Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-15
hOOKER'S TRIAL
Cannot Be Finished Today-The Re.
cent Evidence.

Albany, N. Y, April 14.-In scathing
terms, the alleged acts of former
Congressman Warren B. Hooker, of
Fredonia, now justice of the SUI
rreme court. in connection with ap-
continents, rental matters, and certain
litigation affecting the postofices at
Fredonia and Dunkirk, Chatauqua
County, were characterized before the
assembly judiciary committee. today
by Frank w. Stevens, speaking as
counsel for all the bar associations.
which have participated in the inves-
tigation. Mr.. Stevens argument, be-
gun yesterday occupied the entire day
today.
The committee adjourned this after
noon until next Wednesday at $50 A.
NJ. 1t was definitely decided that the
assembly must be asked for additional
time in which to report on the Hooker
investigation the date now fixed being
next Wednesday, the 10th.
1t became evident today that the ar
gument of counsel before the assembly
judiciary committee for and against
the removal from the bench of the Su-
preme court Justice Warren B. Hooker
could not be finished even by an extra
session tomorrow.
Frank w. Stevens, one of the counsel
for the bar associations which are
assisting in the investigation resumed
his argument before the committee
today.
1T is the duty of the legislature to
see that no improper person occupies
a position in the Supreme court or the
court of Appeals" declared Mr.. Stew
ems. He cited numerous cases of Of
ficers of other states, removed under
for cause" statutes or constitutional
provisions in which immortality was
considered a cause. He claimed that
lack of moral integrity was cause for
removal.
Mr.. Stevens, maintained that the
word cause was substituted for the
word Charges in 1894 in order to en-
large the powers of the legislature, not
to limit them, as grounds for removal.
Up to this time. no claim of official
misconduct has been made against
Justice Hooker. Mr.. Stevens contin-
ued:
Assuming that if Justice Hooker has
done something wrong, it is a question in
my mind whether the action in the Writ
ner Judgment in inducing fel:ow-jus-
tice to render a Judgment of the char
acter of that judgment is not case of
official misconduct.
II shall assume" continued Mr.. Ste
vens, chat any man who will resort to
the lowest vices of a ward politician Isl
morally unfit to judge over his fellow
men. I shall assume that any man who
will defraud the United States govern
ment. who is capable of low deceit con-
niving and robbing the government of the
United States. who will instruct the
youth of the nation in crime and fraud
and commit acts which must be sup
pressed from public Wow. is morally unfit
to sit on the bench"
Passing on to the Wirtner case. Mr..
Stevens said:
"It is the detestable character of that
Judgment that you are to pass upon. Is
Warren F.. Hooker responsible for those
facts No man who tries to be a man
could live in such a community without
raising his voice against them. There is
no use endeavoring to belittle those
acts
THE government at Washington in this
case" Mr.. Stevens declared, was George
W. Beavers. He was the man who pass |
ed upon the requests of Judge Hooker. |
In a letter we fnd Hooker effusively |
Beaver for favors. A justice of
the supreme court thanking n public off, |
Ger for favors, Hooker shows moral |
unfitness of some kind: weakness in
that armor with which every justice of
the supreme court should be clothed
Mr.. Stevens called attention to the tes-
timony showing that Melville H. Taylor, |
postmaster. was called upon by the gov |
to restore the funds paid to |
Maurice Hooker. Mr.. Stevens argued that
Moore. Taylor. Hooker and Ball were |
and confederates.
The committee took a recess until af- |
ternoon.