL AND PLAYING POKER
TIE SANE

ADDRESSING SUNDAY SCHOOL AND PLAYING POKER
THE SAME DAY.
As stated In the first edition OF TIE STAR Mr. W.
A. Burleigh, formerly delegate in Congress from
Dakota, but now resident of Montana was before
Mr.. Springers committee to-day and examined In
relation to the Official Conduct Of Judge Conger
one OF the district judges Of Montana territory,
recently succeeded In Office by Judge Coburn, OF
indiana MI Burlais:h said Judge Conger had been
suspended last April by the President on account of
charges preferred by citizens, but he had
been relnstated within the past few months The
witness testified that Mr.. COnger was under the in
iuence of liquor so often that business suffered.
MI Burieigh had seen him 90 to sleep on the bench
While Important eases were being heard During
cases had been tried and the profession of law in
Mr.. CongerS district had been nearly r1lired Some
prisoners, he said had been In jail without being
tried for p months Ex-Chief Justice Shannon,
or Dakota, had examined the conduct OF
Judge Conger and reported to the Department
OF Justice in july but no successor was annointed
until the expiration Of L judge term a few weeks
since The people had been clamoring for new
Judge for more than a year. The delay In APP
asserted had cost the district from SIS 900 to s1O
COO, and had also cost the government LARGE sum
MI mr Longer 6ad been recently renstated, the wit
cases until his successor was appointed
\, Ex-Chief Justice shannon, who was also before
the committee said he had investigated the charges
against Judge Conger. The testimony from two
counties in Mr.. COngeis district had been in favor
OF him, while that from two other counties had
said, had been given Judge Conger that he might
clear himself. Judge Shannon testified In regard
to the charge OF gambling that he found that Mr.
Conger, While holding term Of court at Miles
City, had played poker for money one Sunday
afternoon. while during the morning of that same
day he had delivered an address before Sunday
school. On other occasions, the witness said he
found that Judge COnger played "stud Dokern and
faro for money, cigars and drinks of liquor.
In relation to the charge of having disreputable
associates, Judge shannon said Judge Conger had
been seen in Miles in June, 1882 at a dance
given by colored women Of bad repute. AS to
drunkenness, the witness testified that Judge
Conger had been seen On the bench On several &C.
caSionS when he was under the influence of
liquor, and unfit to be there. Grand Jurors as
jurors, on account OF his drunkenness had agreed
not to consult Mr.. COnger. During the war Judge
COnger had been wounded in the hip and suffered
great pain. He had used morphine, and afterwards
alcoholic StimulantS to secure relief from his SUI
ferings After the arrival Of Judge Conger'S family
In the territory, nearly three years after his ap-
polntment as Judge, Chief Justice Shannon
said there was a change in his conduct Mr..
COnger had fallen into bad company, and Judge
Shannon attributed his downfall to one companion
named Cox. sit was an evil day" said the wit
ness, "when COnger fell In with that companion "
The report OF the witness on the investigation
had been forwarded to the Department of Justice
In July, but he could not tell what had been the
action OF the Attorney General. He had under
stood that Judge COnger had been renstated within
the past three weeks, and few days since he had
heard that Gen. Coburn, OF Indiana, had been APP
pointed to the position.