The Saint Paul globe., 1900-01-28
INVESTIGATION HAS STARTED.
Inquiry Into Charges Against Reg
lister of Deeds begins.

=
lister of Deeds Begins.
The official investigation into the charg-
es against Register of Deeds Frank e.
Metcalf, as filed with Gov. Lind by Rein
hold Zeglin,. began yesterday morning be-
fore Harry d. Irwin and s. p. Eillman,
the special commission appointed by the
governor
Alter the preliminaries, j. c. Haynes,
representing the governor, explained
that he had been called into the case
within the past forty EIGHT hours. and
that as he had not been given time to
examine into the matter he would ask
for an adjournment until 10 o'clock Mon
day morning, which, after some further
talk, was consented to.
The hearing was set for 10 o'clock in
the room occupied by the county COM
missioners in the court house. and at that
hour Register of Deeds Metcalf walked
into the room, nonchalantly putting Il
cigar He was represented by Frank r.
Auhachek. Victor j. Welch and Frank P.
NaEtz, of the firm Of Lane & Nantz. Mr.
Zeglin, who fled the charges, is repre-
sented by A. F. Larson.
At the outset Mr.. Irwin explained the
facts connected with the filing of the
charges and the appointment of the COM
mission. Mr.. Hubachek then addressed
the commission in behalf of the respon-
dent. He made objections to the pro-
ceediLgs on the grounds that the COM
plant of Zeglin did not state facts suf.
fic;ent to sustain the charges of mall
! feasance.
Mr. Haynes addressed the commission.
saying that 1t was not necessary to en-
ter into an argument as to whether the
objections were good or bad
1T is only fair to state" said Mr..
How -, ~,
vestigation will be, and to arrive at this
we must understand tho nature of the
proceedings. This is not a criminal trial,
nor a trial of any kind. The commission
sits here to receive what testimony Is
offered, and we must divert our minds
from the idea that 1t is trial. The gov
error is to pass on the testimony and he
is the sole arbitrator of its sufficiency
and effect The investigation will be con-
fined to the specific charge and 1t Is our
duty to present the facts fully. leaving
aside controversy. For the state, I may
say, that if It's representative should so
far forget himself as to present anything
irl elevant or absurd, it will be excluded
by the commission. We are here to ar
rive at the facts, and If the testimony
sustainS the charges the executive will
act accordingly; otherwise the official will
be eXonerated In the meantime, the
rights of the people are to be protected,
and for this hearing all the statute re-
quires is the filing of the charges and
the proper notices"
Mr.. Hubachek-We don't agree with the
counsel when he says this is not GRIM
inal proceeding, for we believe it is. We
do agree that the powers Of the commits
sion are limited to the taking of testl-
mony and passing upon objections; IL
certainly has no power to pass on the
evidence.
Mr.. Larson, counsel for zeglin, defined
his position, saying that the examination
should be conducted on the lines indl-
Gated by Mr.. Haynes.
The latter then spoke in favor of an
adjournment until Monday, which was
agreed to and the audience dispersed,
evidently disappointed at the absence in
the proceedings of anything sensational.