The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-29
HIS CAREER GIVEN
BY JUDGE SWAYNE
STATEMENT ON HIS BEHALF
WADE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL IN
vEsTIGATING COMMITTEE.


washington, Nov. 2S.-Mrs. Susan
Downs was the first witness heard to-
dav nv the House Judiciary Commit
+ae which is investigating the Judge
swavne case. She keeps a boarding
house at Waco, Tex, where Judge
Swayne stopped three times, when he
held court in that city. She charged
Judge Swayne at the rate of $40 per
month for himself and $6S per month
r.ben he was accompanied by Mrs.
swayne.
The cross examination of Robert j.
Boone of Florida, was then resumed,
Attorney Liddon, for the prosecution,
endeavoring to connect Boone with
John NJ. Calhoun in the bankruptcy
proceedings against Hoskins.
While Attorney Higgins was conduct
ing redirect examination of Boone
concerning the Hoskins bankruptcy,
Mr.. Palmer of the b-committee OBJ
iected to his line of questions and the
answers. There seems to be a dis
position on the part of this witness"
he said. ito blacken the character of
this old man Hoskins with every an
swer he makes"
"Needed Another Claim"
A little later Boone testified that he
filed claim of John M. Calhoun
against Hoskins after the case had
been going some time.
That was when you needed more
claims to keep your petition going"
observed Mr.. Clayton, of the sub-com-
mittee
Boone denied that any conspiracy or
arrangement between himself and Cal
houn existed against HoskinS. He al
so said he could not remember wheth-
er he had suggested Calhoun as a re-
ceiver for the HoskinS property but
thought not. He said the reason he
refused to settle when checks We're Of
fered to pay some of the claims against
Hoskins was that no offer was made
to pay the costs.
Boone asserted that it was never
brought to the attention of the court
that Hoskins was willing to settle in
full with his creditors.
Boone Explained the Indictment.
During the examination of Boone he
explained the Indictment against him
self alluded to last Saturday. He said
he was charged with the embezzle-
ment of $50, and said the charge was
the result of a disputed claim over
insurance with a travelling agent of
the company which he (Boone) rep
resented as local agent.
Mr.. Palmer subjected Boone to
searching inquiry concerning the let
ter signed by rubber stamp with
Boones name, which urged the prose-
cution of c. ID. Hoskins for contempt
lin order to break down old man
Hoskins,' He was asked who could
Ia N 1off Iii
self. The witness replied that he did
not know, unless it had been a son of
Judge Liddon, who was around the
office a great deal. Asked as to the
motive any person other than himself
could have had in writing the let
ter he said that it would have been
to connect Judge Swayne with the
case by making testimony before this
commission that if the letter remain
ed uncontradicted it would show a
conspiracy, or, he added, not that ex-
actly but a connection between him
self, Tunison and Calhoun with the
Hoskins case. The letter he said must
nave been forged after proceedings
We're started against Swayne.
Mr.. Palmer asked him if he did not
make an affidavit that Hoskins was
about to dispose of his property, and
Boone replied in the affirmative.
AND on that affidavit said Mr..
Palmer Judge Swayne issued an Or
ger attaching Hoskins' property and
depriving him of the use of 1t and
stopping his business p"
es'' replied the witness, "of course
ms business could not go on after
the attachment was made"
LIddOn and the Pension Fee.
attorney Higgins said that he de-
slred TO ask Mr.. Liddon, the attorney
IoI the prosecution, some questions on
DISCRIMINATION.
Have you ever been informed
against for receiving an illegal fee in
pension case?'
Llddon answered in the affirmative.
ana II was brought out that he had
received one-third of the amount COL
Iected' something over $4,000 He had
MADE contract with the pensioner for
seoh Zee, which fee was paid back
"iser the information had been lodged.
MI Llddon then made a statement
SSo'ncefhlng the matter. 1t was. he said.
ms nrst and last pension case. and
happened thirty years ago. 1t had not
t%hIected his standing in Florida. Since
Len ne mad been elected chief Justice
VI Ihe Supreme Court of Florida, and
60 CO. peeh unanimously elected dele
gaze to the Democratic National Con
vention. Non-
Judge Swayne then submitted a LONG
statement giving a history of his ca.
Leer, particularly of that portion when
nc was Judge. He said that the pros
eCution OF the election frauds of 1888
oIeated bitter feeling against him.
on S,Iu the Florida district was divided
ny political act of a Democratic Com
sless' signed by a Democratic Presi-
esnl. he then went into an extended
SlkuInent to show that he was a resi-
ida. - uis'ii0I oI flor-
Judge Swayne also went over the
SSonIenpt cases in his court and de-
eiIueu ms course. the facts of which
"eLe nearly all set forth in the mi
noIit report In favor of Judge Swavne.
S cru IN previous testimony taken. Re-
eyilIlhg 10 the case of T.. T. Davis and
SiiIeon Belden. he said that nothing
vas SHOWN that would Indicate malice
a. 1udge Swayne defended his course i'm
me .nle Hoskins case. No tender. he said.
s as ever made by Hoskins in his court
~ settlement. He said he saw no
slouhas Tor suspicion that a conspi-
tcg existed to break up Hoskins'
susllless. He believed and the testi-
hh.oHy showed. that the books taken
young Hoskins were taken on the
auYice and with the aid Of the alleged
pa.krupt Hoskins. He denied that he
naa IN any way prejudged the case OF
souhg Hoskins for whom a contempt
"@rrant had been issued.
Judge Swnyne justified his action i'm
a. "i,enclng w. G, O'Neal 10 sixty days