The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-11
FOR II O'CLOCK IN HOUSE
THE TEXT OF THE COMMITTEES
REPORT.
A COMMITTEE IS TO Sc APPOINTED
is Duty Will be to 60 to III, Bar of the Senate
and in the Name of the House and the
People Of North Carolina In.
noach Noru,od
peach Norwood.


At II o'clock to-day the matter of the
impeachment of Judge Norwood will be
the special order in the House.
1t will come up ON the report of the
judiciary Committee, which has had the
matter under investigation for several
days.
The attention of the committee was
directed to Judge Norwood and his con
duct by. the following resolution intro
duced in the House some three weeks
ago by Mr.. Curtis, of Buncombe:
Whereas, it is matter of public no
toriety that. upon inquiry instituted by
the Committee ON the Judiciary of the
House of Representatives of 1897, evil
dence was adduced before said commit
tee tending to show that w. l.. Nor
wood. then judge of the Twelfth Judi
cial district, had been publicly drunk
while sitting as judge upon the bench,
at court held in Rockingham, Richmond
county: in Burnsville, in Yancey county,
and during the term Of other courts
which he was assigned to hold; and
whereas it is also matter of public
notoriety that. in order to avoid an adj
verse recommendation from said commit
tee, the said w. l.. Norwood signed and
delivered formal resignation of his said
office to Y. s. Lusk, chairman of said
committees; and that said paper was sub
Sequently forwarded to the Governor
Of North Carolina and accepted as a
| designations; and whereas, it is matter
of public notoriety that the said Nor
wood is still claiming to be the rightful
incumbent of said office, and is still eX-
ercising the functions of said office.
when opportunity offers; and whereas, it
has been reported in the newspapers and
has not been contradicted, and has been
charged in the courts of the State that
since the said paper was delivered to
the said Lrsk the said Norwood has
been publicly drunk ut the court houses
of Clay and Cherokee counties, and at
the court at Windsor. in BERTHE county,
during the time prescribed for him as
| Judge to hold the Superior court ut said
court houses. and has also. since the de-
livery of said paper to said Lusk. been
seen intoxicated upon the train between
Durham and Asheville, and has been
publicly drunk on the streets of the city
of Asheville: and whereas the people
of the State of North Carolina have
elected Hon. Frederick Moore as judge
| of said district for term beginning the
first day of January. 1899, and continu-
| ing for four years. and the said Moore
| is now holding the courts of the Third
| Judicial district by virtue of his said
| election and qualification, while the said
Norwood is still assuming the right to
| make orders as judge Of the Superior
court ut Chambers, therefore;
"Resolved by the House of Represen-
| tatives, that the Committee on judiciary
| be instructed to inquire forthwith and
report Mt the earliest practicable day.
whether it is true that the said Norwood
| is still exercising or claiming TO eXer-
| else the functions of said office. and
| whether the said Norwood has been so
publicly drunk. as has been generally
reported in the newspapers, whether the
| said w. l.. Norwood is liable to be i'm
peached as a Judge de facto or de jure;
| whether, in the opinion of said commit
| tee, the said Norwood should be inn
peached, and that the said committee be
empowered and directed. if in the opinion
| of the committee such charges would be
or could be sustained. to prefer formal
charges against the said Norwood for
such conduct in office.
This resolution was taken up and
carefully considered by the committee:
| LIST, as to the question of law involved;
End. as TO the truth of the facts set
forth. The following report endorsement
on the back of the resolution shows the
| result Of their labors:
"Thc judiciary Committee to whom
was referred the foregoing resolution.
having carefully considered the same, a
majority being present and voting, beg
leave to report. in their opinion:
"1st That w. l.. Norwood, Judge of
the Superior court of North Carolina for
the Twelfth Judicial district. as a matter
Of law, is subject to impeachment.
''2nd. That said w. L. Norwood is an
habitual drunkard, and has been public
ly drunk while exercising the duties of
his office
''3rd. That said w. L. Norwood
should be impeached.
"They therefore recommend the adop-
tion of the following resolutions:
Resolved, That W. j.. Norwood, Il
Judge of the Superior court of North
Carolina. be impeached of high crimes
and misdemeanors in office.
'ISignedl Allen. Robinson, Foushee,
Gattis. Carr. Moore. GARRISON Currie,
| Thompson. Gillian. Patterson, of Robe
son, and Brown. of Stanly.
Supplementary to this report and for
| the purpose of carrying it into effect.
the following resolution is proposed and
| it is this that the House will to-day con
slider:
Resolved, That committee of three
| be appointed to go to the Senate and at
the bar thereof, and in the name OF the
| House of Representatives, and OF all
| the people of the State of North Caro-
| lina to impeach w /. Norwood, Judge
| of the Superior court of North Carolina.
/ of high crimes and misdemeanors in
office. and acouaint the Senate that the
House of REPRESENTATIVES viii in due
| time exhibit particular articles OF inn