The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-19
THEIR ERMINE UNDEFILED.
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
CLEAR REESE AND SWEAT.

Charges or Establish Grounds For
the impeachment of the Two on
ciaIs-The Work of the COmmi tee
Is Conceded to Have Been Thor
Ough and Above Suspicion.
Atlanta, Ga. Jan. 18--As indicated in
these dispatches the House investigating
committee in the cases of Judges Reese
and Sweat will report to the legislature
that there is not sufficient in the charges
made by Senator Garter of the Thirty-iirst
district to warrant articles of im2each-
ment.
This determination was arrived at by
the committee this afternoon after going
over the evidence in the two cases, by a
unanimous vote. The two populist mem
bers of the committee agreed with The
democrats, and there was. in fact, no sue-
gestion of any different report in either
case. After agreeing to this report,
which was made in the form of resolu-
ton stating briefly that the evidence would
not warrant Impeachment proceedings by
the House. the committee adjourned, and
tonight the members all left for their
homes. The report will be transmitted to
the House when it meets, along with a
copy of the evidence produced. This evi-
dence the House can, of course, consider,
and take a different course If it desires
to, but the accommodation of the com
mittee will in all probability be accepted
without question and Judges Reese and
Sweat will be formally and completely vim
dicated.
There was some talk of a probable repri-
mand or resolution of censure in the case
of Judge Sweat of the Brunswick circuit
but this talk. appearing mostly IN the To-
cal newspapers. was without any tounda-
ton in fact whatever, for the reason that
the committee had no power or author
ity of censure. condemn or do anything
of that sort All that it was empowered
to do was to examine the witnesses and
make its report upon the evidence. just
as was done.
The unanimous verdict of all who have
watched the investigation is that the com
mittee acquitted itself Of the onerous and
unpleasant duty put upon it with tie
greatest impartiality and dispatch.
Within the space of six days it has ex-
amined over 100 witnesses and every facil-
fty, including the arresting of delinquent
witnesses and forcibly bringing them to
the bar of investigation, has been offered
for throwing the full light upon the con-
duct of the accused judges.
Senator Garter. who preferred the
charges, is satisfied with the manner in
which the committee conducted the cases.
Though not exactly agreeing as to the lat
itude taken in going beyond a ex parte
hearing. Throughout the investigation,
he was treated with careful consideration,
nothing that would tend to sustain his case
being refused. While he still feels that
there was ample foundation for the charges
he made, they were not sustained at the
1naE a all consider this the
fault of the committee. on the other hand
the two judges who were accused, through
themselves and their attorneys, express
themselves as fully satisfied with the work
of the committee as they are with the re-
suit, which is a complete vindication for
them.
Taking 1t altogether the 3d. 900 which the
investigation has cost the state was money
we'll expended. for it relieves two of the
foremost members of the judiciary from
a cloud that was in the air even before
Senator Carter came on the scene with
his direct charges, and IL will have deci-
ded influence in purifying the atmosphere
about the ermine of the courts in more
ways than one.
Senator Carter thought that he brought
out sufficient evidence to warrant the pre-.
ferment of articles Of Impeachment
against both judges.
THE committee" said he to-day chad
no right to try these judges, it could not
convict or vindicate them, nor had 1t any.
thing to do with recommendations as tC
their guilt or innocence. AS 1 understand
1t all that was required of it was to de
velop whether there was probable caust
for the charges which 1 preferred, and Il
there was, then it was the duty of the
House to prefer articles of Impeachment
and let the Senate try the case. / an
satisfied that l showed beyond a doub
warrant my charges, whether technically
I established legal proof or not. am NJ
lawyer, and perhaps a lawyer in my plac,
could have made out a better case on tn,
same evidence.
Il am satisfied with the result of tn,
hearing. l had no personal temper in tn,
matter whatever, but made the charges II
good faith and l think that l demonstra
ted to the committee, as well as to tn,
people of the state, that there is gooC
ground for what 1 charged"
When the legislature meets next montl
for the purpose of hearing the results o
the committees work, Senator Carter will
make a stir in the Senate chamber on tn
subject of the Gober charges. Last Satur
day night, when he presented his forma
accusations in the Nixon case, in whicl
Judge Gober presided. he stated that il
the Senate he had named Judge Gober Il
writing, as that judge, in the Nixon case
having been referred to pointedly in hi
original official charges, but the name o
the judge being omitted. Chairman Eel
der said to him that this supplemental,
report TO the Senate had never been trans
Dlitted to the House, or that body woul,
have given the committee authority to in
vestigate 1t, along with the Sweat AM
Reese matters.
Not having been transmitted to thu
House from the Senate, however. the com
mittee could not take cognizance of il
Nov, what Senator Carter wants 10 know
is II the Gober matter was not transmit
ted to the House. so the body could &C
upon it, then why not? and he will cal
upon the Senate for an explanation, as h,
insists that he made the report in du,
form.
The witnesses examined by the commit
tee this morning were Mrs. w. O. Welch
wife Of the keeper of the Mozely hotel a
Danielsville, in whose presence Judg,
Reese is said to have used profane Ian
guage, Bailiff Burroughs Of the Madisol
county court and a man named Wagenner
Mrs. Welch testified that Judge Reese ma,
not used profanity in her presence
that is, IL she knew what profanit,
meant She was examined close
on this point and said she thought profan
ity meant taking the name Of God in vain
Che bad baa I'd TuGga T2aaeo 10 afo,,..,