The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-05-11
THURSDAY.
Following are the proceedings of
yesterdays session of the Legislatures:

yesterdays session of the legislature:
THE SENATE.
The court of impeachment met at
IN. with Lieutenant Governor Crane
in the chair.
Judge Bramlett, chief clerk of the
land Office, was the first witness call.
ed, The witness testified that he
heard Commissioner McGaughey tell
John McGaughey to prepare some
documents that member OF the house
of representatives wanted to use, and
afterwards son John came to him and
presented for his signature a map of
Liberty county certifying that the
lands marked in blue on said map
were isolated and detached. The
certificate was false and witness re-
fused to sign it.
j. W. Gillespie, who is employed in
the school land department. of the land
office: Witness testified that the land
commissioners general instructions
were not to sell to others than actual
settlers any land except isolated and
detached sections.
Cross.eXamination- Witness Is as
sistant corresponding clerk and his
business was to collect data for the
corresponding clerk to enable him to
answer letters
Mr.. Lightfoot read from respond
ent's answer as to the Liberty county
map and the way in which the certfi-
cate to the map was obtained.
Chief Clerk Bramlette testified that
rubber stamps were never used for
signing certificates of the chief clerk.
David Crockett, Waterman of the
land office testified there were certain
office hours when everybody was ex-
cluded. Knew N. s. Smith: knew
him before Nov 8, 1892. He was en-
ployed by Mr.. Daugherty of Dallas
He worked about the office since thai
, date. There was while he was adj
, mitted to the office by instructions o.
the commissioner. Commissioner told
: ME not to leave anyoAe in the Office
| was sometimes with him, not espec
tally watching him. There'was moth
, ing to keep him from looking at books
and papers not locked up. Smith haC
, no one with him.
, know one Williams who worked
: in the office; he told me he was copy
ing field notes. He wanted to remail
| after office hours to get up work TO-
> his county which was pressing. Thu
3 commissioner said Williams wa
{ working in my rooms and you cal
watch him, and laughed as he sait
it. He said he was copying tielt
t notes for some western county.
Cross examination-The file offic
was locked when Mr.Smith was copy
l ing records downstairs. L closed tn
t office when went to supper. Neve
3 heard of any complaints about tn
= records. Williams worked at q desl
+ in my room. He had no access afte
1 office hours. Williams always wen
= out before me or when left. / thinl
I Smith got through in December, ant
Williams think worked their ia Nc
v vemDer.-
s TO Representative Henderson
9 Smith worked there sometimes b.
2 lights when the evenings were DARK
0 Smith had access to other recor'
rooms. We never lost any records
but some draughting instruments from
- the office. They were lost during tn
: time Smith was there, and pawned.
8 To Lightfoot-I don't know tina
Smith or Williams took them.
4 To Henderson-They were the onl.
4 persons about that time having &C
: cess to the office.
Representative Henderson offere'
f in evidence part of the answer to re
, spondent as to the maps of Libert.
{ county, to which Chief Clerk Bran
3 lette refused to certify.
/ Judge Baylor testified as to the MAJ
l and certificate of Liberty county
/. There was some conversation about |
between Judge Bramlette and Mr.
l John McGaughey and myself
Q Colonel Walton for respondent
raised the point that this occurred
while the commissioner was not pres
8 ent.
{ Mr.. Henderson-We have proven
3 the respondents connection with tn,
3 matter.
t The evidence was ruled as admis
: sibe, and Judge Baylor testified as tt
3 the certificate first sho Sn and the on
. given instead. Witness suggested
} that the certificate might be changed
so Judge Bramlette could sign it.
] [ told John McGaughey that certifi
3 cate was not true, and if he wanted t.
, mean what was true it sould read no
adjacent TO other unappropriated pub
lie lands. The sections don't adjoir
f any public lands except school lands
[ dout know whether Judge Bran
1 Iette still declined to sign the certifi
3 cate after my suggestion was made.
| Judge Bramlette recalled - John
McGaughey took off the certificate.
To Walton-I declined to sign the
certificate because it looked like 8
false certificate. Mr.. John Nc.
Gaughey said the certificate was for q
mem Der of the legislature. l ha my
J doubts about it, even if changed as
, Judge Baylor suggested. School
lands are public lands.
To Henderson-Other lands were
known as unappropriated public do
J main.
Judge Bramlette-I wish to make
, one other statement. After instruc-