Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-03-02
JUDGE SWAYNE ACQUITTED
The Senate Declares Him Innocent OF
.WrOngdOing.
IMPEACHMENT WAS VOTED DOWN.
Judge Swayue Was Not Ia the Senate Dur
Ing the RoIlcails, But In the Presidents
Room, Just Back OF the Chamber-Ihe
Result Of Each Ballot Was Sent to Him
BY His Attorneys.

Washington, D. c Especially The
Senate, sitting as court of impeach-
ment for the trial of Charles Swayne,
district Judge for the northern district
of Florida, acquitted him on all OF the
IL articles OF impeachment brought by
the House of Representatives On none
OF the articles was there even a majority
for conviction, although it required two
thirds to convict. The closest vote was
on the last article, the contempt case OF
w. c. O'Neal, when IS senators voted
guilty and AZ not guilty, while on two
articles only l., senator's voted for con-
viction. The voting for the most part
was on party lines, though there was not
strict alignment on any article.
The trial prellminarles required only
10 minutes. The first article of I'M
peachment then was read and the vote
taken on it.
In this article Judge Swayne was
charged with making a false certificate
for expenses while holding court at Wa
co. Tex.
Senators" said the presiding officer
when the article was read, how say
You? J. the respondent, Charles Swayne,
guilty or not guilty as charged In this
articlco"
The calling OF the roll by the secre-
tary was then begun. MIR. Aldrichs 8
name was first He was not present, so
tha, the first senator to rise in response
to the call was Mr.. Alger, who voted
Not guilty" i'll clear and distinct tones.
! He was followed immediately in the neg
ativc by MesSrs. Allison, Alice and An
keny, all pronouncng verdict while
standing. All arc Republicans.
MIR. Bacon was the first Democrat on
the roll, and likewise the first to answer
in the affirmative, finding Judge Swayne
guilty. The vote throughout was largely
partisan, Mcssrs. Bard, Kittrcdge, Nc
Cumbcr and Nelson (Rcps.) voting with
, the Democrats for convection, and
! Nlc,,rS. Dubois and Gibson casting their
ballots with the Republicans for acqul;-
tai
The utmost quiet prevailed while the
vote progressed The vote stood 80 70
70.
Under the rule requiring two-thirdS
! vote to vvnvict, s5 votes III the stt,rna-
tive would have been necessary 10 con-
Wet. As this vote was almost reversed
! Judge Swaync was pronounced to be not
guilty. The chair announced this 10 be
the result. saying: "On article | OF tho
impeachment of Charles SwayNe '5 sena-
tor, have voted guilty and 10 senator's
! have voted not guilty Two-third hav-
ing not voted for conviction. Charles
Swaync stands acquitted OF the charges
contained in the first article
The reading and voting upon the other
articles followed i'll rapid succession. Al
the conclusion Of the voting the presld-
ing officer directed the secretary to- enter
an acquittal upon the records and the
court then adjourned without day Judge
Swaync was not i'll the Senate during
the roll-calls, but in the presidents room,
lust back OF the chamber The result
Of each ballot was sent to him by his at
torncys. Five Of the House managers
| attended during the proceedings.