The news & observer., 1901-03-15
Col. Kenan the First Witness
to be Examined.
he WILL BRING HIS RECORDS
The Senate Chamber Crowded When
Judge Allen Spoke.
HIS SPEECH AN ABLE AND EFFECTIVE ONE
When the Evidence For The Prosecution Has
Been Completed Judge BYnum Will
Open For the Defense.

1t is Thursday morning, March 14th--
first day of the Impeachment trial of
Chief Justice Furches and Associate
Justice Douglas members of North Caro-
lina's highest court. 1t will be a mo-
mentous event in the States history.
Though not yet IL o'clock-the trial be-
gins at noon-people are crowding the
galleries. They are mostly women, for
there are seats in the galleries; the men
stand in the lobbies and hardly room is
left to enter.
pretty picture they make-these wo-
men folk come out for to see." and, one
half suspects, to be seen. Fresh faced
bright tinted, glittering with silk and
geld and color, they sit on the long bench
es. tier above tier, like variegated living
flower borders-tulps dahlias and lilies
of the valley
To these galleries the eyes of Senators
often turn and linger for there are
smiles enough for all.
But it is lot day for laughter and
display. 1t is sterner work that must
soon engage the attention of these men.
1t is a work such as few North Carolina
Senates have been called upon to perform;
and that is fortunate
The hall has been made ready for the
court. The seats of Senators have been
moved back, leaving around the Presi-
dents desk broad vacant space in which
chairs for the Managers and their at
t0rneys have been placed on the left, and
for the Respondents attorneys on the
right The arraigned judges are to sit
almost directly in front of the President
and facing the witnesses, who will testi-
fy from the seat usually occupied by the
Principal Clerk of the Senate.
For the use of attorneys on both sides
large pine tables covered with black oil
CLOTH are placed on either side.
The people continue to come-distin-
guished lawyers and judges, officials from
the various State departments, the mer
chant and the manufacturer, the artisan
and the laborer-all classes and condi-
tions of men are represented in the lob
bies, all anxious to witness the assem-
bling of the court and hear the opening
speech of the trial.
buzz of suppressed excitement hangs
and sways above the crowd And now
finally, the hour has arrived. SILENCE"
has been commanded, the President has
raped for order and the Sergeant-at-
Arms is pronouncing his solemn procla-
nation.
Silence falls upon the assemblage, and
the procession of managers, two by two,
is advancing down the broad central aisle.
1t is a stately, solemn sight. Judge
Allen, chairman of the Board of Managers,
comes first. He is a slight, Intellectual
looking man. His face, round and clean
shaven would look almost boyish, but
for the glasses that half hide the keen,
penetrating glance of his eyes. Being
clear and logical in thought, cool and
deliberate in argument and above all
thoroughly familiar with the case, he has
been chosen to make the opening speech
for the prosecution. That speech shall
prove the wisdom of the choice.
Then that other-sIight-b built, square
shouldered man just behind him--is
George Rountree. His aimless step and
careless look proclaim him at once man
of warm heart and merry disposition.
He is one of the sprightliest, clearest
souls in all the General Assembly, man
of great personal magnetism and populari-
ty His eminent ability is recognized
by all, for he ranks among the very first
OF the states lawyers, his opinion on
constitutional questions especially being
valued by members of his profession.
His legal arguments made in committee
and before the House on the Impeach-
ment Resolution did much toward shaping
the Legislatures course in the case now
about to be tried.
And his comrade-he with the thick,
black locks, through whose deep eyes and
heavy brows there CLEANS the fire of
genius; is Locke Craig. who introduced
the Resolution of impeachment in the
House and urged its passage in a speech
that still rings in the ears of those who
heard it. Mark him well
Behind him walks man of stolid
build. Though not yet old, his hair is