New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-14
TIE RECORD OF GEORGE ". SMITH.
CAREER OF A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.

REMOVED FOR FELONY FROM THE OFFICE OF
COUNTY JUDGE-Now NOMINATED FOR CON
GREss.
LITTLE FALLS, Oct. 1O.-The nomination by
the DemOcr OF George ". smith, OF this county, Tor
Congressman from the XXIvth District causes sur
prise II not believed that he Will be able TO carry any
one OF the com posing the MISUNDERSTANDING
Otsego and aerkimer. The district Democratic
majority years ago. Mr. Smith has such record
that II is not thought possible for him TO get
the full Democratic vote. That record Is open TO
every ones examination In the journals OF tho
Legislature. When County Judge or oneida
County In 1866 he eached by the state Sen te
charges and after a careful trial removed
from office Governor Fent8n on February ii. 1885,
'ent special message to tho Legislature incloslng the
charges Judge smith These changes were pre-
ferred by Peter b. Craadal, provost marshal OF the
XXIst Congressional District Tbs nature of Crandals
charges against Judge Sn'rn bs seen by rea ling
few OF them below, transcribed from the Senaes
Journal for 1856:
l. That he lent him self and his official influence to
bounty brokers' assisting them In their schemes to de-
2, That he has tamp,red with the officers of the gem
eral Government. Offering them brides as reward for
3. That "a ju I've he has released upon worthless bail
prisoners l upon erin ina charges; procuring them
to be OF the United statesupon
ne undrrstnndng that he shond retain their bounty
for his benrnt.
That he has exrrcscd hts official powers in the
plntment Of commissioners for his personal Doh
s. That he has sold the Office OF prosecuting attorney
OF the excise commissioners for the sun oil @DOo
q. That, being ii County judge 10 decile
npon claims for exemption from draft, he mas hlmset
prepared the such claim MIS- receiving ices
and then examining aud deciding a. hdge upou
| the papers IA prepared by himself rs attorney.
The Senate judiciary Committee. which had as Its
chairman Charles J. Folger. determined to made
thorough investigation OF the charges special session
Of the Senate cael try the judge The trial be-
gan on June II, 1866. Judge smith was Defended by
such counsel a. Henry Smith AMI Ira Shafer.
large of testimony taken and then the sen-
ate ljourned until January. In tho nranwhile the
senators read tho testimony with great care In jan
the Senators heard the argument OF counsel and
then judgment upon the truth OF the charges
and whether JUICE smith deserved removal
The judiciary Committee ha put Grand ts charges in
slightly different aud more coherent form The first
il t,ted below
l. That said ". Smith. being such judge as
and bang author by the laws OF the state
Of New York o ierld- dpon the claims OF ciuz'ns OF
said cnunty to eXempflO from service III the militia o
tornry for applicants for sIch exemption
the nrcrssary papers To secure such exemption ana al
receive pay therefor as snch attorney anu c"uls.,
knowing that he several cases so prepared were 10 como
iftrrward passing upon and deci ling the SANE IN
Ms in 'lclll capaclty TINS Wa fonr ~ ull"ren.
Imcs and dates urng the years 1867 1868 ana 1904
At the cry Of Utica said Comfy of Oneida the pre-
else dates and names b ing unknown.
Five Of the Senator'S voted that these charges were
not proven hut twenty Senators voted they
that three OF them not proven AMI that four OF
them On the question OF removing Judge Smith
OF voted in the neg tive and twenty
Senators the affirmative. Senator Gibson who voted
III the Affirmative sad:
My reasons why George w. Smith, the respondent,
removed from the office OF County Judge or
Comfy OF Oneida that from the evidence ! am
satisfied that guilty OF exortiOn Ia taxing Iee
"A rendered by him while county Judge. the
being nected with official act when no ee
for service allowed by law rhts II forbidden
The q be determined by the SEN
ate IL SUBSTANTIALLY whether 10 shall be allndgrh
precedent that our Judges may be gullty
Of indIctnbe of"nc~s subjectng them to trial anu
imprisonment I'm the County jail and yet proceed ana
administer justice ihem Gives; whether Judge can Oe
guy al OF the rights OF his client
adui the rights OF others whether ne can
cOnspirc the evidence OF guilt aud yet Try
he whether be the go-hrtween or Grim
mails the before and after the fact TO nir
r,n,es allowed to mold aud retain nj once
or ind ye Would people ne likely To believe that the
laws were fairly and fathfuv ADMINISTERED where the
Judge portion or hts time In the exerclse
OF rKtortinn In brlween two bounty break
ing thieves IN MI the OF the Union with the
scum EARTH" enabling deserters to escape
from the mill airy service
Judge Smith lefs Oneida County and went 70 Herkmer
County, where he has since bal law Office. Now the
Democratic politicians OF the district think he had better
be sent To Congress TO act upon the pension laws.