The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-11-23
Judge SWayne's Witness
Accuses the Democrats
Prosecution Due TO Political Dissatisfaction,
N Stripping Intmates, But His State
ment Is Ruled Out

The feature OF the Swayne hearing be-
fore the subcommittee of the House
judiciary Committee this morning was
the examination OF J. n. Stripping, and
the efforts OF the witness TO connect the
prosecution Of Judge Swayne with Dem
ocratic dissatisfaction with his conduct
"f election fraud cases in the State of
Florida In 1889
Mr.. STRIPPING made frequent efforts to
bring this matter up. In answer TO one
question he made the charge IN so many
words but the answer was stricken out
by direction of Representative Palmer.
chairman of the subcommittee
The witness drifted into a discussion
OF differences between the Republican
and Democratic parties in Florida.
which Representative Palmer had much
aifhculty in stopping. The chairman.
though, finally succeeded.
Palmer Holds Witness.
please confine your answers IN the
questions asked" exhorted Representa-
i've Palmer If We endeavor 70 settle
political differences here. in this inves-
tigation. We shall have to induce the
Psalmist TO extend the span OF human
life.
The beginning Of the cross-exam-
lnation Of the witness by Mr..
Liddon was considerably enlivenei by a
controversy between the witness and
Mr.. Higgins. OF counsel for Judge
SWayne, as 70 whether the witness had
referred 70 the failure OF the National
Bank Of Palatka. Mr. Higgins was sure
no such statement was made: the wit
ness |as equally positive ne had not.
lhe weary spectators greeted this pleas
ing diversion with a laugh.
Status of Parnen.
There Ras more discussion of the po-
litical status Of J. o. Parnell, the jury
commissioner. who assisted the clerk OF
the court in drawing the juries in the
election frauds cases. The witness con-
tended that Parnell was a regular
Democrat, while counsel wanted to
show that Paneil was a bolter.
An amusing cOlloquy between the
witness and Representative Lamar OF
Florida furnished some innocent diver
sion.
rs it not true that in the South an
independent Democrat Is about the same
thing as a half-baked Democrat
asked Mr.. Lamar.
81 don't know, said the witness
And isn't IL also true that such de-
nomination Of a Democrat usually pre-
cedes conversion 10 Republication.
and IS followed by the gilt Of Federal
Office? p
Not always" the witness answered.
Edmunds' Telegram Shown.
A telegram from Senator George F.
Edmunds 10 John Wurts was shown the
witness. II was in reference 10 an al
legged statement made TO Wurts that
Parnell was named as jury commission
cr because he was boiling Democrat
A statement Ia writing was shown the
witness, and he was asked IL IL had not
been prepared jointly By Wurts and
hlmselt. In this IL was said justice in
election cases could not be obtained
from Democratic jurors
The witness said he did not remember
having seen the paper. but that il ex-
pressed substantially his recollection OF
the interview with Wurts and the
opinion he entertained at that time of
PaTnell.
Mrs Addie Strickland. wife OF the dis
Jrict attorney, said J. n G. Stockton. so
tar as she knew. had been once only in
the Strickland residence in JacksOnvIlIe
She admitted he might have been there
on other occasions
Philip Walker. former clerk OF the