Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-11
First Witness Called in
Trial Of Swayne.
Senate will Devote Three
Hours a Day.
r the Inquiry Until It Is Over-Other
Business.

Ulchin0tOn, feD. lV.-1ne senate,
.od.v heard the first Witness called in
.l-,rD,.tion with the Impeachment pro-
,,..ii,,ae against Judge Swayne of
r,Iorida and thus entered upon the real
,ort of The trial. The statement of the
,,ee. ON behalf Of the House was made
he Manager Palmer. who went over the
,.,ri.ns charges against Judge Swayne
.,d said it was the expectation of the
Managers that all of them would be
,r,,..n. The witnesses heard today,
+..t,frd concerning hotel bills paid by
r,4o4 S,yaIne while holding court in
Trvas.
the senate decided to devote the
t:,.- between and } O'Clock each day
Ia rhe .Swayue inquiry.
i,d,ee Sv.ivne entered the Senate
chamber in company with his counsel,
.v-cenatnrs Higgins and ThurSton. 1t
,,as announced that g. witnesses had
t..n summoned. The first witness
.,.orn in the ease was Benjamin s.
ttl1ou Of jacksonville, Fla. who was
called to testify to the physical con-
ditiGn OF jor benjamin II. Durkee OF
tlrt city. who had failed TO respond as
., witness on the ground of illness. Mr..
Ii,tdou WIS called by the House man.
.,..rs TO show that Major was not in
,.,pucit:,trd. Mr.. Liddon said he ha!
e.,, Du,ker Il week ago and had then
fund him engaged in business. Mr..
p.ltoer ON behalf of the House asked
that an attachment for Durkee he is
yncl aud the Chair took the request I'M
d.3 consideration.
Mr.. Palmer at 80 p NJ. took the
r,.r 10 make his opening statement
nuIiuiug what he expected to prove
in the proceedings. He reviewed the
several charges and Contended that
tb,,c 81, Md bc no hesitation about
'cc,lyirting Judge SWayne. saying that
= minister Of the law should not be
yin:1or Of the IHw. He spok" thus IN
connection with the charge of absence
from his district made against the
Tur.,n He claimed that the respondent
had been much of the time thousand
miles away from the district and this
be routorn!ed. constituted misdemean-
~ nntl'r the law.
Mr. Palmer concluded ut 3 o'clock ana
IT,. presentation of evidence was begun
ne Mr. pilnstrad. one Of the managers
Who put in Judge SWayne's commas
sion. the statutes which Judge SWayh"
is accused Of violating and other docu-
Facets herring on the case. includet
:tmnnC these We're Judge SWayne'S Ger
1ili,lIps Of EXPENSES and his receipts
for Nh. money paid to him ut the rate
II 80 a day. while holding court u!
1-Xlg.
pavnn ". Chase. who in 1900. was q
,I,rk in II hotel ut the Tyler, Texas,
ure called aud Ire made = statement rs
rar,Iius Judge Sviync's expenses while
holding court in Texas.
THE next Witness called was Mrs. SUI
san l.. Downs. of Waco. Texas, who
testified uu tn same subject. Neither
Mr. rhas" ror Mrs. Downs was cross
ev'nu"d.
There being no other witnesses pres
cnt. the Senate as a court adjourned III
80 Z. NJ. ana went into executive Ses-
sion.
During the day the following bills
We're passed:
Donating condemned bronze cannon
to the Grand Army of the Republic f"i
tho purpose of making badges.
Amending the law prescribing tht
Qualifications of directors of nationa
hluks.
Authorizing the secretary of war t
sell magazine rifles to rifle clubs upor
the request of the governors OF the va
linuS states.
Prohibiting the use of government d''
vices to Indicate the quality OF gol'
used in the arts.
The Senate ut a p. NJ. adjourned.