The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-13
JUDGE SACHS CASE.
Legislative Committee Makes a
Strong Report.
CHARGES HELD TO BE TRUE.
impeachment or Removal Seems to BE
the Sentiment OF Majority
Of the Investigators.


OLYMPIA, Feb. 12.--[Special. 1.-The Sachs
Investigating committee fully satisfied an
ficipations when It presented to the House
this morning the following report:
To The Honorable the House Of Representatives Of
thc STATE Of Washington.
The committee appointed by your honorable
body to investigate certain charges against Nor
ris B. Sachs, Judge of the superior court for
the counties OF Jefferson, Island, kitsap, San
10 report To your honorable body recommends
lions relating thereto, beg leave to report as FOL
lows:
Your committee convened in the city of Port
Townsend, in the county OF jefferson, on the
morning of Monday, February 2, 1891, ana there
for period of two days heard testimony OF wit
ncsscs IN regard TO said charges, and had sum-
moned before 1t such witnesses at the eugges-
tions of the persons preferring the charges, and
at the further suggestion of Judge Sachs and his
counsel and such further witnesses as seemed
upon said examination advisable to the COM
mittee. The number of said witnesses examined
wasin all twenty-six. Your committee further
examined and considered various records of the
superior court of said county of jefferson: and
having fully examined into the charges against
said Morris B. Sachs as aforesaid, your commit
tee beg leave TO report as follows:
!. That the said Morris b. Sachs, being Judge
OF the superior court for the counties of Jeffer-
son, Island, Kitsap. san Juan aud clallam, in
the state of Washington, unnindfui of his oath
OF Office and Of the constitution and laws of the
state OF Washington, at the city of Port Town
send, in the county of jefferson, in said state,
to,wit; On the - day OF September, A. d;
1890, dd engage In game of faro, then and
there being played for money and for checks,
the representatives of value, which said game
was then and there in the said county Of JEFF
terson, state OF Washington, being publicly dealt
and carried on In saloon known the IRE
ception, BY person or persons whose names
are unknown to the committee, which said con-
duct disqualified the said Morris B. Sachs from
discharging the duties of his said Office faith
fully and impartially, and according to his best
learning and Judgment and discretion, to the
great Disgrace of the administration OF public
justice, and to the evil example of persons in
Office, by reason whereof the said Morris b.
Sachs was then and there guilty of nisbehavior.
malfeasance and delinquency III Office.
lin exactly the same language sections l, 2, 3,
aud charge sachs with ssmisbchavior, NAL
feasance and delinquency in Office" in partici-
pating in faro games as follows: On December
., 1880, IN Townsend saloon" on December 10,
1900, in the .'Reception;" on December Is IN the
Townsend ON December :, Sunday in the
s. That the said Norris B. Sachs, being a Judge
of the superior court for the counties OF Jeffer-
son, Island, kitsap San Juan and Clallam, I'M
nifty and proprie.ies of his said Office, and in
violation of his oath OF Office and in violation of
the laws OF ashington, since the - day of No
yember, A. ID. 1850, at sundry places in the state
of Washington and within the counties OF Jeffer-
son and ClallaIn, did demean himself in an i'm
moral and disgraceful manner in this, that he,
the said Morris b. s6chs, did then and there FREE
quent public gambling houses where the game
Of faro ana other gambling games were played
publicly Tor money and checks, the representa-
fives OF value, and did then and there at times
take part in managing said games, and did then
and there consort with common gamblers,
whereby. he, the said Morris b. Sachs has
brought himself and his high Office into disre-
pute, to the manifest injury of the morals OF the
youth and good citizens OF the state OF Washing
ton, and disgrace of the administration of JUS
tlce, ana Is thereby guilty OF misbehavior, mis-
demeanors, malfeasance and delinquency in
Office
!. That the said Morris B. Sachs did on
county of Jefferson . at sale upon an
execution issued out of his said court, of the
county of jefferson, in the case of William
was made by the sheriff of said Jefferson county
on the - day of September, 1890, purchase at
said sherif's sale $500 worth of merchandise,
which said merchandise said Morris b. sachs
bid of at said time, but gave his note for the
same, and did importune said sheriff to accept
said notes In payment OF said merchandise, In
violation OF the laws of the state OF Washington,
whereby be- the said Morris b. Sachs, both by
purchasing at said sale and upon judgment
rendered by said judge, has brought himself
fest injury of the best citizens of the state and
disgrace to the administration of justice, and is
thereby guilty of misbehayior, malfeasance and
misdemeanor In office
s. That Morris b. Sachs Il did on
the - day of September, A. d. $780, in the case
OF the First National bank of Port Townsend
VS.. Jago q Niblock, partners in trade, enter a
Judgment in SAID case in favor of the First
National bank of Port Townsend upon prornis-
sorry note given by the said firm of Jago & Nib
lock TO one Henry Landes, assigned in blank 10
the First National bank of Port Townsend, for
large sum of money, to wit, the sum of =,
and he, the said Morris b. Sachs, then and there
being related To said Henry Iandes in the sec
ond degree, by consapguinity, and he, the said
Henry Iandes, also being president, director
and stakeholder OF said First National bank of
Port Townsend; and,
WHEREAS, the practice relating to impeach,
ments and removals from Office under the con-
stitutfon OF the state of Washington has not vet
been settled, your committee respectfully rec
l. That the judiciary committee of this house
be directed to investigate and report to the
House the legal and correct method of procedure
TO impeach and remove Morris b. Sachs, Judge
Is aforesaid and that said judiciary
committee report to the House fully a method
and manner of proceeding upon the facts found
sfd stated hereinbetore, as may seem to the said
committee proper and appropriate TO said facts.
? That said committee, should said com
mittee find said facts sufficient in law TO war
rant proceedings to impeach said Norris B.
Sachs or to remove him from Office. report 10
this House articles of Impeachment or method
Of procedure 10 remove tie said Morris sachs
from office. aud to deal with him as NAV To said
committee seem meet and proper under the law
and facts SO found.
The report was accepted and the iudici-
AIRY committee so instructed
The report was unanimous.
The Judiciary committee of the House
tonight considered the Sachs investigating
committees report. The first question
voted upon was whether or not the facts
found by the special committee are suffici-
emit TO remove Sachs from Office. The
unanimous sense of the committee was
that they are. The question was then con-
sidered whether or not he should be re-
moved by Impeachment before the Senate
under section of the impeachment ar
ncie IN the constitution, or under section
oil article of the constitution, which
provides for removal by Joint resolution.
The sense of the committee was that he
should be impeached if the law warrants
impeachment. The committee agreed to
take the question under adyisement as 70
whether or not the facts stated constituted
nigh crime. misdemeanor or malfeasance
In office. III the committee comes to the
conclusion that they do the articles of inn
psachment viii be reported back TO the
House on Tuesday. If. upon the contrary.
the committee believes that the words,
hlgh CRIME, mlsdemeanors or maifeasance
IN office are not sufficiently broad TO cover
The facts found by the special committee,
the judiciary committee will report back
loint resolution and charges against Judge
sachs, with u recommendation that the
same pass, together with rule
upon Judge Sachs, requiring him to
show cause why he should not be
removed from Office upon the charges
tpeciaed, a copy of which will he served
hpon him with the rule at a certain day
recommended by the committee. 1t was
s.greed 10 invite! counsel for and against
lndge Sachs 20 appear before il at 4
o'clock on Monday afternoon, TO argue the
pointf as 10 whether the facts found by the
committee will warrant impeachment pro-
seedlings. The sentiment of the legisla-
Tors Is unquestionally strongly against