Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-04-27
Not Expelled But
Suspended Until
January |
Milwaukee Man Tried
and ound Guilty
Of Contempt
Madison, April 20,

Madison, April 20,
The spectacle of senator being
tried aud found guilty of contempt,
and being thrown out Of his legisla.
tive scat was the unusual scene
presented in the WISCONSIN senate yes
terday. when Barney A. Eaton of Mil.
waukeo was pronounced guilty of con.
tempt 1t was formally resolved that
he had committed acts unh1coming a
senator and rejecting seriously upon
the state legislature, and he was sus'
pended until January L. 1906
This is practically expulsion from
office, for the legislature adjourns in
about month and there is no pros
poet or an extra session. The vote ON
tnding Eaton guilty was &c to ., only
Senators Beach and Wright voting for
the accused member Sixteen sena-
tors voted for expulsion and II
against, but as it requires two-thirds
vote to eNpel the proposition failed.
1t was then decided to expel him for
the remainder of the present year.
Practical Expulsion,
Although the result is practically re.
moval from oAice. a motion to so state
the penalty failed of passage, 1t re.
uuiring twothirds vote to eXp3l
and there being eleven senators op
posed to such harsh treatment These
were Senators Beach, Bird, Kreutaer
McGilltvray, North, Randolph, Roehr
Stevens, Whitehead, Wolf ant
Wright. OF these Messrs McGilliv
ray and stevens are reputod La Fol
lette men and the others are antl-ad
ministration members, including
North and Randolph, who are demo
Gratis Fractional lines were therefore
not absolutely drawn.
The specific offonso for which Sen
ator Eaton was tried was described II
a finding Of fact reported by the sen
ate committee on judiciary, that he
accepted and used $l0o from Albert
stark during the session Of 1901 II
making a campaign against the bar
hers license bill.
Caught in Dragnet.
Senator Eaton was caught a year
ago in the grand jury graft draenet IN
Milwaukee. being indicted three times
Tor alleged criminal bribery while Q
member of the legislature. One In
dictmrnt was for the same act on
which he was tried and found guilty
Yesterday. He at first refused to stant
trial, being under immunity from
prosecution as member Of the sen
ate, but was compelled by his legisla
i've associates to return to Milwau
kee under indefinite leave Of absence
and stand trial He was acquitted y,
a jury, on his defense that he took Tho
money not as a bribc or to influence
members against the bill, but merel!
for the purpose Of paying his expense
in making o campaign against the blll
buying drinks, dinners ana other fa
yors, He returned TO the senate ant
look his seat insisting that his &C
quittal on one Of the three ndict
ments was full yindication Senator
FFear pressed the matter against The
Milwaukee member and brought ahou
an investigation by tie judiciary com
mittee then the trial Of yesterday
and final conviction.
Frear Leads Prosecution.
Senator Frcar led the prosecution
uf Senator Eaton on the floor assiste,
~ Senators Sanborn, Martin, MunsoI
and Hudnall No member spoke wore
against conviction the accused sen
ator being allowed 10 be repreaentc,
by his counsel, Attorney Lyman G
Wheeler Of Milwaukee. He argued
hat Senator Eaton took the money u
the honest performance " his duty
that he did IT only 10 get fuller ant
more complete consideration Of the
Objectionable bill and that the senate
had no jurisdiction in the matter aftei
The member had been tried and foun,
not guilty By a jury. After the sena
torial verdict Of guilty had been rem
dered. by a vote Of 2G to 2, only Sen
ators Beach and Wright voting 70
acquittal the senate voted on expul
sion defeating that proposition by {
vote Of IL for expulsion and ]
against Senators Kreutzer and Roeh
attempted to get the senate merely Z
suspend Mr.. Eaton for the few remain
ing weeks Of the session, but It wa
finally determined by a vote Of ~ I,
ls TO suspend him until January ]
1906, the Roehr amendment being de
feated by that vote
Senate Takes Up Case.
AT 1920 Senator Kreutzer moves