New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-21
JUSTICE HO0KER'S CASE.
TO LOOK INTO CHARGES.
State Bar Association Refers Them
to GyieUance Committee.
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l


Albany. Jan 2O-After discussion OF about
two hours duration. the State Bar Association
unanimously voted late this afternoon to refer
the charges presented by the jamestown Bar
Association against Justice Warren b. Hooker
TO the grievance committee. This action was
taken after some spirited argument. mainly over
the question OF the importance OF the charges
and the proper method OF dealing with them.
Absolutely no question OF the justice OF the
charges was passed upon at the meeting. and
the action simply authorizes the grievance COM
nittee to review the charges and report TO the
president william II. Hornblower. of New
York. led the effort to- secure such refer
enoe. and It was on his motion that the &C
ton YVES finally taken. f. W. Hinrichs. OF
Brooklyn. also urged to reference but present
ed amendments that were voted down.
2 7. Leggett, Of New-Tork. was the main OPP
ponent Of the resolution to refer the matter to
the grievance committee. and he argued that the
charges were not Of sufficient weight to deserve
consideration and urged that they be returned
70 the Jamestown Bar Association.
Assemblynan Wade. Of Chautauqua, made a
sharp speech criticising the jamestown bar, In
tinating that the charges were not an express
sion OF the general opinion of the local bar, and
suggesting that there was political intrigue back
OF It. Then r. g. Mcclure. OF Syracuse de-
clared that & copy OF the charges had been sold
10 a newspaper, and declared he had seen the
receipt payment TO a clerk OF the Jamestown
court for the story.
Tbs unanimous action OF the association was
IN 10 small measure due to the determined atti-
trde taken by Mr.. Hornblower. who sturdily
contested every effort TO prevent investiga-
ton Of the charges. and finally carried his point.
but 81 was apparent from the outset that ma
3ority OF the members present favored thor
oHgh Investigation under the constitution Of the
association.
The grievance committee viii pass upon the
charges submitted, and II they hnd them Of suf-
6cient importance will report TO the president
A subcommittee OF three composed of MEM
bers OF the local county, that is, Chautaqua or
an adjoining county. will then be appointed, and
IL they find the charges sustained by evidence
after serving notice on Justice Hooker they VIII
report back TO the president. who will call
meeting OF the association
President John G. AIilburn Of the State Bar
Association. in discussing the powers OF the
grievance committee, to which the Hooker
charges were referred at the meeting, to-day
said:
The members Of this committee have no legal
power. They can summon witnesses, and it is
optional with these witnesses whether they sp-
pear or not. II they do come before the COM
mittee, ii viii he merely because they feel that
they are bound, as a matter OF conscience TO
testify: that is all. The constitution of the Bar
Association provides that this committee shall
be empowered to make any investigation at
any time Of any matter, and IL is empowered to
draw on the association for the necessary funds
for the investigation. 1t has every necessary
power in the way OF conducting any investiga-
ton Of examining records and titles and sim
liar matters. and It VIII be its duty TO probe the
matter to the bottom"
do you approve OF this investigation" Mr.
Milburn asked.
II certainly stand by the action taken by the
association" was his emphatic reply. 1.-The
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General OF the
United States in his official report refers to the
making Of leases Of postofhce buildings for the
benefit OF 'grafters, who seek to pillage the
public revenues and when this statement is
given 10 the world with the seal OF approval of
the President of the United States and when IL
is declared that the under charge in this case
IS generally understood TO be one of the owners
OF such building, and one referred to in this
report, which the President indorses 7 think
the case requires investigation and that il
cannot be called an instance where political
agencies are at work 10 besnlirch mans char