Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-06-11
rnE JUDGE porKIN rRIAL.
Tho Hoard OF Managers Review the TestI-
mony In nm Address 60 the Public.


The board OF managers In the trial oI
Judge Theo BotI5in issued an address
to tnehpublic on June Ist, reviewing
the testimony presented by them before
the senate and condemning the verdict
arrived at by that body
The report charges the senate
with partisanship In the trial and with
Iextravagance In its manner Of proceed
ing. The eighteen senator's who voted
for conviction on the ninth and tenth
charges In the indictment are mention-
cd and complimented. The testimony
showing that Judge Botl1in was impli-
Gated in a scheme TO rob the city OF
| springfield OF S., 900 Is reproduced
| William Hackney attorney for Botl0in
who devoted three hours TO the abuse Of
the peoples party, Is referred TO in this
manner: I'VE venture the suggestion
that no other judicial tribunal in
Christendom Of any grade or degree
ever permitted so shameful an exhibit
tion OF vituperation and malignity as
witnessed in the high court OF impeach-
ment sitting "a the senate chamber of
the state Of ktnsss during the three or
four hours consumed by one Of the at
torneys for the respondent"
The case is reviewed in a general way
and this comment passed on the action
Of the senate in sustaining demurrer 10
the fourth, fifth and sixth articles:
''The senate also decided that II was
not an impeachable offense for district
Judge TO visit and Datronize all the
whisky joints in his district. There was
no joint too low for this Judge to visit,
no boot-legger too degraded to become
the intimate chum and daily companion
of this judge, and yet this high court OF
impeachment solemnly decided that
such acts did not constitute a misde-
meanor in Office.
In conclusion, the board, speaking OF
the respondents acquittal, says: Eel
low citizens, you may well ask how this
result was reached. We will endeavor
to explain. The senate is composed OF
forty members and under the constitu-
tion II requires the votes OF two-thirds
OF all the members elected voting in the
affirmative, to convict II was therefore
necessary for the board OF managers TO
secure twenty-seven votes 70 convict on
any article. One senator has resigned.
SO II the respondent could obtain and
hold the votes of thirteen senator's, no
conviction was possible. Only thirty
five senators were present when the vote
was taken and Of this number nine votes
for the respondent wonld prevent q CON
yiction. OF these nine votes he was as
sured at the outset by five noisy parti- I
sans who, oblivious of their oaths TO
faithfully and impartially try the case
and do Justice according TO the law and /
evidence, were ready to exhibit their /
intense partisan determination 10 acqnit |
Judge Botkin, regardless OF the law and |
evidence, and right royalty they stood /
and voted together To recruit and in
crease this partisan band became the /
daily and hourly task OF personal and /
political friends OF the respondent /
Senator'S, whose sense OF honor and (
justice compelled them 20 arrive at the /
determination TO vote for conviction /
We're bullied and threatened All sorts /
of influence, political and otherwise, /
was brought 10 bear TO acquit this cor /
rupt and oppressive drunken tyrant 4
and we'll did they succeed. But, be il I
said 10 the nonor Of the state, that not
all this there were yet
found in Israel eighteen righteous men
who could not be persuaded, bGlicd or
bribed TO violate their senatorial Oaths.
All honor to these upright men. The
votes OF these eighteen senators, ma-
lority OF the senators voting. and of
whom eighteen were republicans, justi
fed the course Of the house Of represen-
tatives In impcaching lndge Botkin.
the state failed 10 secure the
two-thirds vote necessary to "A legal con-
viction, yet the majority vote secured
was equal to IA moral conviction