The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-15
JUDGE WOOD
 QUITS OFFICE LOWndeS Official Tenders
 Resignation. PROSECUTION IS STOPPED impeachment Proceedings Have Been Abated. Probate Judge Does Not Waive His Nomination as Democratic Can- didate in November-In In-
 terest of Harmony.

Probate Judge J.. Colvin Wood of
 Lowndes County yesterday rendered his | resignation to Governor Cunningham and the impeachment proceedings l aginst him have been stopped. Charges had been filed against Judge Wood In the Supreme Court of Alabama and he was to appear before the court Monday in answer to the petition for his impeachment by five prominent citi- zens of his county.
 Judge Woods attorneys who person. ally presented his resignation at the capitol announced that his resignation had been rendered in the interest of harmony. A continuance of the case
 it was said. would engender much bit terness and widen the breach which would be long in healing
 The attorneys of Judge Wood fin dis cussing his resignation said they wanted 1t understood that he is the Democratic nominee for Probate Judge of Lowndes County and they intimated that he would be elected to that place In November. His resignation they said in no way affected his standing as the Democratic nominee.
 Judge Woods resignation was car r ried to the Governors office yesterday by his attorneys. Hon. H. S. D. Mallory or Selma. B. P. Crum of Montgomery and D. M. Powell of Greenville. It was the simple statement T hereby tender my resignation as Probate Judge of Lowndes County" The resignation was not accepted as Gov ernor Cunningham was out of the city.
 It will be accepted as soon as the Governor returns.
 A new Judge of Probate will be ap- pointed to serve until after the Novem- Der election.
 New Situation in Lowndes. Judge Woods resignation puts an entirely new phase upon the situation in Lowndes County. He has been
 regularly declared the nominee of the Democratic party for Probate Judge
 and he has announced that he will stand upon that declaration. Judge Wood Is popular in Lowndes County and he has many loyal friends who will stand by him in this or any other course he may adopt. It is not known
 whether an attempt will be made to have the party authorities provide for another nomination although no way | IS apparently open for this unless Judge Wood should decide to withdraw. It IS possible that there may be an in- | dependent movement against Judge Wood. All this is. however. to be re- vealed in the future.
 | hO PtcScHt In LOwndeS Is that Judge Wood Is the Democratic nominee and he announces his deter
 imitation of remaining in the race as such until the November election. The resignation of Judge Wood was
 the unexpected and sensational end of an already sensational case Judge Wood, 1t will be recalled was charged by i've citizens of Lowndes County with conduct unbecoming an official and With neglect of duty that would make hlm liable to impeachment. The in- formation. or charges, was signed by nve citizens and taxpayers of that county. The signers of the informa- ton were V. H. Bell of Fort Deposit, captain c. P Rogers of Letohatchie
 frank Brooks of Fort Deposit. Dr. c.
 W. l.. Carr of Fort Deposit and H. H. McPherson of Morgansville.
 Sensational Allegations
 ne charges were four in number
 The basis of the whole proceedlnrs was that Judge Wood was charged with bribery in the April primary in that he had purchased votes to secure ms renomination. Two of the charges alleged bribery. He was also charged with important omissions in the dis charge of his duty and he was alleged 10 nave been addicted to the use of .nloAcants M or drugs to such an ex-
 
 The Supreme Court in ruling upon the case. held that Judge Wood coi,Id not be impeached for intoxication. be- cause. while the constitution named thls IS ground of Impeachment the Legislature did not provide a law car rying the provision into effect.
 Judge Wood. after this ruling. was to be tried upon the charge of buying votes and of neglecting his official duty The court had named Monday for the trial It was to be a publi, hearing. at which a number of citizens or Lowndes County were to appear and give public testimony. The contest had already begun. Several promi- nent attorneys had been retained bv the relators in the case to prosecute Judge Wood. Judge Wood had TO- tained counsel and a hot legal fight was looked for.
 The resignation of Judge Wood abated the Supreme Court proceedines. There are now no impeachment pro- ceedings pending against him. It is not yet known whether Judge Wood will have to pay the costs in the case or whether the costs will fall upon the