The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-11-25
IN
LIFELONG
FRIEND
SAYS SCANDAL HAS
ALWAYS DOCGED
HIS STEPS.
General Opinion Is That
Incident IL Closed
Forever.

Justice Milo A. Root Of the su.
preme court has resigned under fir.
In quitting bis poet al this time
Justice Root has blocked an inyeati.
gation into hia conduct while a mem.
Der Of the supreme court Of the
state. The only person who can
take any action nos il the prose
cutting attorney 81 the county where
In the offcnno IL alleged 20 have
been committed. or the bar asso.
Citations IN disbnrment proceedings.
The legislature can take no action
on the matter now. The iegisias
lures powers are limited 20 an im.
parchment and removal from
office Il has no authority 10 try
any citizen on any charge ~ q
crime
Justice Root IL nov a private clti.
sen and any offense he mas have
committed while a Judge IL thereby
removed from the Jurisdiction OF
any legislative committee
Can % Netting.
Tho special committee Of the
State liar association has nothing
further 10 DO Ia The case. Tho com
mittee had no power or authority
In the first place other than 10 make
recommendation concerning tho
Impeachment % Justice Root. As
Root IL nov beyond the reach Of
any impeachment the committee Is
done
There stili remains the possibility
uf disbarment proceedings which
might be begun By either the King
County Bar association or the State
nRr association. but such action.
however desirable u may seem to
some members Of the bar, Is hardly
a probability The charges against
Root have been OF q rather nebuious
nature "a far a. conclusive and posi-
tive evidence IL concerned. and
those who ARE supposed 20 hsve the
evidence. such az letters. etc. have
announced that they will not testify
unless forced 20 That the bar ~.
ISOLATION could get this evidence u
A. desired Is practically certain. bat
the probability ~ equally slight
Can File Charges.
n any member Of the bar should
see nj 20 file charges In either King
county or the supreme court. the in
vcsiigation would be carried out IN
the nature OF trial and an wit
nosReg could be compelled 10 be
present and testify. In the same
manner as az any action IN Law.
The offcnse which Justice Root
ia alleged 10 have committed "a a
one. and comes within the
torney In the county whore ~ IL
alleged 20 have been committed
Just when and where the alleged
transactions between Justice Root
and Judge Gordon are supposed 20 I
have taken place has never been /
brought out. 80 that the chances OF
any prosecuting attorney taking the
initiative are slight
As the matter stands now. the /
RootGordon scandal is closed IN /
cident, unless the King County or
tine HNAAN nat MNNAfttNANWAW Atit n D
petition for an investigation for mai. /
feasance in office In either the SUI /
perlor court Of the county or In the |
supreme court
Caused Sensation.
The announcement today that Jus
tice Root had resigned under fire /
caused q sensation all over The city. Z
as outside n chosen few none knew /
OF the facts leading up to the reslg I
nation The spectacle of a Justice /
OF the supreme bench rendering his /
resignation just as his conduct was /
about to be investigated was a stag I
Eerihg blow to those who have al. /
ways eontondcd that when. the |