The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-15
FERGUSON Is KEEN
Concerning Charges Made
Against Judge Finley,
IN LETTER TO DEWEESE
He Seeks to Get at the Core
of His Accusations.
in LETTER TO DEWEESE

Guthrie. o. T. April 14--The Capital
prints the following: Governor Tom
Ferguson yesterday morning dictated a
letter to s. Z. Deweeee OF Lone Wolf
stating that II he is sincere in the
charges he has fled with the governor
against Probate Judge Finley. Of Kiowa
county, for him. in connection with other
citizens Of that township who added
their endorsements 10 the charges. to
begin an action Immediately il the dis
trict court Of that county Tor the removal
Of the probate judge through due pro
| cess OF law. The information is sent TO
those citizens who have filed charges
! against the probate judges OF Caddo
and Colnanche counties. They have
asked the governor TO remove the judges
or the charges fled, and it is not in his
power SO to do, he in turn advises them
TO institute the actions in court against
the judges. He states that he VIII be
glad to send the attorney general TO
Hobart TO assist the county attorney
in the prosecution of the case.
4 have no doubt" stated Governor
Ferguson, but that all the judges are
guilty, bur it IS not in my power TO re-
move them. This l would have done at
first had 1 have had the power to re-
move so took up the matter with the
interior department for decision, and
the department held that 1 have not the
power TO remove. The only way. ac-
cording to the ruling Of the department
is through the due process of law. and
this I have advised the people of those
counties to 60"
The governor received the ruling from
the department several weeks ago. II
states that to remove the judges it will
be necessary FOR the grand Jury TO re-
turn written accusation to the district
court. and then give the accused a trial
by jury. This must be done through the
Office OF county attorney. The ruling Of
the department states that the governor
has no more power TO remove these
judges than he would in any Of the other
counties OF the territory. This settles the
matter so far as the governor can act.
except to advise the people to begin the
action in the courts. which he has done.
Should Deweese begin the action. the
matter would come up before Judge Bur
ford in the near future when ne con
venes court in Kiowa county. The prose-
cutting attorneys would be County Attor-
ney Keys Of Hobart and Attorney Gen
eral Roberts.
The interior department in the ruling
mentioned. also stated that the charges
against The three probate judges should
be investigated and action brought
against the officers looking toward their
removal. The 2 overnor stated that he
had no more power in these cases TO re-
move thsn he would have ia the matter
OF removing Logan county officers for
nisdemeauors.
Governor Ferguson was asked II an
action for libel would be instituted
against the Oklahoman. He replied. Il
cannot tell. There is no doubt but that
the article is criminally libelous but
what action viii be taken l cannot say
If ever an article was libel. that one
was. and if ever judgment was recov-
cred for libel. it certainly could be done
In this case. The very fact that the at
torneys are bowling because Judge
Strang has cut their bills IN two. IS suf-
Oklah0man. Practically every attorney.
who has had a bin for services in thS
settling up Of townsite matters in thats
county. has had it cur. sometimes as
much IS from $500 10 500 In all these
cases. practically. these attorneys have
complained to me both personally and by
letter. because Strang was slaughterins
them. as they expressed IT, These facts
give the lie 70 the statements of the Ok
laboman- So far as the fees for tho issu-
ing of the deeds are concerned. / know
little about il. / know that the general
rule is to charge a dollar for each deed. /
The judges were ordered 10 place al the
lots belonging 70 one man In one deed /
7 believe the judges Of Commanche coun-
t. has not done this and complaints
have been made along the same lines
against others. I would have gladly To-
moved them from Office had ! had the /
power"
II is the general opinion stu that some I
action VIII he commenced against the I
for libel Just who VIII ne 4
the plaintiffs i1 the case IS not yet i
known. but the opinion sim remains that 1
Judge Strang wiz DO the prosecuting
Yest eriay afternoon the governor re- /
ceived telegram from Probate Judge +
Harris Finley Of IIowa county. as fol- 1
ioVs relative % tho charges made /
against bin by Dewecse aud other res-
.ccnts of Lore Woif
"Charees arc uaHefouslr false. can
prove 81 10 yoir Subtraction I arr car-
raying ont vosr Instructions % fhe let-
ter CHARGES made ty Rr0an against \
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