The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-13
Serious Charges Against the
Spokane Populist Judge
THEY SAY HE'S An OPIUM F,eNus
That He Il Incompetent and Corrupt
and Has Defiled the Ermine.
That He Has Neglected. mis Dsties. aaa
Thss criminais Tried Before nlun
Always Go Free The Mease A.
Peints Csmmissss ss Iavsssseass.

Olympia. Feb. is.--Special.~ .~-ImpeacAs
Hens proceedings began in the house -
day against Judge Jesse Arthur Of tho
superior bench OF spokane aud stevens
counties by the .ntroductian ct resoiu-
tion By Tuli of spokane for the appoints
ment OF conaGIl,ee OF i've members "a
make investigation OF the charges rraay
to be preferred. The resolution created
sensation and precspiiased = warm Sls-
cusSion. but Was adopted and the uom-
mittes appointed. consisting OF Eddy of
Snohouash. chairman, Williams OF king
Minis OF chehalis and RAIDER and Wood
worth Of PieTve The resolution charged
Arthdr with grave otrenaes In vteaation
OF bis oath. asid that no had dlsgrare1
himself and mortified citizens Of hin dts~
tssct by his conducs. II gives the ccmnait.
tee power 20 send for persons and papers,
TO investigate the CHARGES and authority
to visit spoksne - take testimony.
Judge Arthur is.-s elected TO tho bench
two years ago by pernncratic-Popu
fusion, and 1t was expected that the
Popuilsts. who have twenty~three meu,~
bers In the house. would vigorously op-
pose the resolution. Such was not the
case. however ana all the opposition came
from Minis. the veteran Republican ment-
bey from chchalis. who moved to tabia
the resolution. He believed the time of
the house should not be taken up With
such an investigation. Tull urged tho
adoption of The resolution as dHi also
Mllroy. Williams and Cline. The latters
who Is the recognized Populist leader In
the house. said that charges of inpeach-
ment should always he investigated, no
matter what Official they were directed
at, without reference to his political pref-
erences. Minis motion was lost. and tho
resolution was then adopted. The coux~
mittee considered the charges this evens
Ing AMI decided TO leave for Spokane tos
morrow to investigate.
Briefly, the charges set forth that Ar>
thur has debauched and perverted the ada
ministration OF justice In many acts ID
gross misconduct. Neglect OF duty ansl
naifeasance, to wit: During the spring
or 1894 the grand jury of stevens county
was left for two or three weeks idle and
| without business. awaiting as required hy9
law Arfhur's presence TO discharge thet1us
thereby greatly increasing the cost a.
the county. That he has been guilty OE
repeated and protwcted absences frcrm
duty a. Judge OF Spokane county, thereby
increasing the burden OF his aasociake9
and retaniing justice That while III
charge Of the equity department OF the
Spokane county court during 1sa5 his ad..
minissrltion OF trusts and other Estates
created scandal md tisrepute and thers.
after, when presiding over the criminal
department. the length of the trials. the
attendant expense AMI the invar1abie ac-
~
administration Of justice In the criminal
department into general public contempts
Arthur's misconduct receives special sks
fention In section . OF charges as foilOwse
That he has been notoriousiy and iratit~
ually in an intoxicated condition, incis
dent 10 the use OF narcotics or etimulanta.
insomuch that he II commonly apoken %
as a morphine fiend. His judicial binn-
ders and careiessness while IN such con-
dition have repeatedly 5eopardixed tho
interests of the state. good Illustration
OF which Il taken from the case OF the
state w. Annie Lewis. Gully certified ba
the clerk of the superior court Abund-
ant proof can be furnished a. to thtq
| stupid. drunken. maudiin condition whllo
on the bench administering Justice to Tho
great disgust OF those forced to appear
before him. and 10 the greater shame %
| the common wealth. That the aforesaid
Jesse Arthur should be aEiJudged guilty.
either OF misdemeanor or ignorance and
| lncou1peteucy FOR his judicial action dur@
| ing me trial es the state w. Herman IL
| Chase. The Indications Of corruption or
| w1lfnl violation OF duty therein presented
| are intensified by the fact that he has
swept away the more charitable conssd~