The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-16
cwrtT AND REESE ARE SAFE.
nr,cHMENT NOT TO FOLLOW
lu' THE INVESTIGATION.

r..+imOny Before the Commit
Not Looked Upon as Sufficient
warrant Their Removal From
- Bench-MOst of the Testimony
hc Reese Case Favorable to
80 Judge-The Charges Against
10 sweat in the Crosby Case
Also Looked Upon as Not Sustained.
,.,.r+a ca. Jan. 15.-The investigation
- charges against Judge Sweat of the
,us,4cjz circuit was completed this af-
on and the case formally closed by
.,.r Of the committee, which declined to
.,Dsider the supplementary charge pre-
rod against him that he had collected
.nev for Russell & Co., a former client,
and refused to turn it over.
ro-morrow the Reese case will be fin
,.bs5 if the committee, by sitting until
midnight, can possibly accomplish that
and Chairman Fielder so announced to-
day
From, the progress already made in the
nose ease it seems that there are a great
many witnesses whose testimony might
no 5isnensed with, as it is only cumulative.
fit is necessary to finish tomorrow some
of these witnesses may be pruned out.
Same of those examined to-day knew lit
10 or nothing at all about the case, show
ing that they ought not to have been sub
poenaed.
In the Reese case in particular there
was evidently a good deal of carelessness
In the summoning of witnesses. This will
cost the state pretty sum, but as yet it
does not appear just who is at fault.
Since the Sweat case is closed it may not
be improper to make the prediction that
the committee will not recommend his
impeachment to the House. In fact, this
prediction is safe as to both Judge Sweat
and Judge Reese, for the latter hearing
has progressed far enough to show that
though Of a convivial disposition and ac-
customed to taking a toddy at times, the
evidence will hardly make out a case of
habitual drunkenness against him. Even
those who have testified that he was in
his cups or appeared to be stated on the
stand without exception to-day that the
business of the court is well looked after,
and that Judge Reese is in no degree dis
qualified from discharging his judicial
functions.
According to the general view taken of
the law habitual drunkenness that dis
qualities the man from the proper dis
charge of his official duties is necessary
to Impeachment, but as to Judge Sweat,
he admits that he was drunk at the st.
Smons banquet. but contends that he
perfectly able to preside in court
the next day, and there was no testimony
Al H.
conduct his court that day. He success
fully proved beyond doubt that
D. y. Crosby was admitted
to bail by him in Appling county a year
and a half before he met Mrs. Crosby, his
wife, at Indian Springs. the charge orig
inally made being that Crosby was admit
ted to bail on account of the improper re-
lations alleged between the judge and Mrs
Crosby. At the time the bail was given
Judge Sweat did not know Mrs. Crosby.
Then it was alleged that on account of
the improper relations between Mrs. Cros-
by and Judge Sweat in August, 1885, the
Judge so conducted the trial of her hus-
band the following month so as to secure
Cfosbys acQuittal. The evidence, how
ever on this point bears no comparison
70 the charge. 1t has not been shown, first
that Judge Sweat and Mrs. Crosby had
more than mere acquaintance at Indian
Springs, though during the short time
they were in each others company several
Mascreet acts, notably, entering the ho-
IeI by back stair and going to Judge
eWeats room for an umbrella, gave rise
70 scandalOus reports. Next, there has
6een no testimony at all to show that
Sulse Sweat did anything at the trial to
influence the jury in the acquittal
oi crosby. On the contrary, all the wit
Iesses who testified, swore that his charge
was lair and impartial, and the charge
.seu was not introduced in evidence
CATION
The evidence as to the alleged insult
10 Miss Faulkner at Indian Springs, also
contradictory and unsatisfactory on the
paIt OF the prosecution, and the alleged
packing of the Camden county grand
Jury can also be said to have been re-
Ilted by the defense. as by all the wit
As'ses 1t was shown that two of the four
tdesmen chosen voted for Bennett, and
s"o Tor Toomer, so that neither was
sven an advantage in the endorsement
lof solicitor, as was charged had been
to Toomer.
The only count in the charges, there
iole. mat appears to have been sustained
mat Judge Sweat got drunk at the
g. simons banquet which he admitted
81 tHe outset.
t"e sweat case was resumed this morn
s ny the Introduction of Attorney Nc
DolaId OF Waycross, who testified as to
o-''alh a1iidavits. When he presented
ol7 OF them to George Collier to sign, he
"Ist hesitated, saying that Judge
t"ea. mad done nothing, and that
'9 whole action of the legislature was a
outrage. Chairman Fielder objected
"Is reflection on the legislature going
.Ne record and it was ruled out.
s 10 Beach of Burke was put upon the
tS'. again to-day and repeated some
SAID by him yesterday.
re 'ast witness was John Byas (col-
bo.' VINO was employed at the bath
Sg-. al Indian Springs while Judge
Nh was there. He saw the judge and
at fdulkner and the other ladies' meet
s.f. spring the morning he arrived and
TO- gay little while after they went off
h5 ,gI Mr.. Faulkner came there look
via ~, lne judge, appearing to be some-
arl ,qH7Iy' Byas also saw Judge Sweat
f.,, Nta' crosby the afternoon they went
far" .ha spring to the Wigwam and en-
Dy the back door,
M ibIam was introduced to show that
h. '-ose ana the lady IN walking from
take W. 70 the hotel that day ala not
Juf.l" elfeuitous route as was Gained.
sV..rr o"eat then took the stand. was
tary 14l made a statement supplement
ore.t" nus written answer filed al tho
hat he or tne investigation. He said