Omaha daily bee., 1895-03-31
STIRRED UP A,n0RNET NEST
New York Judiciary Investigation Rivals
the Police Inquiry for sensationalism.
RECORDER eoFf ON taE3wITNtss STAND
Judge Cowlng Disputes Some Assertions
Made by Him.-Captaih Curry, "a Court
Emp:oyc, Fiaty contradicts
tho RECORDER.

bill began work today. All of the Judges
Of general sessions had been summoned as
witnesses, but it was said that the illness of
judge MARITIME would prevent him from ap-
pearing and testifying.
Recorder Goff told the committee OF the
neglect of duty on the part of the court
attaches, which, to his mind, constituted a
reason why there should be reorganization
There are men in this room today" said
tho recorder who are on the payroll as
court officers, but who have not rendered
to the state dollars worth Of services. One
Of them is Patrick Daily. He sits there
He is the head porter in
thu Manhattan Beach hotel and
his time is devoted to that work. An
other-Mr. Mcclure over there-has entirely
too much outside business to be court at
tendant. 1 believe Chief Clerk John f. Car
rol should be supplanted by man Of DIFF
ferent type. He is a very active politician
and I believe that civil service rules should
hold in this matter. I believe that II efl-
cheney and length of service were properly
rewarded Mr.. Edward Hall, one of the
deputy clerks who has served for twenty
years, would be chief clerk
The recorder then told how he had tried
to get the other judges to let him remove
Mr.. Carol and appoint some one in his place
but had found them united in their opposi-
ton.
Judge Cowing knows" started the re-
corder-"Hold on said Judge Cowing.
don't use my name"
Judge Cowing knows that he made re-
movals to make room for Tammany hall
men,"
JUDGE CowING DISPUTES GoFF.
That is false" cried Judge Cowing. at
Is false and he knows it."
hn a.,
Captain Curry of the court attendants who
was republican and Joined Tammany hall
when Judge Cowing appointed him."
That is not so" cried Captain Curry, who
was standing near the witness chair. "It Is
not so,' and the captain raised his finger
warningly at the recorder. There was a
burst Of applause at Cury's words and the
recorder flushed scarlet.t
1T Is not so," cried Captain Curry third
time. Il have been democrat all of my
life." 3SF2
Again there was a clapping of hands and
stamping of feet throughout the court ROOM
Senator O'Connor raped for order and said
Tho next time such a demonstration occurs
l shall clear the room instantly of all except
witnesses and reporters"
This recorder said that he himself did not
want to have the appointments, but was
satisfied If the mayor or the governor should
have the power.
DO either Of the other judges care to
put any questions to the. recorder while he
is on the stand" asked Senator O'Connor.
II certainly do not" Said Judge Cowing.
why should 1?' he added in lower tone.
II have not spoken to- him in three weeks
This is the first time that l have heard any
thing so disgraceful in this court In the six
teen years l have had the honor to be
Judge here. have noaquestions to put, but
I wish to be heard. and that, in a very de-
cided way"
Senator OConnor's gavel fell at 2:3O p. M,
and Judge Cowing took the stand.
REPLIES TO GOFFoS CHARGES.
Judge Cowing said: "Gentlemen OF the
Committee have not come here to drag
down my own court nor to besmirch my own
men. Until the past three months our honor
able court has never been attacked. Within
that time. however, have heard vague ru-
mors Of Irregularities in this curt"
Judge Cowing then took up the matter of
the bill, and said: Suppose I, Judge Cowing,
should have been elected to the supreme
court and should have, after taking my seat,
sent bill to the senate increasing my sal
ary about one-third and taking from my fel-
low justices all Of their rights and preroga-
tives, what would you have thought OF me?"
1--WE are not under OATH" said O'Connor.
II will not pause for a reply" retorted the
judge. 81 know that the English language is
inadequate for you to properly characterize
such conduct"
He then took up the matter of the raise in
The chairman asked: "Does 1t give the re-
corder more money!" -
why certainly 1t does; of course 1t does.
Why, there is an item Of $4,000 a year in
ciuded in the amount sought by him for office
rent. The city gives him his Office free. 1t
gives us our offices free. Why should he
have $4,000 year for an Office which he
does not have to rent?'
The next question taken up by Judge Cow
Ing was the matter Of the chief justicesbip,
which the recorder he said, Is after. II
naturally am the chief justice here by reason
OF my long service. / have been here for
seventeen years. The recorder has not been
here for seventeen weeks. am chief justice
and was so chosen by my associates. Re-
member. shall continue to claim to be the
chief justice until you gentlemen see fit to
make new one. and one / may say which
we don't any OF us want. If he Is more
worthy than I am perhaps you will make
him the chief Justice, but doubt 1t.
why, he Is not even judge. Actually,
the supreme court has decided that the re-
corder is not Judge. Now, the idea of
your appointing man who is not lawyer
or a judge. should say-to the chief Justice
ship of the court is, to me- absurd
NOT ASHAMED OF TAMMANY.
1T is true that l was nominated by Tam
many hail. but is that a matter of which to
be ashamed? received the unanimous vote
of both parties. am an independent man,
any way with my duties"
Judge Cowing then took up each case that
the recorder had mentioned, and showed how
one whom the recorder had mentioned as
not attending to his duties had been very i'll
fer the past few monthst after fifteen years
OF service. Another had sserved for sixteen
years and had never been guilty of any
misconduct Isza
He says a great deal about there being
no rules to govern this court Why. the
court Of criminal procedure is full of rules
and we are guided by them. AS for other
rules for our especial use we. the Judges of
this court have talked That matter over long
corder" "rSp
Judge Cowing gave his yersion of the meet
ing OF the judges and theIecorder last Janu-
airy. lie said that the recorder drew paper
from his pocket and said sn"Well, how about
those appointments? T. want to appoint
0nnvi N.Y. eieih' Icb 81
Il said to him." said Judge Cowing. "'No
one judge can appoint ifhiR The law SAYS
he must be appointed BY fthe recorder. civ
judges and both judges bf general sessions.'H
Well, said the recOEder, If you won't
give him to me, l will 20 to Albany. where
have influence, and get all the appoint
ments.'
Oh said /. that sounds like a threat
oh, we will go slowly In this thing"
At this point Recorder Goff addressing the
committee, said he had heard of the very
serious turn that Judge Marines illness had
taken and suggested that the committee ad-