The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-29
JUDGE SWAYNE
IN OWN DEFENSE
Submits Long Statement
of Career.
ESPECIALLY AS JUDGE
Defended His Course in HOskin's Case
and Denies That He Saw Any
thing to Indicate Conspiracy
to Break up Hoskin's
Business.
% the Associated Press. )


Downs, was the first witness heard
today by the House Judiciary Com
mittee, which is Investigating the
Judge Swayne case She keeps
boarding house at Waco. Texas, 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 SOS
per month when he was accompanied
by Mrs. Swayne.
The ss-examination of Robert j.
Boone of Florida, was then resumed,
Attorney Lidden, for the prosecution
endeavoring to connect Boone with
John NJ. Calhoun in the bankruptcy
proceedings against Hoskings.
While Attorney Higgins was con-
Quoting a redirect examination OF
concerning the Hoskins' bankruptcy
Mr.. Palmer, of the subcommittee, OBJ
jected to his line of questions and the
answers.
There seems to be a disposition ON
the part of this witness" he said, Ito
blacken the character Of this old man
Hoskins with every answer he
makes.
A little later Boone testified that he
filed "A claim of John M. Calhoun
against Hoskins, after the case had
been going some time.
THAT was when you needed more
claims to keen your petition gong
observed Mr.. Clayton, Of the sub-com-
mittcc.
Boone denied that any conspiracy
or arrangement between himself and
Calhoun existed against Hosllins. He
also said he could not remember
whether he had suggested Calhoun
as a receiver for the Hoskins prop
IA 9
reason he refused to settle when
checks were offered 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 he ceur
that Hoskius WAS willing To settle III
fuli with his creditors.
During tho examination of Boone
he explained the indictment against
himself alluded to last Saturday. lie
said. he WAS charged with the embeZ-
Element of $50. aud said the charge
was the result of disputed claim
over insurance with Il travelling agent
Of the company which he (Boone)
represented as local agent. Mr.
Palmer subjected Boone to a search
ing inquiry concerning the letter sign
ed by a rubber stamp with Boones S
name which urged the prosecution of
&. -. Hoskins for contempt IN ordeF
ITO break down cid man lloskins.
10 was aeknd who could have written
the letter if not himself. The wit
ness replied that he did not know un-
less it might have been a son of Judge
Tiddon who was around the Office
great deal Asked as to the moiVe
any person other than himself could
have had in writing the letter, he
said that it would have been to con-
meet Judge SWayne with the case by
making testimony before this commit
tee that if the letter remained un-
cortradicted il would show a con-
spiracy. or ne added. not that ex-
actly but q connection between him
self. Tunison and. Calhoun with the
Hoskins' case The letter, he said.
must nave been forged after proceed
ings were started against Skayne.
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. ''udge Swayne issued an or
der attaching Hoskins property and
depriving him of the use cf i and
stopping his business
YES" replied the witness. "Of
course his business could not go on
after the attachment was made
Attorney Higgins said that he de-
sired to ask Mr.. Liddon, the atatorney
for the prosecution, some questions on
cross examination.
Have you ever been Informed
against for receiving an illegal fee IN
pension case 2"
Llddon answered in the affirmative,
and it was brought out that he had
received one-third of the amount col
lected, something over $1,000. lie had
Ilade a contract with the pensloner
Tor such fee, (which fee was paid
pack after the Information had been
lodged. Mr.. Liddon then made
statement concerning the matter. It
was, ne said, his first and last pension
case and happened thirty years. tt
ndu not aifected his standing in Flor |
IDA Since then he had been elected
chlcf Justice of the Supremcm court |
OF Florida and had been unanimously |
elected a delegate to the Democratic |
National Convention
Judge Swayne then submitted = |
long statement giving history of his |
career. particularly of that portion |
when he was Judge. He said that the |
prosecution of the election frauds of /
1888 created a bitter feeling againct /
him, and the Florida district was di- |
vided, by a political act of Demo- t
cratic Congress, signed by a Demo- |
cratic President. He then went into |
All extended argument to show that
he was resident of the northern dis |
trict of Florida. Judge Swayne also
Went over the contempt cases in his