Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-23
THE SWAEhE HEARING
Witnesses forthe Prosecution
contradioted.
u II IT.
]. N. STRIPPING CALLED
DENIES TEE Truth OF J. N. 9.
sToCKToN's CHARGES.
Declares That Prof. Wurtz Also Testi-
fed Falsely - Political
Terms Defined.
j. N. STRIPPING CALLED


When the hearing in the impeachment
proceedings against Judge Charles Swayne
OF the northern district of Florida was re-
sumed this morning, before the sub .ommit-
tee of the House committee on the judi
ciary, J. N. STRIPPING. United States attor-
ney for the southern district OF Florida,
was called to the stand. Mr.. Stripping tes-
tilted that from 1889 to 1892 he was United
States attorney for the northern district Of
Florida, and has been United States attor-
ney for the southern district since the be-
ginning of the first Mckinley administra-
ton. the Jurisdiction having been redistrict-.
ed in the interim.
]. N. C. Stockton, banker and news
paper editor of Mariana, Fla, when he was
on the stand on Monday, testified that about
ten years ago, when fight was being MADE
against Judge Swayne, Stripping invited
him (Stockton) to call at his home and sug-
gested that II he would put Qufetus to the
opposition to Swayne, Feceaversmps ana
Stockton testified also at the time that
when the interview between himself and
Stripping took place Swayne was IN the
next room.
Denied Stockton's Charge.
Stripping today emphatically and vigor-
ously denied the truth Of Stockton's testi-
mony: ct can scarcely speak Of 1t with
moderation" he said. mo man was ever
more mistaken"
Stripping testified further that Stockton
paid the visit in question on his own in
itiative, to ask that certain funds of which
Stripping was trustee be allowed to remain
I'm Stockton's bank. Stripping declared that
he had never made Stockton an offer. and
Judge Swayne was not In Stripling's house
at the time of the interview mentioned.
Moreover. the witness said In his CONVEX
sation with Stockton there had not even
been any reference to Swayne.
When asked as to the relations that ex-
listed between himself and Stockton at the
time, the witness replied: There was no
man in the whole state of Florida l dis
trusted more than l did Stockton He was,
in my belief, 1.-The arch conspirator In the
most diabolieal fraud that ever disgraced
the state of Florida. And
II object shouted Judge Liddon. MI
Stockton is our witness, and while it does
not make any difference what opinion is
entertained Of him by Mr.. Stripping, the
reasons for such an opinion are not mate
rial to this case.!tf
Judge Lddon was sustained by Chairman
Palmer of the subcommittee in charge OF
the impeachment proceedings. who repri-
manded the witness for his course.
Wurtz Also Contradicted.
Ex-senator. Higgins. the counsel for
Judge Swayne, then took up the testimony
of Prof Wurtz, prominent member Of
the Jacksonville, Fla. bar, to the effect
that STRIPPING, as United States attorney.
stated that he had secured partisan jury
''of tried and true republicans" to try GER
tain cases in ths famous Jacksonville cleo
ton frauds ,,Wurtz also testified at the
same time that STRIPPING had asked him to
become associate counsel for the govern
ment IN the conduct of these election cases,
but that he had refused for reasons of con-
science.
RI IN, ao{1
contradicted Prof. Wurtz on practically
all the points at issue. He denied that he
had ever suggested that WurtZ become as
ISOLATE counsel for the government said
he had never consulted Wurtz on any mat
ter at all and had never even thought Of
so doing. He said that at one time he
had had talk with Wurtz, and that, in
his opinion, the latter had distorted the
informed the Senate committee on the
judiciary at the time that his Strip
lng'9 name was before the Senate for
conffrmation. The chairman of the COM
ment from Stripping and from Wurtz, and
the nomination went through.
Political Definitions.
At this point the hearing. which had been
dragging considerably all morning and
which had developed but little. became
mere argument as to what the meaning Of
democrat" Independent democrat" ire
publican" .'half-baked republican" and the
like, and Representative Lamar Of Florida,
who initiated the impea chment proceedings
against Judge Swayne, took a hand in the
game.
Have you ever been anything but a re-
publican asked MIR. Lamar of the wit
ness.
'I have not said Mr. Stripping.
The witness admitted that in his opinion
there wasn't much difference between
1T
dent democrat, but denied that he had ever
been anything but a ''straight-Out" repub-
Hcan.
Then what would be your definition of
an independent democratic" Mr.. Lamar in
CURED
"a step in the right direction" said the
witness, and there was considerable laugh
ter, which cleared the atmosphere. And
there was more merriment a moment later
when Representative Lamar added. dryly,
And the change of sentiment Is usually
followed by the receipt of federal office.
Is 1t not?"
The witness grinned, but didn't reply.
Corroborated Her Husband.
Mrs. Addie Stripping, wife Of J. N. Strip
ling, was then put on the stand. She testi-
fed to the fact that at the time Stockton
and her husband. had the interview at the
latter's home Judge Swayne was not on
the premises. su
Philip Walker. formerly clerk of the
United StateS court for the northern dis
trict Of Florida. was called to contradict
Prof. Wurtz on certain points In connec-
ton with alleged Irregularities in fury mat
tiers in Judge .Swaypes court. During the
examination Of this witness 1t was neces-
sary for Chairman Palmer to admonish op-
posing counsel repeatedly that the sub
committee did not intend to retry the Flor
ida election frauds
DR.. Fordham Of Pensacola, Fla, was
called by Judge Higgins to refute the
statement made by the interests in oppo-
sition to Judge SWayne. that c. D. Hoskfns
Of Jacksonville had committed suicide be-
cause Of Judge Swayne's prosecution. Hos
kins died from acute alcoholism, the wit
ness said, but he. admitted that he had
found an empty laudanum bottle in the
dead mans room. There were no external
evidence Of IaudanHm poisoning, however,
the witness testihsd
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