The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-12
JUDGE NORWOOD WILL
HAVE 10 STAND TRIAL
Continued From Second Page)

Auditor took this view of it when he
refused to pay the salary. The Execn-
tive branch of the government has,
therefore, passed upon the question, ard
the judicial branch has it now under
consideration; and it is not for us TO
step in and interfere. We have invited
him into the courts, and ] for one am
willing to stand by their decision. WhaC
that decision will be / have no doubt.
There can, therefore, be but one rsa-
son for bringing this impeachment-to
purify the official life of this State. In
doing this are we to take up one little
weak man and lay our heavy hand upon
him for an infirmity? Is he to be the
sacrifice offered up for crimes of the
viscious officials of this State? Have
we not from day to day read in the
daily papers Indictment after Indictment
against the officials of this State, from
the Governor down to the hunblest en-
ploye on the Manure Pile? Start with
all these men and I'm: with you.
I'll not ask You then to pull one single
poor. weak mortal out of the list. Is
w. l.. Norwood to be the scape-goat TO
bear away the crimes of higher officials
this old man, this weak man, who has
fallen beneath a weaknessg Has he a
viscious heart? No man has or can
charge that.
''Any other Judges in North Carolina
disgraced the bench in this late advent
to power? Do you read the papers? Do
you hear anything of midnight courts?
Do you read of any high-handed pro-
ceedings? Do you read that the Fusion
judges with few exceptions are a dis
grace to the State? Then why single
out Judge Norwood?"
Mr.. Winston read a letter from GER
tain leading citizens of BERTHE, asking
him to oppose Judge Norwood's i'm.
parchment.
make not this weak erring man the
sacrifice. Take not his blood to purify
the rascally official life of this State
/ shall vote against this resolution. All
that / can see at the end OF this pro-
ceeding is sad, lonely woman-thc
wife of an erring man, in mountain
home. With her is a weeping daugh-
ter. And all because the great State
Of North Carolina had the power to ny
its heavy hand upon the husband and
father
MIR. Robinson, of Cumberland, made
strong argument in favor of the raso-
luton. The question was one of duty,
he said, and not one of sympathy.
He read the endorsement made by
Judge Norwood on the back of the en-
yelope, arguing that the endorsement
put Judge Norwood in the hand OF "
s. Lusk and was therefore not binding
being against public policy. He con-
tended that Norwood was still judge
de facto at least, and therefore inn
peachable.
Replying to Mr. Winston's statement
that Norwo0d's offence is not crime
but weakness, Mr.. Robinson said:
drunkenness may not be crime, but
drunkenness upon the bench is grave
offence: and | for one am in favor OF
maintaining the purity OF the bench, no
matter who it strikes. 1t is not whether
we will lay our heavy hand upon some
one else first, as the gentleman from
BERTHE contends. it's question of
whether we will do our duty in the mat
ter before us. We cannot do less than
comply with our oaths. If we do less
we are recreant to the people of North
Carolina.
My sympathy is with this man and
his family, but | cannot afford to allow
my sympathies to control me here. I
am sworn representative of my peo-
pie and for my State and / must 10 MY
duty before high heaven and my con-
stitllents."
Mr.. Leatherwood of Swain, took the
position that Norwood was not now
judge and therefore not impea nhabe.
The resignation rendered the Governor
through Lusk, Mr.. Leatherwood con-
tended, was valid one and its accept
ance was valid.
He's neither judge de jure nor de
facto today, and he's not trying to ex-
ercise the duties of the office.
Why single out this man anu LET
other Fusion judges escape. I've heard
some of them hurl damns from the
bench and seen one stuff coisoa in his
ears. / don't know why he snoull have
done it unless it was TO encourage the
cotton industry.
If we are to impeach one. let's inn
peach all who are guilty of misconduct in
office.
Il know Judge Norwood is an erring
man. guilty Of all the weaknesses to
which the human flesh is le;r. but I'm
going to vote against this resolution
Mr.. Foushee, of Durham, reviewed in
a clear and able manner the facts and
evidence before the committee. and
showed how the committee could have
arrived at no other conclusion rhan that
reported to the House.
I'VE are presented here with the spec
tacle Of man who one day writes his
resignation and next day withdraws it,:
who one day says he is Judge and the
next day says he is not AS late as
January 31st he signed legal papers rs
judge of the Twelfth judicial district:
now he comes here and says. though mis-
defenders. that he's not judge. But
let this Legislature once adjourn and
he'll come out from his hiding place and
again declare that he is Judge
Il would remind the members Of this
body also that we are not now trying
Judge Norwood. We are simply sitting
as a grand jury. The committee in its
report recommends the appointment of
a committee of three TO present the case
at the bar of the Senate where it will
be tried.
Il sympathize with Judge Norwood's
wife and daughter; but it is not a mat
ter of sympathy. This is matter of
cold, stern justice. The judiciary Of
North Carolina must be kept pure and
above reproach.