The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-26
.SWAYNE SCORED
BY COMMIT Tee
WANTS HIM lMPEAcHED.
CATALOGUE OF GRAVE MIsDEEDs
WITH WHICH HE is CHARGED.

Committee of Judiciary Moves Im-
parchment for High Misdemennor.
Judge swayne Has forfeited RE-
spect and COnAdence"-How n
Young Man Was Driven to Suicide.
Unlawful imprisonment of O'NeaI.
Swayne and Tunnison.
Washington, March 25.-"Resolved,
That Charles Swayne, judge of the
District Court of the United States,
in and for the northern district of
Florida, be impeached of high misde-
meanor."
This Is the recommendation Of the
House Committee on the Judiciary to
the House in the report of the COM
mittee filed to-day by Representative
Palmer of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the subcommittee which investigated
the case against Judge Swayne. After
discussing the charges in detail against
Judge Swayne and giving the findings
in each case, the report concludes as
follows:
upon the whole case it is plain that
Judge Swayne has forfeited the re-
spect and confidence of the bar of his
court and of the people of his district,
who do business there. He has so
conducted himself as to earn the repu-
tation of being susceptible to the ma
lign influence of a man of VIGOROUSLY
bad character. He has shown himself
to be harsh, tyrannical and oppressive,
unmindful of the common rule OF a
just and upright judge.
He has continuously and persistent
ly violated the plain words Of stat
ute of the United States and subject
ed himself to punishment for the COM
mission of a high misdemeanor. He
has fined and imprisoned members OF
his bar for a constructive contempt
without the authority of law and with
out a decent show of reason, either
through inexousable ignorance, a mali
cious intent TO injure or a wanton dis
position to exercise arbitrary power.
He has condemned to term of inn
prisonment in the county jail repu-
table citizen of the state of Florida
over whom he had no jurisdiction, who
was guilty of no thought of a con-
tempt of his court, for no offense
against him or in the presence of the
court, or in obstruction of any order,
rule, command or decree, and after
the accused had purged himself on
oath.
Demand impeachment.
For ali these reasons. Charles
Swayne has been guilty of misbehavior
in his office Of judge, and grossly vio-
lated the condition upon which he held
this honorable appointment The honor
of the judiciary, the orderly and decent
administration of public justice and
the welfare Of the people of the United
States demand his impeachment and
removal from the high place which his
conduct has degraded"
As to the charge that Judge Swayne
is a nonresident Of his district, the
report concludes:
From the testimony in the case,
your committee finds that Judge
Swayne has never acquired "A legal res
idence IN the Northern District Of
Florida, nor has he actually resided
there, as required by the act OF Con-
gress.'
The next charge considered in the
report Is that Of the disbarment. im-
prisOnment and fine imposed by Judge
gwayne against r.. T. Davis and Sim
con Belden. This case Involved liti-
cation regarding certain tract Of
land, section Of which, the report
says. WAS purchased BY Judge Swayne
IN the name OF Nin WIG VIM" iN' bf'~
ceedings were pending before his court
The two attorneys mentioned brought
suit against Judge swayne IN county
court Tor The purpose 81 clearing title
10 The land Twhoreup0n Judge
g1ynyue." the report says, proceeded
10 adiudge Be'den and Davis guilty Of
the CHARGES which were in violation
~ fhs dignity and good order ~ me
said court ana contempt thereof
Continued "a Fifh Fags.