Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-12
Removal of Justice From
Bench Today's Conclusion.
HEARING AT ALBANY
CONDUCT IN POST OFFICE AP-
PoINTMENTS SHOWN.
Declared to Have Been Immoral and
Submitted Administration Of JUS
tice to Contempt.

ALBANY, N. Y, April 12.-The removal
of Justice Warren B. Hooker from the SUI
preme court bench of the state of New
York by concurrent resolution of the SEN
ate and assembly was the conclusion drawn
fIom the evidence given before the assem-
bly, judiciary committee and presented to
the committee in an argument today by
former Deputy Attorney General Henry r.
Conan, counsel for the committee of in
uuiry.
Mr.. Conan read his conclusions of fact
embracing six different post Office appoint
ments-those of Frank P. Ball, Maurice
Hooker. Ora Caldwell, Thomas O'Neill and
Minerva Jeffrey, Katherine Clark. the Dun
kirk post office leases and the judgment
against the city of Dunkirk.
In each of these cases Mr.. Conan declar-
ed that the conduct of Justice Hooker was
immoral and tended to submit the admin
istration of justice by Judge Hooker on the
bench to contempt and disgrace.
At the opening of the investigation To-Day
John B. Stanchfleld, counsel for Justice
Hooker, announced that no testimony
would be submitted in behalf of the justice.
Conclusions of Fact.
The conclusions of fact submitted by Mr.
Conan substantially were as follows: In
the case of Frank P. Ball, Justice Hooker
in 1898 solicited George w. Beavers. then
superintendent of the salary and allowance
division of the Post Office Department, to
appoint Ball to the Fredonia post office
and that upon such solicitation Ball was
appointed. That the reason and motive
that prompted Hooker to secure the ap-
pointment for Ball was to permit him to
pay note of 5000 Ball had given the wife
Of Justice Hooker in the course of bust
ness transaction, and that all the money
drawn from the post Office, with the excep-
ton of five dollars, was paid on the note,
amounting to over $1,000 That such action
was conspiracy against the United States
government.
That upon solicitation of Hooker &. W.
Beavers appointed Maurice Hooker to the
Fredonia post Office at salary OF $4OO,
Beavers we'll knowing that such appoint
ment was unnecessary" That the United
States government was defrauded of money
paid as salary to Maurice Hooker
Conclusions in Cases.
The conclusions in the cases of Ora Cald-
well, Thomas O'Neill. Minerva Jeffrey.
Henry ]. Pemberton and George Cooper.
all of whom were appointed to the FIRE.
donia post office on January II, 1889 at a
salary of 5000 per year. were that four
clerks were doing all the required work.
That Frank P. Bell was promoted from the
position of laborer at 500 a year to a
clerk at $780, thus making six clerks draw
ing salaries of 5000 and doing no work.
That Minerva Jeffrey was a resident of
Washington and was member of the fam
lily with which George w. Beavers boarded.
That Henry ]. Pemberton and George Coop
er were never notified of their appointment,
and that their appointments were later can
celed. That Melvin H. Taylor Chen post
master at Fredonia), through an arrange
ment with Hooker, secured the appoint
ment of Katherine K. Clark. niece of his
wife, and that there was no need for such
appointment.
obtained by an evasion of the civil service
law. Miss Clark being appointed to the
Fort Plain Office which is uncla ssified but
remaining at Fredonia. That Justice Hook
er requested Beavers to pay her salary for
the For. Plain work and that she received
800 for such work, thereby defrauding The
United States government.
Entered Into Partnership.
That Hooker entered into partnership
with persons in Dunkirk for the construc-
ton of building and that lease was ex-
for the use of a portion of the building as
a post office at a rental of $3.50. That
the lessons by some arrangement with
Beavers had the Lease Cancelled and a new
one executed a 4 rental of 81 500, and that
a third lease was made at 900. That in
the third lease the United States secured
nothing moe than in the first and second
leases.
That Justice Hooker. together with other
persons, secured corrupt judgment
,irIr; t., aI.tf 80