The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-21
ONCE MORE WURTS
TALKS OF SWAYNE
SAYS THE FLORIDA JUDGE
WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO INFLUENCES
OUTSIDE THE LAW.

Wurts Gave the subcommittee
He said, Know of Cases wherein
Undue influence Was Yielded to
by the Judge-Was Favored by
FIngIer-Specinc Instance Was
Recited by Wurts.
Washington, April 20.-Prof. John
Wurts Of Yale University was cross
examined to-day by former Senator
Higgins of Delaware as to his testi-
monX of yesterday against Judge
Charles Swayne in the impeachment
proceedings before the special sub
committee of the House Committee
on the Judiciary.
When asked to name the persons
who held the impression that Judge
Swayne was susceptible of being in
fiuenced by considerations outside the
law and evidence in cases pending be-
fore him. Prof. Wurts named c. E.
Reinhart, president of the Jacksonville
Bar Association; Judge w. P. Young.
of the Circuit Court of Florida. and
Samuel c. Vance, connected with the
National Bank of Jacksonville.
He was unable to say whether these
persons obtained their Impressions
knowledge. He had been told by d.
u. Fletcher, who was mayor of jack
sonville, and also the law partner of
the professor, that Judge Swayne had
rented a house from H. M. Flagler at
st. Augustine for one half the nomi-
nal rental. He did not know of any
litigation ever had by Mr.. Flagler be-
fore Judge Swayne.
Mr.. Fletcher also had told him that
Judge Swayne had received and ac-
cepted a proposition from j. C.
L'Engle, president Of Jacksonville
bank, to borrow money at one half the
regular interest rates.
Jury of Republicans.
Pressed to give an instance within his
own knowledge where he believed
Judge Swayne had been influenced out
side the law and the evidence, Prof.
Wurts recited the details of a case
growing out of an election, in which he
said the jury had been packed" with
Republicans. There were other mat
tGIS COlHlS|NSh VIII ILLS SdoN VI a
minor character to which the professor
took exception.
At the afternoon session ex-senator
Higgins and Representative Gillett in
quired If Prof. Wurts had not been
talking against Judge Swayne ever
since the Judge was appointed to the
place for which the professor was an
applicant. Prof. Wurts denied this.
He said all efforts on h.s part for the
place had ceased before he ever had
heard of Judge Swayne's candidacy for
it. He said that he came to Washing
ton to talk over the judgeship, and TO
present his credentials to Attorney
General Miller under President Harri-
son. He was told that a judge was
wanted who would take a strong stand
in political cases. Prof Wurts took
the Sround that he wanted to be left
free to decide such cases upon the law
and the evidence. and at once decided
that he was not the man for the place
He was prepared to welcome Judge
Swayne, he said as the district need
ed judge, and as his practice was
largely i'm the federal courts, he felt
the need of a judge there. He dis
claimed any prejudice against Judge
Swayne, but said he believed the judge
was not on the proper plane of life.
and did not view things in a proper
judicial li$ht.
Many questions of detail were asked
in the cross-examination. but no in
formation OF importance was elected.