Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-27
A runIIc scANpAL..


n Il with profound regret that the
Dcser-t News finds II necessary to re-
fer 10 the reports from vcrnal. con-
corning the conduct of the Judge " the
Fourth judicial district Of Utah. The
humlllatinR news sent by our own cor.
respondent. has been corroborptc'i by
letters 20 the morning papers and 10 the
Governor Of the state. a public scan
dal has bccn caused by the repeated
appearance Of tho Judge In court In a
state OF maudlin inioxicaiion.
Some time aao reports from t'lntah
county OF the incbricty 81 the Judge.
which ON Investigation proved 10 be
correct. aroused a feeling Of deep In
disnntion. and tho Governor was APP
pealcd TO under the popular impression
that the Executive had power TO take
action In the matter. hut II II clear
from reading u the State Conatitu-
tlon that the legislature IL the only
body that can remove a district judge.
and that this must be done. II at all.
by Impeachment. Provisions for u are
made In that instrument.
Tho Governor In his message 10 the
Legislature Of 100. called attention 10
the conduct Of the judge In these
words
In June. 1895. charges and findings
OF very serious nature against the
Judge of the Fourth judicial district
were made by the Provo city ilar nHao-
citation and certified copy thereof ficd
In my office.
t..........a -. -. -. I'D
ixe the Governor 10 supervise the oiii-
clai conduct ~ judicial officers, no ne.
tlon IN rcsp-ct thereto has been taken.
! deem N my duty. however, though
most unpleasant one. 10 ncuunint YOU
with the fact that said charges and
findings ar. ON nle In my office and will
be al the disposal 81 the Legislature or
any committee thereof. on application,
No official action was taken by the
Legislature. and that has occasioned
some adverse comment. nut Il appears
that when the portion u the Governors
message quoted above was considered,
the Utah county members plead In be-
half of the Judge that he had promised
10 abstain entirely from drinking In.
toxicants. and they. believing In his
sincerity aud reform. said they would
he personally responsible n N. I.egls-
ia,ure would give him another chance.
Their plea was not made In vain. The
judges known abilities. his long SIR.
yitas to tho community. and his former
character AZ a substantial and worthy
citizen were taken into consideration,
and 10 the charges were not further
investigated.
The relapse nov complained OF by the
people " uintah county and members
~ the har ~ the Fourth district court.
cannot he ignored. Personal friendship.
regard for his family. social standing.
party int-reaiH or other considerations
must not stand In the way OF the public
welfare. The stain VI his conduct must
be removed from the judicial depart
ment Of our State. ana public Hcnti-
mont, which cries out against the evil
OF this example. must not he stined.
The only proper course open Tor tho
Judge IA IN resign his position, ana In
private life seek TO regain that con-
fidcnce which he has forfeited among
his friends and the people ~ the city
and county wherein he resides. No one
wishes TO follow him W with harsh
treatment, angry rcproaehes, or un-
kind reflections upon his weakness
charity win pity his innrmity. mercy
viii plead for his pardon among friends.
but Justice demands that no further
disgrace shnil come upon the state by
his conduct, and that the Judicial office
shall not be profaned by the breath Of