Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-02-20
Sensational Trial of a Chioi Justice.

very sensational caso, an impcach.
mrnt tial of tho Chief Justice of the
sup omu Court of North Carolina and
ono Associate Justice is in progress at
Raleigh.
Tho trial, which is n worry unusual ono,
grows out of action taken by tho Fusion
Legislature of 1897, which Legislature
| Sioncr, held by Mr.. Thco White, to.
gcthcr with other officers. Tho Lcgsa-
iurc passed All act forbidding tho State
Treasurer to pay to tho incumbonts of
the abolished Offices any salary what.
over, tho Legislature having previously
removed these parties from Office
The Supreme Court took tho matter
mp and decided that tho Legislature
could not remove Shell Commissioners
White, and followed this decision by a
second ono declaring that rs an officer
MIR. White was eligible to full salary,
and this decision became u law.
The Assembly then took measures
prohibiting tho State Treasurer from
paying these salaries to tho parties
whose offices had boon abolished by tho
Legislature furthermore, the Supreme
Court, in opposition to this measure of
the Legislature, had tho Clerk of the
Court to issue II writ of tho Court to
compel the Auditor and Treasurer Of
North Carolina to carry out tho law as
construed by tho Supreme Court.
The present Legislature has taken tho
matter up vigorously and Chief Justice
Furchco, together with Judge Douglas,
will bc made the special objects of i'm
pcachmcnt proceedings next Thursday.
Tho Chairman of tho Judiciary Com
mittcc has reported favorably on the
bill for the impeachment of these two
Judges, aud tho matter has becn made
spcc'a! order for Thursday ut ii O'Clock.
Judge Furchco was placed in oflco by
the Fusionists and Judge Douglas by
the Republicans.
The matter has been made the subject
ot uni vcrsnl comment on tho part of tho
State Press and the bar OF North Caro-
lima is expressing itself in tho matter MS
almost entirely opposed to tho proposed
impeachment proceedings.
The report of the sub Judiciary com
mittcc and tho evidence of n number of
witnesses will TO printed. a resolution
of disapproval will be introduced by
Judge Connor. while the Republican
members Of the committee will prepare
minority report in which the action of
Judges Furchco and Douglas will be
justified.
The case is exciting much interest and
comment all over tho State.
Ralcigh, y. c., February 1S.-rhc
lower house of the General Assembly
of North Carolina passed resolution
to-day calling for tho Impeachment
before the bar Of the Senate of Chief
Justice David NJ Furchcs and Asso-
ciatc Justice Robert NJ. Douglas, of the
Supreme Court of North Carolina. The
resolution charges them with high
crimes and mislcmcanors in office, in
that they issued certain processes in a
case Of political nature, which. il is
charged are in violation Of tho Constitu-
tion of North Carolina and the statute
law Of the State.
The resolution was introduced about
two weeks ago The vote was ~ to 3;S
tor impeachment. OF the 81 noes Is
were Republicans and were Populists.
NJ Ties" ""!im. ~. !!.c vcao!ut;a;, were
Democrats.
ro-morrow articles of Impeachment
viii be drawn mp and presented to the
senate. and Judges Torches and Douglas
viii he notified that Impeachment pro
cccdings will he commenced. This will
suspend them from the exercises of tho
duties Of their office.
Chief Justice FurchcS is nearly 70
years Of age and the mental strain has
told severely upon his health.
Justice Douglas is tho son of Stephen
Douglas. and WAS Mt ono tlmc private
secretary to Gen. Grant.